Yankees Rumors: Carlos Rodon Update, Other Starting Pitchers On New York's Radar

The New York Yankees have been eyeing Carlos Rodon as their major addition to the rotation for the 2023 MLB season. There's mutual interest between the two sides, according to the latest rumors, but they are having trouble coming to an agreement.

A sizable gap exists between the Yankees' contract offer to Rodon and the kind of deal that the left-hander is seeking, The New York Post's Jon Heyman reports. Rodon is reportedly looking for a contract worth at least $30 million per season over seven years. There's been skepticism that New York would even go to six years for Rodon.

When free agency began, a five-year, $150 million offer to Rodon seemed like it might be enough to land the 30-year-old. In light of the mega-deals that have been signed this month, Rodon's price tag has gone up.

The Yankees are reportedly Rodon's top choice. That doesn't mean he's going to give New York a discount.

Aaron Judge wanted to remain with the Yankees. In order for the AL MVP to stay in the Bronx, the Yankees had to match the nine-year, $360 million contract that was being offered by the San Francisco Giants.

The Giants have been competing with the Yankees for Rondon, as well. Rodon pitched to a 2.88 ERA in 2022 during his lone season in San Francisco. Now that the Giants have agreed to give Carlos Correa a 13-year, $350 million contract, San Francisco might not be in a position to blow Rodon away with an offer.

The Minnesota Twins and St. Louis Cardinals are interested in Rodon, according to The Star-Ledger's Brendan Kuty. Minnesota has some money to spend following Correa's departure. The Cardinals have been linked to Dansby Swanson, though they have yet to make a splash in free agency.

If Rodon signs elsewhere, the Yankees are expected to pivot toward another starting pitcher. Nathan Eovaldi is believed to be New York's top choice after Rodon, according to Heyman.

Eovaldi is a much cheaper option than Rodon. The 32-year-old might only command a two or three-year deal. Eovaldi is coming off a four-year, $68 million deal with the Boston Red Sox.

Injuries plagued Eovaldi during the first half of his career. After posting a 4.45 ERA in New York from 2015-2016, Eovaldi underwent Tommy John Surgery and was released by the Yankees.

Eovaldi's career was rejuvenated with the Red Sox, for whom he played a key role during their 2018 World Series run. In 109.1 innings last season, Eovaldi had a 3.87 ERA and 109 strikeouts. The right-hander finished fourth in the 2021 AL Cy Young race with a 3.75 ERA in 32 starts.

Rodon finished fifth in the 2021 AL Cy Young race with the Chicago White Sox. He was sixth in the voting for the 2022 NL Cy Young award.