Yankees' 'Told Ya So' Moment Arrives with $162 Million Veteran

It’s taken a while, but Aaron Boone finally got to say “I told ya so,” to the media. The New York Yankees manager has been defending Carlos Rodon since the left-handed starter signed in 2023. Only now is Rodon really backing up what Boone has promised. t.

“He’s about to roll off a bunch in a row,” Boone told reporters Thursday. “I tried to tell you this when he gave up the three-run homers and everyone was losing their mind. … I think they’ve all been very strong.”

Rodon has validated Boone's confidence in his last few starts. Against the Texas Rangers on Thursday, Rodo tossed six shutout innings, surrendering just two hits and striking out eight. It was the type of dominant performance Yankees fans had been waiting to see.

Even in the starts where Rodon wasn't exactly flawless, he was able to grind through appearances and show why Boone's faith was justified. On May 16 against the Mets, Rodon allowed just one run over five innings, overcoming four walks by striking out five and limiting damage. Against Oakland earlier in the month, Rodon flashed brilliance in a minor league band box despite allowing four runs, recording 10 strikeouts without walking a single batter. His May 5 start against the Padres was nearly spotless as he went 6 ⅔ innings and scattered three hits to shut down that powerful lineup.

Advanced analytics boosts Boone's confidence.

Rodón is striking out hitters at an impressive rate of 31.2%, placing him among the elite pitchers in the league. His expected ERA sits at 2.82, suggesting this recent success isn’t a fluke but rather a sustainable trend. Hitters are batting just .197 against him, underscoring his ability to limit hard contact.

Perhaps as important as those numbers is the way Rodon looks on the mound. The emotional and almost petulant pitcher who stormed off the mound and showed up pitching coach Matt Blake in his first season in pinstripes is calm, confident and collected this season.

As Rodon continues this strong stretch, Boone's unwavering confidence looks like it has paid off.