MLB Weekly Digest December 19th Edition: Yankees Sign Rodon

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The prior week in MLB was about a team in the American League bolstering their starting rotation by signing a starting pitcher to a multi-year contract and a pair of teams in the National League signing shortstops to multi-year deals.

New York Yankees Sign Starting Pitcher Carlos Rodon to Six-Year Contract

The New York Yankees made a move to strengthen their starting rotation by signing starting pitcher Carlos Rodon.

The deal for Rodon is a six-year contract worth $162 million, and it contains a full no-trade clause, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

Rodon Yankees deal: 6/162mm. Full no trade

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 16, 2022

Rodon had opted out of the final year of his two-year, $44-million contract with the San Francisco Giants when the MLB offseason started.

He had received interest from multiple teams but ended up signing with the Yankees.

The left-hander was coming off two stellar seasons with the Giants in 2022 and the Chicago White Sox in 2021.

He compiled a 2.88 ERA in 178 innings pitched (32 starts) with 237 strikeouts, 52 walks issued, 12 home runs allowed, a 1.02 WHIP, 140 ERA+, and led the National League with 2.25 FIP with the Giants last year.

The prior season with the White Sox, he posted a 2.37 ERA in 132 2/3 innings pitched (24 starts) with 185 strikeouts, 36 walks allowed, 13 home runs surrendered, a 185 ERA+, 2.65 FIP, and 0.95 WHIP.

He proved over those two years he could be the leader of a pitching staff.

Rodon gives the Yankees a formidable combination at the top of their rotation along with pitcher Gerrit Cole.

The Yankees already re-signed outfielder Aaron Judge to a massive deal in the offseason, and the addition of Rodon has shown they are willing to spend to make improvements.

Chicago Cubs Sign Shortstop Dansby Swanson to Seven-Year Deal

The Chicago Cubs have signed shortstop Dansby Swanson to a seven-year contract worth $177 million.

The deal with the Cubs for Swanson includes a no-trade clause and does not contain any opt-outs, per Joel Sherman of the New York Post.

Swanson deal with Cubs is 7 yrs, $177M full no trade clause. No opt outs.

— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) December 17, 2022

The Cubs will give up their second-highest draft pick and have their international signing bonus pool cut by $500,000 due to Swanson receiving a qualifying offer.

The shortstop is coming off an incredible 2022 season with the Atlanta Braves, in which he played in all 162 games and earned the first Gold Glove of his career.

He produced a .277 batting average and .776 OPS with 99 runs scored, 177 hits, 32 doubles, one triple, 25 home runs, 96 RBIs, and 18 stolen bases.

The Cubs have a terrific middle infield with Swanson at shortstop and Nico Hoerner at second base.

The Cubs signing Swanson was brilliant as it gave them a player with championship experience as the shortstop helped the Braves win the World Series in 2021.

San Francisco Giants Sign Shortstop Carlos Correa to 13-Year Contract

The San Francisco Giants have a new face of the franchise as they signed shortstop Carlos Correa to a monumental contract.

The terms of the deal are a 13-year contract worth $350 million, per Jeff Passan of ESPN.

BREAKING: Shortstop Carlos Correa and the San Francisco Giants are in agreement on a 13-year, $350 million contract, a source familiar with the deal tells ESPN.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 14, 2022

Correa’s deal includes a full no-trade clause and no opt-outs, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

Carlos Correa and Giants agree at $350M and 13 years. No opt out. Full no trade.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 14, 2022

This is the fourth-largest contract in MLB history and eclipses the 10-year, $341-million deal Francisco Lindor signed with the New York Mets as the biggest for an infielder, per Cot’s Contracts.

Greatest contracts for first overall draft picks:
Carlos Correa: $350 million
Bryce Harper: $330 million
Gerrit Cole: $324 million
A-Rod: $275 million (after opting out of $252 million)
Stephen Strasburg: $245 million
David Price: $217 million

— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) December 14, 2022

Correa had a decent 2022 season with the Twins as he posted a .291 average and .834 OPS in 136 games with 152 hits, 70 runs scored, 24 doubles, one triple, 22 home runs, and 64 RBIs.

The Giants are hopeful that Correa will allow them to be in contention for the MLB playoffs over the next several years.

About Post Author

Chris Lacey

Chris is a New Jersey native whose favorite sports team is the Arizona Diamondbacks. He previously attended Western New England College to study Sports Management. Chris has been following the Diamondbacks since he was 12. You can find him on Twitter at @aecanada12.

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