In an appearance tonight on SNY, SI.com’s Jon Heyman said the Mets offered Francisco Rodriguez a two-year deal, with a third-year option, at roughly $12 million per season.
Earlier today, on MetsBlog.com, I wrote the following:
“According to people connected to the team, the Mets believe they can sign Rodriguez to a three-year deal before the end of the week. However, there is also a chance Rodriguez could agree to a two-year deal, with a third-year player option.”
Heyman says, due to the economy, the Mets feel maybe they can get a bargain, ‘though I don’t expect him to take it.’
According to Heyman, it should take at least a three-year deal to sign Rodriguez.
…as i said earlier, i still believe the deal will be three years as well, with a fourth-year option, as most people have been suggesting…i mean, if K-Rod ever dropped to that two-year level, i have to think other teams will get involved, like the Tigers and Brewers…unless, of course, the Mets up the per-year salary, which would be creative…
Update, 6:42 PM:
In a post to his blog for Newsday, David Lennon says Rodriguez was recently spotted in the lobby of the Bellagio speaking with Mets VP Tony Bernazard.
According to Lennon, “When approached by reporters, K-Rod said the Mets told him not to talk about their discussions.”
Lennon and Heyman will appear on tonight’s 7 pm edition of Mets Hot Stove on SNY, as will Matt Yalloff’s footage from the lobby of the Bellagio in Las Vegas.
{ 104 comments }
I hope they dont insult their new closer who just set the all time save record and wind up with Brian Fuentes for the same money.
And what was wrong with the 3 year deal with the 4th year option.
And I’m so tempted to make fun of Omar….
What the Heck, Omar can you do something right?
I thin Omar is working this KRod signing perfectly
*think
I agree flip. Although I’d still rather them go after Wood if they’re going to go after K-rod there’s zero reason to overpay to get him.
I know, I’m just impatient… I’ll have to try hard not to go insane this offseason.
I really don’t like this new format btw.
2 years?
did omar make k-rod pay for the steak dinner too?
Minaya is going to endd up with egg on his face offering derisory deals to AS 26 year old closers.
2 years and an option?
That is a joke.
yea but hopefully they dont get cheap. I mean signing Fuentes b/c of a few mil or an extra year is not an excuse
Its not a joke its strategy
Really? THAT’S what they offered him? They could’ve at least offered him a deal that he would accept.
I will happily eat crow if he accepts this…
serously. enough beating around the bush.
give him his 4 year deal and be done with it.
a 2 year offer, with a 3rd year option for the league leading closer? I’d take that as an insult.
he’ll just resign with the Angels for 3/40 at this rate.
That they think K Rod is interchangeable with 33 year old reliever who lost his job twice is beyond stupidity.
Stop the games, give him the money and lets move on.
LOL what if Krod accepts this??
HAHAHA Id be so shocked
I think Omar AND Wilpon who is there as well just needs to give him the 3yr deal we all know is he eventually will get, and move on to the next problem IE set up man..the street deal is already burned to crap, so now they need to search else where, get the closer signed and move on..the is TOOOO MUCH that needs to be done to prevent yet ANOTHER DISAPPOINTING YEAR
Yeah…I feel that Omar has played it right in waiting for the market to come to them, but when we are going to make an offer, lets make a strong, but fair offer that will get the job done. I highly doubt that K-Rod is going to accept a 2 yr deal. 3 with an option and hes still a free agent before he’s 30. First comment but i figured this would be a great time to break my cherry. Love this week.
Well put …..Get it done Omar 3/37.5 4TH yr plyr opt..Next!!
Just good negotiating technique. You want to give 3 years with an option. Offer two, so when he comes back asking for 3 years, you cave in and give him what YOU wanted.
I’m a bit uneasy about this. I know the economy is in trouble, but this is a closer that has the Major league record for total saves in a season. I think he deserves more than 2-3 years.
Hopefully he ate some really good steak, and has tons of bonuses and rewards thrown in.
you know this whole “economy” stance is direct from Jeffy’s mouth.. HE said the same stupid thing at the Citi Field preview.
