PHOENIX -- The Giants have not had a reputation in recent years of being aggressive with big free agents, but they were the first team to make a splash once the offseason resumed on Thursday.
The organization and left-hander Carlos Rodón agreed to a two-year, $44 million contract that completes the rotation and gives Rodón just his second big league home. During an appearance on 95.7 The Game on Friday afternoon, Rodón said the deal came together "pretty quick" after the lockout ended.
"The Giants were fairly aggressive," Rodón said. "They just went right to it, kind of met my needs and what I wanted. I heard a lot about the organization ... I've only heard very, very good things about the (Giants). When they came to the table and offered me a contract, it was hard to say no."
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Rodón now joins a rotation that has four veterans and is led by one of the best young pitchers in the National League in Logan Webb. It's a group that should keep the reigning NL West champions in contention, and he said last year's success caught his eye. Rodón noted that the Giants soared past 100 wins, saying it's hard to say no to that kind of achievement.
"Last year definitely helped their resume," he said. "Everyone knows that the Giants organization is a winning organization. There are a lot of championships in the last (few years), they've been in the mix and they've won quite a few times, so that speaks for itself."
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Rodón said he has played with former Giants who had nothing but positive reviews (his pitching coach in Chicago, Ethan Katz, was previously on Gabe Kapler's staff), but his biggest connection to the NL West right now is with a rival. Dodgers shortstop Trea Turner was Rodón's teammate at North Carolina State. Rodón said he's excited to jump into what should be another tight race.
San Francisco Giants
"There's a lot of good players within those two teams," he said of the Dodgers and San Diego Padres. "The NL West is no joke. It's the big boy league, that's for sure."