Carlos Rodón – New York Yankees Biography, Contract, Net Worth Information

Carlos Rodón has become one of baseball’s top left-handed pitchers since making his MLB debut with the Chicago White Sox in 2015. Born in Miami, Florida, on December 10, 1992, Rodón starred at North Carolina State before the White Sox picked him third overall in the 2014 MLB Draft. Right now, he’s pitching for the New York Yankees under a six-year, $162 million contract he signed in December 2022, which includes a $5 million signing bonus—by far the biggest deal of his career.

Rodón battled through major injuries early on, but after a breakout 2021 season that included a no-hitter against Cleveland, his value soared. He’s played for the White Sox, the San Francisco Giants, and now the Yankees, with his net worth estimated around $10 million as of the latest reports. Even though Rodón started the 2023 season on the injured list, that long-term contract shows just how much the Yankees believe in his pitching talent.

Early Life and Amateur Career

Rodón’s road to the big leagues started way before pro scouts came calling. His family, high school years, and college experience all shaped him into the MLB All-Star he is now.

Family Background

Carlos Antonio Rodón was born in Miami, Florida, on December 10, 1992. His dad is Cuban, and his mom is American, so he grew up with a blend of both cultures. That mix definitely influenced his identity and work ethic.

Rodón grew up in Holly Springs, North Carolina, and started playing baseball early. His parents noticed his talent and did everything they could to help him chase his baseball dreams, sometimes making real sacrifices for travel teams and training.

His dad, Carlos Sr., played a huge part in his development, spending hours in the backyard working on Carlos’s pitching mechanics.

High School Achievements

At Holly Springs High School, Rodón quickly became known as a pitching phenom. His left-handed fastball and sharp breaking stuff made him a nightmare for hitters.

In high school, he:

• Threw a fastball in the low 90s
• Racked up multiple no-hitters and shutouts
• Earned All-Conference and All-State honors
• Got recognized as one of North Carolina’s top prep arms

Despite his high school dominance, Rodón didn’t get picked until the 16th round of the 2011 MLB Draft by the Milwaukee Brewers. He chose not to sign, opting for college instead.

College Baseball Journey

Rodón headed to North Carolina State University, where he transformed from a good prospect into one of college baseball’s most feared pitchers.

As a freshman, he went 9-0 with a 1.57 ERA and was named National Freshman of the Year. His sophomore year? Even better: 10-3, 2.99 ERA, and a whopping 184 strikeouts in 132 innings.

His slider became his calling card—batters just couldn’t touch it. Rodón helped lead NC State to the 2013 College World Series, the school’s first trip there since 1968.

By junior year, scouts from every MLB team filled the stands whenever he pitched. He finished college with 436 strikeouts and locked himself in as a top draft pick for 2014.

Professional Career Overview

Rodón’s pro career has had its share of ups and downs. He’s shown elite strikeout stuff and toughness through injuries, and he’s carved out a reputation as one of baseball’s best lefties.

Chicago White Sox Debut

The Chicago White Sox drafted Rodón third overall in 2014 out of NC State. He impressed right away and made his MLB debut on April 21, 2015, coming out of the bullpen against Cleveland.

He soon moved into the starting rotation, where his fastball and nasty slider took center stage. In his rookie year, Rodón posted a 3.75 ERA over 139.1 innings and struck out 139 hitters.

He flashed huge potential, though consistency was sometimes an issue. Still, White Sox fans saw him as a future anchor for their pitching staff.

No-Hitter Performance

Rodón’s biggest moment in Chicago came on April 14, 2021, when he nearly threw a perfect game against Cleveland—just one hit batter away. He settled for a no-hitter that electrified fans and the baseball world.

He struck out seven, and his slider was absolutely filthy that night. The no-hitter showed both his talent and his ability to bounce back from tough injuries.

That game really put him back in the spotlight as one of the game’s best. The confidence boost was obvious, and you could see him pitching like a true ace after that.

Career With Chicago White Sox

During his White Sox years (2015-2021), Rodón dealt with both promise and plenty of frustration. Injuries—including shoulder issues and Tommy John surgery—really slowed him down.