Gice up the coin Jeff and bring us a REAL CLOSER.
We know you read this.
WHY would you offer TWO YEARS and make him a free agent RIGHT WHEN Mariano Rivera’s contract expires???
Why should we just give him what he wants when there’s two other options on the market, one who’s a better pitcher and won’t cost a draft pick, obviously we’d rather have k-rod because of the age and not having the injury history but not to the point where they should offer k-rod 50/4 or something when Wood can be had for less than 20/2. K-rod is just not that much better of an option. Especially when you factor in giving up a first rounder.
I just want to point out the obvious that a 2 year deal with a player option for the third year is better (from the player’s perspective) than a straight 3 year deal.
Minaya is a bullpen-clown.
This is only to be expected i guess.
BRUTAL.
As long as we come out with the best possible closer for this team, I don’t care how long Omar takes or what his strategy is. — although I’ll admit to getting a little nervous and impatient myself…..
And BTW, I know I’ve said it before but I too hate this new format. Would have been nice if Matt would have at least told us the ‘why’ for the change. If it couldn’t be helped, so be it. If it was a choice – well, I just don’t see the advantage to this.
Some of you really don’t understand how to negotiate something, do you…
Yeah, I know it’s “just business”, but that was an insult, if it’s true. A guy like him, who just broke the record, bad economy, injury risk, buyers market for closers aside, shouldn’t be dissed like that. If this is true and I were him, I’d go somewhere else – again, if it’s true. Sign Castillo to 4 years, Schowenblow to 3 and then have the nuts to dare and offer the all-time single season saves leader 2 years. I dunno.
Actually, this is smart. Omar would be betting against himself if he first offered a 3 or 4 yr deal cuz K-Rod would then go to other teams to try and get a better offer. In negotiations you have to start low if you’re buying and high if you’re selling. K-rod wants 5, so Omar offered 2. They’ll meet at 3 with a mutual option.
Metsfan4decades, apparently Matt did explain why, something about increased traffic idk. And it’s only temporary.
Gina — who is the “better pitcher”? Wood who cant get thru a season without an injury and his own team doesnt want to offer him arbitration or Fuentes who cant keep his job?
Also who cares if he broke the record. He also lost velocity, his k/9 decreased, his bb/9 increased, and his WHIP has been increasing the last 3 years and is higher than Fuentes or Wood. There’s no reason to go overboard and overrate K-rod just because of breaking the save record.
I think Mariano is a free agent in 3 years. Not positive on that though.
(26) Sylar, you are a villain.
i agree CVER.. this reeks of Jeff wilpon getting involved.. He should stick to roulette
I agree with BiggieSmalls, I really hope the Mets don’t think K-Rod and Fuentes are on the same level…I like what someone posted on MLBTR the other day:
2009: $12M
2010: $13M
2011: $14M
2012: $15M (VESTING OPTION)
That’s 3 years, $39 million guaranteed, with the option year making it 4 years, $54 million. That’s a fair contract for the Mets and K-Rod.
Gina who is the better pitcher?
K-rod
ERA SV SO WHIP
2.24 62 77 1.29
Fuentes
ERA W-L SV SO WHIP
2.73 1-5 30 82 1.10
Wood
ERA W-L SV SO WHIP
3.26 5-4 34 84 1.09
I’d say K-Rod, you also have to factor in that he is playing in the American League.
Wood couldn’t get through a season with out an injury when he was starting. The only injury he has last year was a blister which is common.
On MLB.com according to a report from Foxsports.com the Mets offered a 3 yr deal. So who knows.
K-Rod IS the better pitcher.
He is the best pitcher of the three I listed, here is also Trevor Hoffman.
ERA W-L SV SO WHIP
3.77 3-6 30 46 1.04
Gina,
Fuentes is 33 years old, and lost his job and was demoted to the minors as recently as 2007! When they had any success, he was mired in middle relief!!
