Carlos Rodón's highly anticipated Yankees debut hasn't gone as planned. After signing a massive contract, his first few starts have been marred by injury and inconsistency.
In his latest outing against the Los Angeles Angels, Rodón struggled mightily, giving up two two-run home runs in the first two innings. His performance drew the ire of Yankees fans, even those on the road, to whom Rodón responded with a less-than-gracious gesture.
Rodón's final line was a painful six earned runs and five walks in just 4⅓ innings, a career worst in terms of runs allowed and walks surrendered in such a short outing. This performance underscores the broader struggles of the Yankees this season.
The Yankees' $162 million investment in Rodón, the second-largest pitching contract since 2019, was expected to bolster their rotation. However, his early struggles mirror the team's overall disappointing performance. The Yankees currently find themselves in last place in the AL East in July, a position they haven't occupied since 1990.
The absence of reigning MVP Aaron Judge due to a toe injury has undoubtedly impacted the team's performance. Since Judge's injury, the Yankees have a 14-21 record, among the worst in baseball. Their offensive production has plummeted, ranking near the bottom of the league in runs scored, batting average, and OPS.
Hopes of a turnaround against the Rockies and Angels were dashed as the Yankees lost both series. Now, they are fighting to stay in the wild-card race, trailing the Houston Astros by several games. The team's struggles raise serious concerns about their postseason prospects, something that seemed unthinkable at the start of the season.
The Yankees' current predicament highlights the risk of relying heavily on individual players, even highly paid stars. Rodón's underperformance and Judge's injury have exposed the team's lack of depth and offensive firepower. The coming weeks will be crucial for the Yankees to find a way to turn their season around, or they risk missing the playoffs for the first time in several years.