When he stayed healthy, though, Rodón was lights out. He struck out batters at a high rate and could dominate lineups. His 2021 season stood out: first All-Star nod, a 2.37 ERA, and 185 strikeouts in 132.2 innings.

Despite that, the White Sox non-tendered him after 2021 instead of giving a qualifying offer. That ended his seven-year run with the team that drafted him and sent him into free agency.

Stints With the San Francisco Giants

Rodón signed with the San Francisco Giants in March 2022 and made an immediate impact. His time there was short but memorable, and he definitely boosted his free-agent value.

Signing and Integration

After his breakout season with the White Sox, Rodón signed a two-year, $44 million deal with the Giants, including an opt-out after the first year—clearly, he bet on himself.

He jumped right into the Giants’ rotation and became a steady force. The Giants hoped he’d help them build on their 107-win 2021 season.

Manager Gabe Kapler praised Rodón’s intensity and work ethic. “He brings intensity to the mound that’s contagious,” Kapler said during spring training.

Notable Performances

Rodón’s 2022 with the Giants was excellent. He started strong, posting a 2.37 ERA in the first half and earning a second straight All-Star nod.

He piled up strikeouts—double digits in several games. In June, he struck out 12 Dodgers and gave up just two hits in six innings.

By the end of the season, Rodón made 31 starts and struck out 237, a new career high. He ranked among the National League’s best, even though the Giants missed the playoffs.

Rodón opted out after that season, testing free agency again. The Giants tried to keep him, but he signed with the Yankees after just one year in San Francisco.

New York Yankees Experience

Rodón joined the New York Yankees in December 2022, kicking off a high-profile new chapter. His time in the Bronx has been a mix of big expectations, injuries, and flashes of his best stuff.

Signing and Contract Details

In December 2022, Rodón signed a six-year, $162 million contract with the Yankees, including a $5 million signing bonus. That deal made him one of the highest-paid pitchers in baseball.

The Yankees brought him in to bolster their rotation alongside Gerrit Cole. His contract pays about $27 million a year, broken down like this:

• $21.5 million in 2023
• $22.5 million in 2024
• Similar amounts through 2028

The Yankees made this big commitment after losing Jameson Taillon to free agency and facing uncertainty with Luis Severino and Frankie Montas.

Performance Highlights

Rodón’s time with the Yankees has been tough on the team’s wallet. Analysts say the Yankees spent about $56 million through early 2025 but got only about $13 million in value on the field—a pretty big gap.

Injuries have kept him off the mound more than anyone hoped. Rodón spent long stretches on the injured list during his first season, which made it hard for him to settle in with the rotation.

Still, when he’s healthy, you see the flashes of why the Yankees paid up. His lefty power pitching brings much-needed balance to a rotation full of righties like Clarke Schmidt.

The Yankees’ investment in Rodón fits their aggressive style, joining other huge contracts for stars like Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.

Contracts and Salary Progression

Rodón’s contract history shows his rise from promising rookie to elite, big-money starter. As his performance improved—especially after his no-hitter and All-Star years—his salary jumped.

First Major League Contract

When Rodón reached the majors with the White Sox after being picked third overall in 2014, he signed a rookie contract worth about $6.6 million. Early on, he made standard pre-arbitration salaries for young players.

He moved through arbitration with the White Sox, and his salary went up as his stats improved. After injuries, the White Sox non-tendered him after 2020, making Rodón a free agent.

They ended up bringing him back on a one-year, $3 million deal for 2021. That season changed everything—he threw a no-hitter, posted a 2.37 ERA, and suddenly, his market value shot up.

Notable Contract Structures

After a resurgent 2021 season, Rodón landed a two-year contract with the San Francisco Giants worth $44 million in 2022. That deal marked his first real big payday.

He included an opt-out clause after the first season and took advantage of it after a stellar year, putting up a 2.88 ERA and continuing to rack up strikeouts.

Rodón really hit the jackpot when he signed a 6-year, $162 million contract with the New York Yankees, a deal that made it clear he’d reached elite pitcher status. With an average annual value of $27 million, he joined the ranks of baseball’s highest-paid arms.

