New York Yankee buys $8.8 million Snell Isle waterfront estate
By Breanne Williams
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: May 8, 2023

Carlos Rodón, a pitcher for the New York Yankees, has purchased a waterfront home in the Snell Isle neighborhood of St. Petersburg for $8.8 million, according to Pinellas County property records.

A private entity closed on the 6,037-square-foot home on April 28, according to a deed filed in Pinellas. A $6.16 million mortgage for the home purchase is linked to Rodón's trust.

The lender was Bank of America. The home was built in 2022 by the seller, Tampa-based Devonshire Custom Homes. Zach Zehnder with Keller Williams St. Pete Realty represented Devonshire in the transaction.

The sale price breaks down to approximately $1,458 per square foot.

“This home has some of the most beautiful views of the downtown skyline and Pier, while also having open water views,” Zehnder said. “In addition, it is on a protected estuary offering great sea life and is not on a busy channel. The locations on the channel offer nice views, but you have constant wave action in your backyard and boats flying by. Here you have the highly coveted skyline views while being on a calmer, protected estuary without constant boat traffic.”

The home sits on a 0.31-acre lot and includes an oversized three-car garage with additional space for a workshop or golf cart parking. There are five bedrooms including a VIP suite on the main level, five full bathrooms and two half bathrooms.

The home includes a two-story grand foyer and the main level has 12-foot ceilings with natural light and water views from nearly every room. There's a “dirty kitchen” that features a separate dishwasher, sink and oven, leaving the main kitchen free for entertaining.

The outdoor space features a heated pool and spa with infinity edge pool, an outdoor kitchen, a new dock and 20,000-pound boat lift, and a new sea wall.

Zehnder said with the shifting market people are prioritizing move-in-ready homes that are "considerably more affordable to insure, significantly lower utility bills and more predictable property maintenance.” The resale value on those properties is also better, and that also plays a role in how people invest in these luxury properties, Zehnder said.

“Insurance premium renewals coming in much higher than years prior have really encouraged people to start to go away from these older homes," Zehnder said. "Not entirely, but more people are now going toward newer homes. In most cases, you can own a more expensive, newer home for the same overall price as a less expensive, older home because of the insurance costs, continued maintenance and utilities. People are willing to pay a few extra bucks for the newer builds where those factors aren’t a problem.”

In December 2022, Rodón signed a six-year, $162 million contract with the Yankees. He started the season on the injured list due to a forearm muscle strain he sustained during spring training. He has previously played for the Chicago White Sox and the San Francisco Giants. Rodón is a two-time MLB All-Star.