White Sox’ Carlos Rodon ready to increase workload

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Two hundred innings is the next logical step for Carlos Rodon, who pitched 139 1/3 with 23 starts for the White Sox as a rookie last season.

Rodon wants that, there is no doubt, but he knows it’s probably best not to publicly state goals. The 200 innings question has come up about a half dozen times with media this spring, he said.

“Everyone keeps on asking me that,’’ he said Saturday. “I know you want an answer but I don’t really have one right now. That’s the conversation we’ll stumble upon later this spring. I’m not really thinking about a number for innings right now.’’

Rodon (9-6, 3.75 ERA) was given three breaks, skipping starts at intervals throughout the season. He finished strong, allowing no more than two runs in each of his last eight starts. The competitor in him wants no part of breaks this season.

“I hope not,’’ he said. “I hope I can go every five days for as long as I can. Whatever the innings limit is, if there is any at all, they’ll stop me when they need to.

“I didn’t really get a chance to experience any because of a 140-150 limit and they’re trying to extend you through the whole season and cut you off a month before the season ends. There were weeks where I had a whole week or eight days off so there wasn’t really time to get too fatigued on a regular rotation schedule.’’