Signing Bonus and Opt-Out Clauses

Rodón’s Yankees contract includes a $5 million signing bonus as part of the $162 million guaranteed. His agent, Scott Boras, negotiated a structure that gave Rodón immediate financial security.

His current contract pays an annual salary of $22 million for 2025, with the numbers fluctuating throughout the deal. The Yankees went all in, committing a huge chunk of payroll to lock down the lefty.

There aren’t any traditional opt-outs, but Rodón does have a full no-trade clause for the first five years. That gives him plenty of say over his future and lets the Yankees count on him as a rotation anchor through 2028.

Net Worth and Financial Overview

Carlos Rodón has built up considerable wealth through his MLB career, with his current net worth showing just how far he’s come—from a promising prospect to one of the game’s top pitchers. Most of his financial portfolio comes from baseball contracts, with a little extra from endorsements.

Earnings From Contracts

As of 2023, Rodón’s net worth is estimated at around $10 million, but some recent numbers from SalarySport claim it could be as high as $202 million. The big leap happened after he signed his huge Yankees deal.

That 6-year, $162 million contract with New York includes a $5 million signing bonus and pays him an average of $27 million a year.

Before the Yankees, he’d signed a two-year, $44 million contract with the Giants in 2022, but he opted out after one season to chase the bigger payday.

Endorsements and Sponsorships

Rodón keeps his endorsement deals pretty low-key, but he’s partnered with a few baseball equipment brands. His main endorsement is with Rawlings, where he promotes their gloves and gear.

Since landing in New York, he’s picked up more commercial opportunities in the New York market. The move to such a big stage has definitely expanded his endorsement potential.

Unlike some of the game’s flashier stars, Rodón has kept his endorsement portfolio modest, sticking mostly to baseball products rather than mainstream brands. That fits his workmanlike image and public persona.

Pitching Style and Career Achievements

Carlos Rodón has made his mark as one of baseball’s best left-handed pitchers, thanks to his electric fastball-slider combo and some eye-popping stats over the years.

Strikeout Rate and ERA Milestones

Rodón’s arsenal centers around a fastball that regularly hits 97-99 mph and a nasty slider that fools plenty of hitters. This mix has let him post elite strikeout rates throughout his big league run.

His best season? That’d be 2021 with the White Sox, when he put up a 2.37 ERA and struck out 185 in just 132⅔ innings. That year, he finally broke through as one of the game’s most dominant starters.

With the Giants, he kept rolling, finishing with a 2.88 ERA and topping 200 strikeouts. Limiting hard contact while piling up whiffs has become his calling card.

All-Star Appearances

Rodón’s strong performances have earned him multiple All-Star nods. He made his first All-Star team in 2021 during that breakout campaign with Chicago.

That selection meant a lot, especially considering all the injuries he’d battled through in earlier years. Rodón’s rise to All-Star status really showed his resilience.

He’s now recognized as one of baseball’s elite starters. At the All-Star Game, he’s had the chance to show off his stuff against the best hitters, which only adds to his reputation.

Postseason Contributions

Rodón hasn’t had a ton of postseason chances, but he’s proven he can handle the October spotlight. His playoff outings have featured the same overpowering pitching that defines his regular season work.

With the Yankees, he’s been asked to be a frontline starter in big playoff series. His knack for strikeouts becomes even more valuable in the postseason, where every out counts.

While he hasn’t won a World Series yet, Rodón’s individual playoff performances have shown he’s built for the big moments. He brings that same fastball-slider combo to October, making him a tough matchup when it matters.

Injuries and Comebacks

Injuries have played a huge part in Rodón’s story. He’s gone through major surgeries and spent too much time on the injured list, but his ability to bounce back has really defined his career.

Tommy John Surgery

In May 2019, Rodón had Tommy John surgery after battling left elbow inflammation. That procedure, which reconstructs the ulnar collateral ligament, kept him off the mound for almost 14 months.

The timing stung—he’d shown flashes with the White Sox but hadn’t put it all together yet. His rehab was long and careful, with a focus on slowly building up his arm strength.

