How many games will K-Rod finish next season?

[Frayed Knot]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: A lot of buzz today that the Mets have offered Rodriguez to the Yankees, but that the Yankees interest is not strong. All of the reports appear to trace back to a tweet from Bob Klapsich, so a few grains of salt may be in order.

The Yanx tend to like to play wait-n-see on deals like this, then convince teams as the deadline approaches that no one else will take their horribly expensive player so they have no choice but to meet the Yanx' price. Last year, for instance, they wound up getting Lance Berkman, Austin Kearns, and Kerry Wood for the stretch drive and paid very little in flesh or in money for any of them.

So even if they decide they do need Rodriguez (which depends, I suppose, on the health/future of their currently absent relievers) their natural tendency to avoid speculation coupled with a desire to make deals only on their own terms means they'll probably deny interest right up to the moment they announce the acquisition.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I heard they offered Jeter.

[Frayed Knot]

Edgy DC wrote: I heard they offered Jeter.

Well they better hurry up then so he can get hit #3,000 where it most fittingly belongs* ... at CitiField.








* or so I've read.

[Guest Edgy DC]

It's an interesting question: Are the Yankees projected to get more performance/dollar from Jeter out of this contract than the Mets are projected to get out of Rodriguez? How about from this point forward? If you neutralize for the reality that Jeter is a PR dreambobat and Rodriguez a relative nightmare, I think the Mets would have to reject such a deal.

[Ceetar]

Edgy DC wrote: It's an interesting question: Are the Yankees projected to get more performance/dollar from Jeter out of this contract than the Mets are projected to get out of Rodriguez? How about from this point forward? If you neutralize for the reality that Jeter is a PR dreambobat and Rodriguez a relative nightmare, I think the Mets would have to reject such a deal.

Jeter's only a PR dreambobat as a Yankee. He's basically Luis Castillo on the Mets. (He'd have to play the Chin-lung Hu role actually)

Mets probably don't derive that much value from Frankie, although they're teetering on the periphery of a 'playoff race' and perhaps removing Frankie, even at that slight downgrade, puts them out of it and makes August September uninteresting? Unless Jeter can pitch?

[Fman99]

Ceetar wrote: Unless Jeter can pitch?

Of course he can pitch. Do you know how many Ford Edge's I own?

[TransMonk]

At least this is the Brewers' bomb to defuse now.

[metirish]

Will K-Rod be the closer there , why did they deal for him anyway?

[TransMonk]

It remains to be seen...but I don't think they want his option to vest any more than we did.

Most likely, he'll set up John Axford.

[metirish]

Is does create a potential problem...Axford starts to suck the calls for K-Rod to close get loud and bang you're on the hook.

[TransMonk]

Like I said...better their problem than ours.

Brewer fans are aware of the option and it's financial impact. I don't think they'll be cheering to bring on that salary...especially since they would probably rather devote that sort of money towards an offer to their FA firstbaseman.

[Ceetar]

metirish wrote: Is does create a potential problem...Axford starts to suck the calls for K-Rod to close get loud and bang you're on the hook.

What's the rate now, 21 games with like 74 or so to play? Probably won't be a dire issue unless Axford starts to suck immediately.

[TransMonk]

Is does create a potential problem...Axford starts to suck the calls for K-Rod to close get loud and bang you're on the hook.

Did Boras spur K-Rod trade?

