MLB Rumors: Carlos Rodon Sets Gargantuan Price Tag

Top-flight starting pitchers are hard to come by and are naturally in huge demand around the majors. There are really only three that fit that category of the upper echelon of the elite on this year's free agent market, and Carlos Rodon is one of them. 

According to MLB Insider Jon Heyman, Rodon is said to be seeking a contract that pays at least $35M per year. 

Last season, with some durability questions surrounding him, Rodon entered the free agent market and went with a "bet on himself" two-year deal with an opt-out with the San Francisco Giants. That was for $22M AAV. His bet paid off. Big time.

Rodon didn't miss a start in 2022, taking the mound 31 times, and finished with a 2.88 ERA, a 1.03 WHIP, a major league best 12 K/9 and a 237:52 K/BB ratio. $35M+ is a huge raise from $22M, but Rodon earned it. 

Now, going into his age-30 season, he's set to haul in a long-term contract in the $150M range. 

"The feedback from Carlos and from Scott (Boras) is he enjoyed being here," said Giants president of baseball ops Farhan Zaidi. "He enjoyed pitching in our park, and I would say there's mutual interest. We'll just have to see how it plays out."

But while the Giants would like him back, they'll have competition. Plus they're angling to spend $300M+ on trying to land Aaron Judge, so whether they can accommodate two massive free agent contracts is unknown. 

The only other starting pitchers who will command more than Rodon in free agency, at least on an AAV basis, are Jacob deGrom (who's asking for $40M+ per year), and Justin Verlander, who's fresh off his 3rd Cy Young Award. 

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