And Wood has been a closer for one year, where in the NL, his ERA was 3.26 (over a run higher thank K-Rod’s AL ERA), and over his ten year career, he has been seriously injured every year. Wood also only had 2 less innings pitched than K-Rod, so the “K-Rod is over-worked” argument doesn’t work.
K-Rod is 26 years old, has been a tremendous closer in a big market in the AL for 6 years, and has the personality for NYC. He’s the most proven of these guys, and frankly, he’s the best. Mets need to not be frugal, and just give the guy a fair contract.
I’m not investing money in an often injured pitcher or a pitcher that lost his closers job twice. Yeah, Wood starting is when the injuries occured but K-Rod’s been closing ever since he came up in an Angels uniform. He gets the job done at a high level and broke the record for saves.
Is it possible that the deal was 2 years with a 1 year option, making it 3 overall? I’m also getting mixed reports on how long the contract is for.
Wood.
k/9 11.40
bb/9 2.44
WHIP 1.09
K-rod
k/9 10.14
bb/9 4.48
WHIP 1.29
I’m not saying I wouldn’t rather have K-rod when you factor in the injury history. Just that I wouldn’t overpay for him when Wood can be had for so much cheaper and would allow you to spend more money on more bullpen arms as well as not having to worry about losing a draft pick.
Maineiac, Heyman reported 2 years with a third year option, and FoxSports is reporting a guaranteed 3 year offer
K Rod is changin from a thrower to a pitcher..
Wood threw 20 innings in 2006 and 24 in ALL OF 2007 before 66 in 2008.
he is a walking injury risk. The Cubs thought so much of him they didnt even offer Arb for the chance they would have to pay him big $$ for ONE YEAR>
breaking news
omar and paris wilpon didn’t take k-rod to a top steak house. they took him home and cooked him a nice bbq steak. saved the mets a few hundred dollars.
they drank a nice red wine made from aged welch’s grape juice
why does this make me nervous??
Gina, John Kruk said it perfectly on ESPN during the Hot Stove show. Mets need a splash. Over the last two years, if the Mets had any kind of bullpen, they’d have three straight NL East crowns right now. Kerry Wood is not the splash.
And about the money issue, they play in New York City, have their own TV network, and are going into a new, beautiful, luxurious ballpark. They can afford K-Rod and some more relievers, trust me.
gina who cares if wood strikes out one more batter per 9 innings and gives up a few less hits a season.
k-rod is younger, more durable, proven, and gives up less runs. alot less runs to be exact.
The Cubs didn’t offer him arb because they’re owners are going bankrupt and they’re loaded down with back loaded terrible contracts. Its the same reason they’re trying to dump Marquis and haven’t really been linked to any free agents.
Not to mention couldn’t you make the same argument with the Angels not bringing back their 26 year old closer who just broke the saves record?
biggiesmalls
the cubs didnt resign him b/c Marmol is going to be the next K-Rod thats why
Wood is gonna get 8-10 mil and Fuentes probably the same. I’d spend an extra 2-4 mil for the real deal K-Rod any day.. esp. for three plus an option..
To offer 2 plus an option is down right insulting..
The Mets have turned off Free Agents before with their arrogant penny pinching negotiations.
Oh how I miss our 2006 bullpen.
Oliver and Bradford, why did we let two pivotal parts of the bullpen go?
First step in fixing our bullpen is signing K-Rod to replace Wagner, then get durable quality relief pitchers.
oleosmirf he gives up alot less runs to be exact? he gave up 3 less runs last year.
Also we made a huge splash last year with Santana and what did it do? We ended up a game better. Making splashes isn’t what matters it’s building a team around the big names.
The Angels have a 3/40 offer on teh table for K Rod and offered him Arb.. The Cubs let Wood just cold walk away.. not even offer ONE Year of Arb..
I dont think Tribune’s Bankrupcy has a real play in this negotiation with Wood. They just didnt feel he was worth the coin even for One year when they had other options.