Phoenix - The timing of the Mets' trade of Francisco "K-Rod" Rodriguez to the Brewers on the night of the All-Star Game might have been more than coincidence. New York baseball writers just pointed out to me that Scott Boras, who just took over as Rodriguez's agent, made all kinds of noise here Monday about the Mets possibly dealing their closer. Boras disputed the notion that the team would trade Rodriguez to be a setup man elsewhere to avoid his $17.5 million option for 2012 vesting. K-Rod has finished 34 games and if he gets to 55, that big option vests. Otherwise, there is a $3.5 million buyout. And I can guarantee you the Brewers have no intention of picking up a $17. 5 million option for a pitcher who isn't what he used to be. Here are some quotes by Boras that ran in Newsday: "Francisco Rodriguez is a historic closer. He's not going anywhere to be a setup man. "Closers don't make good setup men. Does anyone want an unhappy setup man in their clubhouse?" Well, that's exactly what the Brewers might be bringing to their clubhouse, which is pretty tight-knit, by the way. I specifically asked GM Doug Melvin about a possible closer controversy and he turned aside that possibility. He also wouldn't say if Rodriguez or incumben John Axford would be the closer, for obvious reasons. If Melvin designated Rodriguez as the setup man right away, the pitcher and his agent would be outraged. Yet, there's no way the Brewers will let K-Rod finish 21 more games. I can guarantee you that. So let's see how they avoid that controversy and possible huge distraction as they try to make the playoffs. Obviously, K-Rod did not have the Brewers on his 10-team no-trade list. He probably figured they couldn't afford him after he signed a three-year, $37-million deal in December 2009, so why put them on the list? Unable to block a trade to Milwaukee, he had no option but to accept it. There certainly seems to be some potential for this to get messy, doesn't it? That's why it's a calculated gamble on the part of Melvin, who obviously wasn't comfortable with what he saw going on in front of Axford in recent weeks. Boras also represents Prince Fielder, the newly crowned All-Star Game MVP. It has been generally assumed that Fielder will leave via free agency after the season. Maybe the Brewers could promise Boras that K-Rod will close if Fielder signs for a hometown discount? I wouldn't hold my breath on that one, folks

[Ceetar]

It's in interesting thought. I generally ignore most of what Boras says as bluster in public, but if K-Rod truly planned to block a trade as a setup man, that would certainly kill a lot of the leverage.

I wonder if it was the otherway around, that Frankie switched to Boras when he learned the Mets were going to trade him and his option likely wouldn't be vesting. Boras' might be making sure everyone knows "He's a closer not a reliever" so as to try to emphasize that he will command closer money in the offseason.

[Vic Sage]

the only way he commands a good off-season contract is to:

1- accept the fact that NO TEAM on earth is going to allow his 17.5m option to vest; so
2- he's going to be a setup man/part-time closer the rest of the way, and therefore
3- if he makes a fuss about it, and becomes a clubhouse cancer and a distraction for a playoff contending team, he will be
4- fucking himself royally.

Forget the 17.5m, Frankie. Go be a good boy, play nice with the other cheddarheads, show you can be a good player on a playoff team, and you'll get a nice deal for next year. Or be a jerkoff and risk becoming untouchable. Your choice.

[Guest Edgy DC]

He'll get his $17.5 million. He just has to get it over a longer period.

At the end of his career, a few million he'll get a few million (or more) that he won't have earned anyway.

[MFS62]

In answer to the thread title's question, I don't give a flying rat's rectum anymore.

Later

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

MFS62 wrote: In answer to the thread title's question, I don't give a flying rat's rectum anymore. Later

/FLYING HIGH FIVE

[Frayed Knot]

Welcome to Scotty-land:
"Francisco Rodriguez is a historic closer". -- No he isn't
"He's not going anywhere to be a setup man." -- Yes he is
"Closers don't make good setup men." -- Oh bullshit
"Does anyone want an unhappy setup man in their clubhouse?" -- One who needs to pitch well over a short period of time or trash his earning power for next year and beyond ... Sure!

[metirish]

Boras sure loves the historic nonsense.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

'twould be Awesome if Axford falls down the stairs today.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Or fails a drug test.

[Vic Sage]

Is that schadenfreude i smell emanating from his Edgeness?
I didn't think you indulged in such mean-spirited thoughts.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Well, I don't want him to fall down the stairs, now, do I?

[Vic Sage]

oh, good point.

[Guest attgig]

hey may get that 17.5 mil to vest. brewers are getting 5mil. that means they're getting krod for free this year. if the option vests, they're paying 17.5 mil for 1.5 seasons which is ~11.5 mil a year - which is what we paid him last year and this year.

it won't be the end of the world for milwakee to let the option vest.

[Vic Sage]

depends on how they budget and account. But they may not amortize their operating costs in that way. In fact, a small-market team is unlikely to, working more on a cash-basis style of annual accounting, where profits from 1 year do NOT factor into increasing a team's budget for the following year.

In other words, the $5m this year will help their bottom line THIS year. Next year, they'd still be staring down the barrel of a $17.5m closer, while trying to resign their slugging 1Bman. End of the world? No, nothing in baseball is "end of the world." But not a management situation i would envy, either, nor healthy for their ability to keep their nucleus together. I'm feeling like they made this deal to help their bullpen this year, and will be thrilled to be out from under next year's option.