SF Giants Free Agency: Is Pitcher Carlos Rodon A Fit?

With another starting pitcher still on the offseason shopping list, could the SF Giants target Carlos Rodon?

The SF Giants obviously need another starting pitcher. Since Farhan Zaidi has shown a penchant for left-handed starters, it’s somewhat peculiar to see none currently penciled into the team’s rotation next year. As many speculate who will fill the last rotation spot, free-agent southpaw Carlos Rodon checks a lot of boxes.

Recently, we examined three left-handed starting pitchers who the Giants could try to pursue in free agency. Perhaps though, we left a viable alternative, Rodon, off the list.

Could Rodon really be a good fit for the Giants? Let’s examine.

Rodon has spent his entire career with the Chicago White Sox. He had some solid seasons early on with the team like in 2015 where he went 9-6 with a 3.75 ERA in 23 starts. Those are pretty respectable numbers from a rookie especially when the White Sox home ballpark is notoriously hitter-friendly.

More recently though, Rodon has struggled. Injuries kept him on the shelf for much of 2017 and 2018. Then, in 2019 he was named the Opening Day starter but was only able to make seven starts before he needed Tommy John surgery and his season was over.

2020 was not much better. He appeared in only 4 games with the team, recording an 8.22 ERA and 6 strikeouts in 7 and 2/3 innings. However, it was his first time in a game since undergoing Tommy John surgery. Perhaps another offseason removed from the operation could enable Rodon to regain his old rhythm and form.

It’s not like the Giants have shied away from struggling pitchers. The Giants just signed Anthony DeSclafani coming off a poor year in 2020 with the Reds and the Giants have taken chances on guys like him, Kevin Gausman, Drew Smyly, and Drew Pomeranz in the past three offseasons alone. Many were coming off the worst seasons of their careers, but the organization believed they could help them bounceback.

Carlos Rodon would be a smart, low-risk/high reward signing who could end up being a solid part of the rotation in a best-case scenario or, worst case, the SF Giants end up cutting him if he doesn’t find his old form. Either way, the upside outweighs the down so Rodon would be another smart option to consider. There just one caveat. Someone is going to have to tell him that the number 55 is already taken…in our hearts at least.