Carlos Rodón may have pitched his last game as a San Francisco Giant.
Instead of making his last turn in San Diego, Rodón has been placed on the injured list. Alex Cobb, on three days rest, will start in Rodón’s place and reliever Cole Waites was recalled in his stead.
Rodón put together a magnificent season with the Giants. The All-Star led MLB in fielding independent pitching (2.25) and strikeouts per nine innings (12). He pitched a career-high 31 starts and 178 innings, not once hitting the injured list — until this formality.
Only Phillies starter Aaron Nola has amassed more WAR among pitchers, per Fangraphs. In his last start of the year, on Sept. 29, he fanned 10 Rockies in six shutout innings. That game brought him to 14-8 on the year with a 2.88 ERA.
“In many ways, he’s come as advertised,” Giants manager Kapler said after that win. “The reports on Carlos when we first got him were: this is a guy that, when he’s on the bump, is as good as anyone in the league. Is as electric as anyone in the league. Can do things that most can’t. And that’s really what’s happened.”
As recently as this Sunday, the Giants were still planning on sending Rodón out for his final start. However, Rodón’s agent, Scott Boras, told The San Francisco Chronicle on Monday that his client had reached an innings limit. Since the Giants are eliminated from the playoffs, risking an injury would have been unwise.
Rodón came to San Francisco on a two-year $22 million contract with an opt-out in the second year. He’ll almost certainly exercise that option, since his healthy, dominant season should fetch him a massive long-term deal.
Rodón has said repeatedly this season that he’s enjoyed living in the Bay Area, playing for the Giants organization and pitching in Oracle Park.
“I’ve always enjoyed pitching here,” Rodón said after his last start of the year at Oracle Park. “It’s definitely a home-field advantage when I show up and pitch at this park.”
The Giants, under Farhan Zaidi, haven’t doled out a contract longer than three years to a starting pitcher. Kevin Gausman left last winter for a five-year, $110 million deal with Toronto.
Rodón, who will turn 30 this year, will likely command as much or more than Gausman. Unless the Zaidi front office breaks its precedent, the check will come from another club.