If he accepted Arb and signs elsewhere they get the draft picks if he goes to arb he makes some money but can be traded..
Looks more like a lack of confidence in his ability to stay healthy
then how do you explain the era?
So K-Rod was talking with Satan, erm, Tony?
Doesn’t sound like he feels “disrespected”
“The Angels have a 3/40 offer on teh table”
Are you definitely sure the offer is still active? Maybe Gina finally swayed Omar, and he will look to sign Wood for less money and saving the pick.
Oleosmirf what do you mean how do I explain the ERA? That’s the difference 3 runs. Which is why ERA isn’t a very good indicator for relief pitchers they pitch so few innings usually it gets easily skewed.
Gina, according to SI, and other news outlets, the Tribune’s bankruptcy has NOTHING to do with the Cubs. So they flat-out didn’t offer him arb because it’s guaranteed he’s going to get hurt.
Could we trade for Peavy ??? Zero chance?? Heilmann,Fmart,Evans,Kunz ..maybe get back another minor league Aball kid ??
The articles say the cubs were named as part of the bankruptcy. Not that the bankruptcy has nothing to do with them. There’s a reason the cubs have been up for sale forever, they can’t afford them. And they’re trying to dump salary and lower the payroll so they’re more attractive to a buyer. With all the backloaded contracts they currently have if they can get rid of some of the players their payroll is expected to balloon to like 160+ million in the next 2-3 years.
Say the cubs were not named as part of the bankruptcy*
well the difference wasnt 3 runs it was 7 earned runs which is makes a big difference.
considering the price for all 3 are relatively the same i want the pitcher who will be the most effective in april and in the postseason.
Wood never pitched in october in a save situation, Fuentes was awful and lost his closers role to Corpas and K-Rod hasnt been Rivera but he’s still pitched pretty well considering they play the Red Sox or Yankees pretty much every year.
6:03pm: Rodriguez’s agent Paul Kinzer told Sherman he’ll try to be creative with this contract. Sherman asked whether that could mean an opt-out clause, and Kinzer responded in the affirmative. Sherman says the Mets’ offer is in the range of three years, $33MM.
I don’t get it the Yankees need an ace and they give a great offer to CC and the Mets need a closer and they are looking for a discount .Whats wrong with this ? If they lose out with K-Rod they will be sorry
test
Metfreak: Big difference…
Several teams want Sabathia, and he likes the West Coast more, so the Yankees had to make that monstrous offer from the get-go, so that Sabathia wouldn’t escape from their clutches
But with K-Rod, not many teams want a closer, and those who do don’t have the financial advantage the Mets do. Therfore, the Mets can play with the market until they find an offer to their liking.
If Omar gives K Rod an out in two years it is the height of short sightedness.. Why let him get back on the market right when MAriano’s contract comes up and the Yankees are in the Closer market.
Use the situation to bring him in for a fair 3 years plus 2 easy options.
Joel Sherman feels the deal is in the 3 year 33 million range. Not a bad place to start. Makes me feel much better than start with 2 years.
krod, street, cruz, biemel, smith, feliciano
Best pen in the MLB!!
yea it may use all our money but we really dont need much else…sign garland, trade for a #5, and maybe after everything done pick up a bat
Hate this new format. I wish Matt would have told us why the change. If it couldn’t be helped, so be it. If it was a choice, I don’t see the advantage…
Anyone watching Mets Hot Stove on SNY right now? Marty Noble was just on and quoted as saying, about re-tooling that bp (besides a closer), he’d hate to see Heilman go b/c he’s that one guy who can get both sides of the plate out.
Yeah, when he’s not giving up that HR after two walks maybe. Goes w/o saying he had a horrible year. Don’t know if he recovers from that in NY….
doesnt matter where they start its where they finish and as long as the Mets sign K-Rod idc if its 2 years, 3 years, 4 years and i dont care if he signs now or in 2 months as long as by the time ST starts he’s a met
no Cruz no Beimel.
you dont sign type A or B middle relievers to multi year deals. 90% of the time you’re stuck with a bad contract
Are you people kidding me. The Mets know they are going to get someone. Why not say 2 years for him. If he says no you can go to 3. If he says yes. You get him for 2. What’s the big deal.
