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Big League Stew

Tue Dec 09, 2008 5:12 pm EST

Get ready to scream at K-Rod, Mets fans; he's your closer now

By David Brown

Francisco Rodriguez now can throw his arms in the air and let loose a primal scream. Oh, he already has.

No, he didn't turn up 21 out the chute at the Bellagio.

He's under contract with the New York Mets, pending a physical and paperwork.

AP sources report that Rodriguez, who set a major league record with 62 saves this past season, agreed in principle to a $37-million, three-year deal on Tuesday.

Going from the Big A to the Big Apple, Rodriguez is charged with strengthening the back of the Mets bullpen, which tied for the NL lead in blown saves (St. Louis Cardinals, shame on you, too!) in 2008. Billy Wagner is gone and, as a result of Rodriguez's pending arrival, Luis Ayala, Duaner Sanchez and Aaron Heilman et al will have to confine their save blowing to 6th, 7th and 8th innings, respectively.

K-Rod (as the tabloids, cheeky bloggers and others call him) had hoped for many more millions and a few more years on his deal, especially after breaking Bobby Thigpen's single-season record that had stood since 1990.

He also finished sixth in AL MVP voting and third in Cy Young, but a combination of factors — from too big of a suppy of relievers in the pool to concerns about his future durability to whatever effect the recession is having on the majors — limited his take in free agency.

Brian Fuentes, Trevor Hoffman and any other potential closers still on the market have to find another work address.

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43 Comments

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  1. supplementalguy
    1. Posted by supplementalguy Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:49 pm EDT

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    Fat chance that Aaron Heilman will ever have a chance at another NY inning ... and Ayala pitched extremely well under tough circumstances last year ... I'll give him any inning he wants. Sanchez? Not so much ... unless his arm strength returns to pre-taxicab accident status ...
    Go Mets!
  2. Saro G
    2. Posted by Saro G Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:46 pm EDT

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    K-Rod and Joba can compete for biggest hot dog pitcher in New York.
    Believe it or not, Aaron Heilman has drawn trade interest as a starter, so there's a good bet he'll be gone next year,
  3. pmlmotorsports
    3. Posted by pmlmotorsports Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:14 pm EDT

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    Oh joy..........Here comes our Savior.... I'll bet anyone willing to wager he blows 5 of the 1st 15 save opportunities....and 20% overall in his 1st season. By mid-season 2010, the national league will figure him out...and he'll respond by going on the DL. He'll then start the 2011 season on the IR..........and then we'll all hear how Omar could've never forseen this happening. Poor mechanics, a violent delivery, and poor fielding at his position.... the perfect closer.
  4. dave r
    4. Posted by dave r Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:08 pm EDT

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    And the winner is ME PML post number 3 you came in under 10 just like a good horse should. Ok so which closer do you want? Let me guess ...........Joe Borowski ?
  5. Winitall
    5. Posted by Winitall Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:35 pm EDT

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    NYC will rattle K-Rod and his act will wear thin pretty fast. This isn't LALA land where half the crowd has already left by the time he takes the mound. Trading for Putz would have made more sense as he has a much better professional demeanor, has twice the amount of 1-2-3 innings as K-Rod and is a smarter player. But he's not Hispanic so that would never happen.
  6. John M
    6. Posted by John M Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:57 pm EDT

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    Keep throwing money at it, something might stick. But chances are he'll turn into another choking pig come September. Go PHILS!!
  7. Saro G
    7. Posted by Saro G Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:46 pm EDT

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    Putz also missed a ton of games last year. And what's not to say the Mets trade for him to make him a setup guy?
  8. Saro G
    8. Posted by Saro G Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:46 pm EDT

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    Yeah, John, how dare the Mets sign someone who plays a position they need.
    Go cash your welfare check for some hoagies.
  9. Saro G
    9. Posted by Saro G Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:46 pm EDT

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    And for the record, John, K-Rod's contract is basically the same as Lidge's.
  10. MACK
    10. Posted by MACK Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:38 pm EDT

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    Don't be a HATER.....Mets got the BEST closer on the market after getting the BEST pitcher last year! KROD is a winner.....not like AROD! He's got playoff experience and the guy gets outs when needed....nobody can downplay this signing.....AWESOME PICKUP! You Phillies fans should be scared! I just hope Omar keeps it going.....how about OLLIVER PEREZ, BEN SHEETS, ORLANDO HUDSON and some middle relief and they'd be great. GREAT START METS!
  11. dave r
    11. Posted by dave r Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:08 pm EDT

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    XMAN Question How many titles has Putz won ?
    Saro G Putz was a set up man when Sasaki was Closing .
  12. Brad A
    12. Posted by Brad A Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:01 pm EDT

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    Are you guys baseball fans? Krod is the best there is in the 9th besides maybe Papelbon and Mo. He may make you nervous on a couple of 1 run saves but he is money with a 2 or 3 run lead. Last I checked Johan who the Mets are paying a TON of cash to, was screwed out of more than 4 or 5 wins last year. The Mets should be grateful they got such a great deal in terms of money and years. The Phils should be worried because it is just a matter of time until Lidge remembers what Prince Albert did to him in Houston!!! Has that ball ever come down?
  13. Rattle and Hum
    13. Posted by Rattle and Hum Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:17 pm EDT

