3 SF Giants players who will not be back in 2023

3 SF Giants players who will not be back in 2023

3. Left-handed pitcher Carlos Rodón

In the case of Brandon Belt and Tommy La Stella, it is possible that they will not be back with the SF Giants next season due to performance. That is not the case at all with Carlos Rodón.

Rodón has been fantastic since inking a two-year, $44 million pact with the Giants prior to this season. However, his contract includes an opt-out clause if he reaches 110 innings pitched in 2022, which he did earlier in the season.

This is an easy call for the left-handed hurler to exercise his opt-out clause as he has been fantastic in a Giants uniform. In 28 starts, Rodón has registered a 2.93 ERA, 2.33 FIP, 1.05 WHIP, 11.7 K/9, and a 4.42 SO/W ratio while earning a NL All-Star bid. He will likely set a franchise record as his 11.7 K/9 will surpass the previous record set by Kevin Gausman (10.6 K/9) last season.

Speaking of Gausman, the former Giants hurler signed a five-year, $110 million pact with the Toronto Blue Jays in the offseason. Those terms will serve as a starting point for what Rodón can expect to see in free agency. It is possible, and likely, that Rodón's contract will exceed those terms by a comfortable margin.

Will the Giants be the team to break the bank to keep the hard-throwing lefty? The remains to be seen but they will have the financial flexibility to be aggressive this offseason. However, they did not make an earnest attempt to retain Gausman, so is possible that they will let Rodón walk in the offseason, especially considering that they will have four starting pitchers under contract or team control for next season.

They should absolutely try to keep Rodón, but the front office might be comfortable filling that final rotation spot elsewhere. That could be a bitter pill for fans to swallow if it occurs.