Should they blow him out of the water like the yanks. No. Look at the yanks. They offer this huge contract and what is being done with it. It’s being used as a bargaining chip.
Oleo: I’m with you on that. Don’t care what Omar’s strategy is just as long as we get the best closer we can and at least a good set up man. If it takes all winter, so be it
Hot Stove saying they might not come home this week with a new closer but expect no later than the following week. But anything can happen…
anaheim doesnt have any offer for krod thev have moved on to tex or cc.
this will get it done: 3 yr36 mil with option at 13 mil or 3 mil buyout
k-rod is a met…tango aside.
still a lot of work to do: 8th inning reliever, 2 starters who can go 7 almost every game, a little grit or power in the line-up
I haven’t read through the comment.
no way krod accepts a 2 year offer this week. so basically, the Mets have many needs and nothing is getting settled this week.
the Mets will get a closer based on the simple theory of supply and demand. there is more supply than teams willing to pay for one.
where omar is going to get a tiop of the rotation guy is a question. and we can definitely use some offense and more bullpen help.
this waiting game can come back to bite them
more likely is to sign 1 sp (lowe,perez,garland)
trade for 1 sp(edwin jackson)
trade for street,heilman,evans,schoeweis)
and possibly sign a OF
Sign K-Rod (3yrs with an option)
Trade for Street (Heilman, Feliciano, Evans)
Re-sign Ollie (12 million a yr)
Look into tradeing for Edwin Jackson
Sign Juan Cruz or Beimel
Id rather platoon Murphy/Tatis in Left and some how get rid of Castillo and Sign Hudson
Red Sox In Talks For Brian Schneider
By Tim Dierkes [December 8 at 6:32pm CST]
According to Dave Sheinin of the Washington Post, two sources confirmed the Red Sox are in trade discussions for Mets catcher Brian Schneider. Schneider is owed $4.9MM in ‘09, the last year of his deal.
Who could we possibly be getting in return?
New bag of baseballs
wow this new format is really bad . Just sign K-Rod already
Sounds bad. 2 years, option for a third? For the guy who set the record for saves this season? From a team which had the worst bullpen in the league?
This talk of taking the first of KRod/Fuentes/Hoffman who signs is madness. As always, it’s short-sighted and cheap. KRod is under 30, at the prime of his career. They need to sign him to 4 years– he’ll remember in 3 years how stingy the Mets were the last time and leave them in the lurch. Fuentes is over 35, Hoffman over 40. Why are the Mets always attracted to old-timers, going back to giving up Ryan for Foy?
But I can see it now: they’ll offer Fuentes the same 3 years, for a few million less, and he’ll take it. Maybe he’ll have a decent 2009, but by 2010 they’ll be looking for someone new. In the meantime, KRod will be seting the NL record for saves somewhere else. And they’ll send who knows how many prospects to Seattle for Putz who’s also over 30 and pretty unremarkable. As for the Street fantasies, I read that it was Omar who turned down Heilman/Feliciano for Street. How many chances is Omar going to give those two losers to blow more games?
mark4212 (76)
why sign him for two years?
In two years Mariano’s deal is up and he walks across town..
thats why its a bad deal for omar and Jeffy to be short sighted and play this game.
Offer him a real contract with a 48 hour window. Not keep it on the table like the desperate Yanks.
then wed have to sign /trade for catcher.well take masterson for schneider LOL
and to think Fuentes is a reasonable replacement for similar money is just silly silly silly.
6:45pm: Sherman now says the Mets’ offer was for $25MM over two years plus a third year option.
Hmmm,what have we learned today?
Omar won’t move Heilmann even for a Thames or Street. Okayyy!?