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    XMAN... Have you ever considered that perhaps acquiring Putz wouldn't happen because it's easier to sign K-Rod via free agency than it would be to TRADE for Putz and Seattle would demand the few legit prospects we have left??
    Sadly, instead, you opt to take the lazy way and jump on the intolerance/ignorance bandwagon, pulling the Hispanic attack. Get a life already! We need a true closer and we'll signing K-Rod to LESS than we paid for Billy Wagner.
    If you don't like that foreign-born Hispanic players (not including U.S.-born like A-Rod) account for roughly 30% of MLB rosters throughout the country, maybe you should go watch hockey. True Mets fans root for the team, not for what the name on the back of the jersey sounds like.
  14. Pat R
    14. Posted by Pat R Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:41 pm EDT

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    How can K-rod save a game if the mets bullpen cant get it to him?
    GO PHILS!
  15. Pat R
    15. Posted by Pat R Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:41 pm EDT

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    How can K-rod save a game if the mets bullpen cant get it to him?
    GO PHILS!
  16. jeffutlaw
    16. Posted by jeffutlaw Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:32 pm EDT

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    Brad A, that is a very very common misconception about K-Rod being the best there is in the 9th.
    Check out the numbers, he was about the fifth best closer in the AL last year. Behind Mo, Papelbon, Soria, and Nathan.
    Sure he set the save record, but he also set the record for save opportunities. And he blew 10% of them.
    Ask any Angels fan why they aren't sad to see him go.
  17. bakksfg
    17. Posted by bakksfg Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:01 pm EDT

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    The Phils should be worried because it is just a matter of time until Lidge remembers what Prince Albert did to him in Houston!!! Has that ball ever come down?
    yes it did, it is sitting on his mantle right beside his world series ring. congrats on the signing mets fans, but you still have a TON of problems. you have to get from the 6th to K-Rod. mediocre starting staff and an aging team. closers are a crapshoot. good luck with this 1. guy is going to break down eventually, just hope it isn't 2009.
    hopefully he doesn't fold like a pup tent like the rest if your roster and you can avoid the same old same old and make it interesting this year.
  18. Brandon G- Talkhoops.net
    18. Posted by Brandon G- Talkhoops.net Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:09 pm EDT

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    I'm confused. Does this mean Billy Wagner is going to start blowing games in the 8th?
  19. Brad A
    19. Posted by Brad A Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:01 pm EDT

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    SO SORRY JEFF! Your right Nathan is better tha Krod but Soria? He might be legit in a couple of years but Krod has been doing this since he won the Angels the world championship! Do you remember that? The Angles who were irrelavent in Los Angeles before that championship run, who without Glaus and Krod would have given that ROID MONGER Bonds a title. Yeah those Angels are really happy to get rid of Krod? Next your going to tell me that Tex isn't worth the $120-140 million that he is asking for because his numbers say he is only the 5th best firstbaseman in baseball. You want to check numbers? How bout you look at Krod's numbers for the last 3 seasons against the best closers in baseball....you'll be surprised!!!
    BTW....GO DODGERS!!!
  20. mike d
    20. Posted by mike d Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:51 pm EDT

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    You Mets fans will see the truth about K-Rod soon enough. K-Rod is about one wild pitch away from a torn rotator cuff. This guy loads the bases everytime his number is called. Ask an Angel fan, and they'll tell you exactly what they think of him.
  21. Marco
    21. Posted by Marco Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:40 pm EDT

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    I hope the mets sign every free agent...itll just make it sweeter when they choke again and the fightins run past them for another division titleeeeee
    ws champs 2008!!
  22. taco102
    22. Posted by taco102 Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:54 pm EDT

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    now time to fill in the rest of the pen and get a left fielder and a 2nd baseman.... still so much left to do
  23. Nicole M
    23. Posted by Nicole M Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:25 pm EDT

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    can i just say that the phillies suck.. i mean, cmon how long will it be before people find out the truth about ryan howards steroid use, and jimmy rollins blowing coke.. seriously.. and the mets signed 1 free agent. Yes, it was the best AVAILABLE closer. Yes, I am happy, but it is going to take a few more little pieces to the puzzle before they are back to what they were in 06. a full good year from delgado, a healthy beltran, wright doing what he does, and a not tired reyes. Castillo returning to form, and church and tatis as good as they started off last year. That is what we need to pounce over the phillies and keep the braves at bay.. florida and the nats.. well, we can forget about them, especially with florida trading away their big bat with jacobs, and one of their best pitchers is scott olsen.
  24. zack
    24. Posted by zack Thu Sep 03, 2009 11:00 pm EDT

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    yea ayala's 5.50 era in ny really gets him another shot next year?
    so teams hate the mets cause they dance and celebrate (reyes) too much- and they just added the biggest showboat out there? that hsould be fun to watch when marlins kick their butts again
  25. warick1234
    25. Posted by warick1234 Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:40 pm EDT

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    Wheres SID FINCH when we need him? Time to go for a starter now.
    Now that we have a reliever, why dont the Mets resign Pedro, sign Wood, (2 of the 3) Fuentes, possibly trade for Street, and/or Putz. You will have your 6th, 7th, and 8th inning relievers and closer in (lhp) Fuentes, (rhp) Putz and Street (no particular order).
    Heilman, who came up as and wants to be a starter again, Wood, Pedro, Niese, and Vargas can all be given a chance as #4 and #5 starters in spring training. The ones who dont make the grade can be kept for middle relief or emergency starters.
    After showcasing what they can do as starters, if they dont want to pitch middle inning relief, long relief, or spot starters, trade them away for whatever you can get for them. Either they want to be team players or send them packing!

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