batmagadanleadoff wrote: A settlement doesn't necessarily have to resemble what the arbitrator would have decided. So for example, if both sides concede that K-Rod would, at a minimum, forfeit the remainder of his 2010 salary, post-fight, the Mets might be willing to pay K-Rod's entire salary in exchange for an increase in the number of games K-Rod must finish for the 2012 guarantee to vest. There are an infinite number of ways to settle this matter. Having just said that, I suspect that K-Rod's 2012 salary won't vest. Parnell, or some other reliever that, perhaps, isn't even on our radar yet, will step up and demonstrate that he's capable of pitching the ninth inning (wink, wink). Or the next Mets manager might think that the team's most effective reliever ought to putting out fires whenever they occur, whatever inning they occur. Dumbass question here, but after this is settled is he still a Met?