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Relief Pitcher: K-Rod did have Physical
By Matthew Cerrone - Nov 17, 2008 8:31 am

On Sunday, according to Lider en Deportes, Francisco Rodriguez told reporters in Venezuela that he traveled to the United States on Saturday to get a blood test and take an MRI to verify his health for teams who are interested in signing him.

so, basically, he was getting checked out for his own medical report, which he and his agent will give to inquiring teams, not just the Mets…

Interestingly, though, when asked about the report last night in El Universal, which reported Rodriguez was in New York City to have a physical, Rodriguez’s agent, Paul Kinzer, told MLB.com, “Unless I know nothing about it, there’s no truth to it…it wasn’t for a physical.”

…so, it’s understandable that the Mets denied last night’s report, and were ‘annoyed,’ as the Bergen Record wrote, because technically they had nothing to do with the physical, and it was certainly not being done in advance of a signing…

…however, kinzer might want to give his client a call…since, despite what the agent told MLB.com, according to K-Rod, the closer was apparently inspected by someone in a white coat, who took his blood and gave him an MRI…and, i would hope it was a doctor…i’m just saying

“Right now, nothing is concrete,” Rodriguez told reporters of negotiations, adding that his agent will be sending his medical report to interested teams.

According to Rodriguez, the Mets, among other teams, have already been in contact with Kinzer.

Update9:17 am

the best part of all of this is learning that his nickname in his hometown is ‘El Kid Rodriguez,’ according to Andres M, who helped translate the article for MetsBlog…

31 Responses to “Relief Pitcher: K-Rod did have Physical”

  1. Razor Shines says:

    I like the direction this is taking. Last year we could have had Santana in December or early January if we just parted with F-Mart and ended it like a lot of home GMs wanted, but Omar was patient and it paid off. I think a little more patience and smoke signals that we are not all that interested will get him here for three years and $50mil with an option for a fourth.

  2. mikey_FF says:

    There will be no more mocking of the foreign papers…

  3. dominicanboy08 says:

    I know its not official yet, but I would love to see k-rod get a save against the phillies at CBP and celebrate like crazy like he always does.

    • alex242 says:

      that’d be sweet.. with that been said there will be a lot of new york haters who would critize that as usual.. he’s been doing that his whole life, but it will escalade once he’s here in ny.. GO METS!!!!

    • Jennut4 says:

      K-Rod is emotional? I haven’t heard much about his personality.Does he kied to be involved with reporters?Billy Wagner put on quite a soap opera drama last year with the press.I ‘ll miss that!!I think it would be totally entertaining to see K-Rod and Reyes together this coming year.Can he fill Wagners shoes(healthy shoes)?

  4. iamatwork says:

    I think calling what they have done a “physical” is an understatement. A physical takes an hour or two, a pro athlete physical takes 8-10 hours and includes running on a treadmill for an hour, MRIs galore, and blood tests.

  5. Elastic says:

    Maybe the Mets will take the DNA from K-Rod’s blood sample and clone themselves an army of closers.

  6. Daaaaaaaaarryl says:

    This still doesn’t make sense to me.

    Why would K-Rod waste his time getting his medical report ready for when teams ask for it??

    If I’m the Mets, or any team for that matter, I’m not signing a player without MY doctors evaluating him. Especially for that kind of money.

    Somethin’ still fishy about this whole thing.

  7. LetsGoMets123 says:

    They said on ESPN radio that the Mets have made formal offers to K-Rod for three years and an option, and to Brian Fuentes also

    • Razor Shines says:

      Above I said 3/$50, but my math was off. If they can get him for 3 and an option and under 15 per, they should do it and move on.

  8. stickguy says:

    not really a bad idea, and quite Omarish, to let the available guys play against themselves.

    If they know that there is a limited number of prime opportunities, and that someone may get shut out (and get a smaller deal, or less desirable job) it puts pressure on one of them to just take the deal on the table before the other one does.

    heck, put an offer out for Woods too. make things interesting.

    Make them fair but not overly generous, and the first one that bites gets it.

    If they all pa-ss, you haven’t really lost anything. At least having an offer on the table means they for sure will be checking in before signing!

    • HOFMets57 says:

      Great point.

      Let’s review…

      Available closers in free agency: K-Rod, Fuentes, Wood, Hoffman, Lyons, Cruz

      Available closers on the market (trades): Jenks, Putz, Street, Valverde

      Teams who are actively looking for a closer: NYM, CLE, STL, TEX, DET (excluding LAA because they’ve stated they’ve moved on and will give their flamethrower Arredondo the opportunity to close)

      That’s 10 closers (AT LEAST) for 5 teams in definite interest for a closer. There could be more closers available via trade or more teams who aren’t making it known publicly they’re looking for a closer.

      Regardless, supply easily trumps demand this year. And it bodes well for Omar…

  9. bkfitz says:

    “and, i would hope it was a doctor…i’m just saying…”

    He went to the United States for the check up. Not Guatemala.