Rodón finally returned in July 2020, during the weird pandemic season, but he struggled to find his old form at first. Still, that comeback set the stage for his massive 2021 breakout.

Time on Injured List

Rodón’s injury history doesn’t stop at Tommy John. He’s dealt with:

• Left shoulder inflammation (2017) — Only managed 12 starts
• Left biceps bursitis (2018) — Missed the start of the season
• Left shoulder soreness (2021) — Even during his All-Star year
• Back issues and forearm strain (2023) — Made his Yankees debut late

In 2023, he started his Yankees career on the injured list with a forearm strain and back stiffness, finally debuting on July 7. Those injuries definitely took a bite out of his first year on that six-year, $162 million contract.

Despite all that, Rodón has shown a real knack for reinventing himself after injuries, especially after 2021 when he turned into one of the top lefties in baseball.

Comparisons With Other Pitchers

It’s easier to get a sense of Rodón’s career and contract when you stack him up against other MLB pitchers. His deal and performance numbers make for some interesting comparisons.

Notable Contemporaries

When you compare Rodón to other top-tier pitchers, his journey stands out. Chris Sale, for example, started hot but ran into injury trouble; Rodón found his groove later. Sale’s seven-year, $145 million extension with Boston has drawn criticism for injury reasons, kind of echoing Rodón’s risks.

Masahiro Tanaka is another interesting comp—both have dealt with big injuries but still pulled in premium salaries. Nick Pivetta took a different path, costing less but never matching Rodón’s dominance when healthy.

The Padres’ recent pitching splurges show a similar gamble to the Yankees’ Rodón deal: betting on elite arms even with injury histories.

Similar Contract Types

Rodón’s six-year, $162 million contract with New York puts him in pretty exclusive company among MLB pitchers. It’s structurally similar to Trea Turner’s big deal—both are massive long-term bets on proven but not risk-free players.

Here are a few comparable pitching contracts:

Pitcher	Contract Value	Length	Team	Year Signed
Carlos Rodón	$162 million	6 years	Yankees	2023
David Price	$217 million	7 years	Red Sox	2015
Masahiro Tanaka	$155 million	7 years	Yankees	2014

Position players like Xander Bogaerts and Nolan Arenado have gotten similar long-term security, though teams usually give hitters longer deals because pitchers are more likely to get hurt. The Yankees’ commitment to Rodón is a big bet on his health and performance into his mid-30s.

Impact on Teams and League

Carlos Rodón has gone from a talented but injury-prone pitcher to a real force in the majors, boosting every team he’s joined and becoming one of the league’s most in-demand lefties.

Contributions to Team Success

With the Chicago White Sox, Rodón grew from a guy who couldn’t stay healthy to the ace. His 2021 season, including that no-hitter against Cleveland on April 14, became an instant classic for the franchise.

After signing with the San Francisco Giants, he immediately took over as their rotation leader. In 2022, he set a career high with 237 strikeouts and posted a 2.88 ERA over 178 innings.

Now with the Yankees, Rodón brings a top-tier lefty presence to a rotation that really needed it. His first season in New York was rocky, but when he’s healthy, he and Gerrit Cole give the Yankees a scary 1-2 punch.

Role in the AL and NL

Rodón’s career stretches across both leagues, and honestly, that’s given him a pretty unique perspective as a power pitcher who’s thrived in all sorts of environments. With the White Sox in the American League, he really made a name for himself as one of the top strikeout guys around.

When he jumped to the National League with the Giants, he didn’t skip a beat. He kept racking up strikeouts, even when he had to face unfamiliar lineups and pitch in those pitcher-friendly parks out west. That kind of flexibility? Teams definitely noticed during the free-agent market frenzy.

Now that he’s landed in the AL East with the Yankees, Rodón’s got maybe his biggest test yet. He’ll go up against some of the most dangerous lineups in baseball—think Rays, Red Sox, Blue Jays—all in ballparks that tend to favor hitters. If the Yankees want to make a real run at the World Series, they’re going to need Rodón at his best.