He wants to flirt with the likes of a Fuentes or
(God save us) Wood. And now we are to believe he always wanted Eckstein despite
offering only a one-year deal last winter THEN after being turned down threw a 4yr/24mil deal @ Luis aches&pains depite
no one offering HIM more than a year.
Again,ya just gotta love-ya some omar.
Is there a friggin plan here?
I like K-Rod 2 years with option. He may be damaged goods. His lost velocity should be talked about a lot more. I would still go 3 years though @ 12million per.
I hope omar did not turn KROD off on the mets. yes start low but don’t turn him off .Besides don’t linger on this cause we’ll miss out on other free agents.
heilman wud be involved in adeal for street
hey not to get off the subject but are they REALLY going to settle on a Tatis/Murphy LF or are they considering anything else. how about garret anderson mabe?
ibanez maybe but id think if they sign an OF they will trade church for a sp or bp arm
I’m not sure what some of you people don’t seem to understand. The Mets are completely in the drivers seat here. There are no other big market teams shopping for closers and if one did pop up and made an offer to KROD he’d come right back to the mets and ask them to counter. He’s going to get KROD but more on their terms.
Would you have rathered them offer 4 years 60 mill right off the bat just to satisy your impatience? Let them negotiate and make moves and then judge the results. Stop moaning and groaning about other players they are discussing because its all part of the process of NEGOTIATION. If he shows no interest in Fuentes or Wood then what kind of bargaining position does he have? If you show that you have more options it only helps you in dealing with the guy you actually want.
And lastly no fongulalou Omar didn’t say he didn’t want to trade Heilman for Street, he didn’t want to trade Heilman AND Feliciano. That’s a big difference
It just seems like K-Rod is going to be a Mets. He has met with the Mets already, have been seen with Bernezzard, and no other team is even rumored to be involved. I don’t like Omar trying to be cute and offering a 2 year deal but I am pretty confident that there is no market for K-Rod and Omar is bidding against himself.
I expect K-Rod’s agent to try to bring in another team like the Brewers and then Omar offering a 3 year deal with a 4th year option.
I think signing K-Rod will be easier than signing Lowe because the Yankees and/or Red Sox will be in the hunt for him.
I guess they must not think much of Street. Feliciano has a career 4.26 ERA, (his best year was 3.99 in his rookie season,) is over 30, and (to my recollection) has almost as many horrible blown appearances in the last two years as Heilman. I’m amazed anyone would want ONE of them, let alone both. So maybe the whole story about Omar turning down the deal is apocryphal.
Street couldn’t be worse than either one, since nobody is worth less than nothing.
I LIKE TO BELIEVE THE FRONT OFFICE IS SETTING THE TABLE TO AQUIRE FRANKIE RODRIGUEZ, 3 YRS ACCORDING TO ESPN, THIS IS THE BEGINING OF NEGOTIATIONS AND THERE IS NO OTHER BIG MARKET TEAM IN PURSUIT OF KROD, YET, AS A RESULT WE’LL SET THE GOING RATE FOR KROD.
I AGREE WITH BLOG #75 ABOUT THE YANKEES BEING USED AS BARGAINING CHIPS, THIS IS WHY THE METS NEED TO BE PRUDENT IN THEIR APPROACH.
ONE MORE THING, MATT THIS FORMAT DOESN’T SEEM TO LEND ITSELF TO JUMPING INTO A PREVIOUS THREAD OR A DIRECT REPLY ( REBUTTAL ) TO A BLOGGER. I DO APPRECIATE YOU SEEKING TO REFINE THE FORMAT BUT IF I CAN’T CHEW UP AND SPIT OUT A YANKEE, PHILLIE, BRAVES OR FISH FAN EVERY NOW AND THEN DIRECTLY ( SOME OF US LIVE FOR THOSE SPECIAL MOMENTS ) I’LL FEEL A SENSE OF LOSS.
this is how you get 3/36 without the option for the 4th year. very suprised to see the Mets start at two, but it reflects a limited demand for top rated closers, a decent supply of servicable options, a perception of Krod injury risk, and YES economic conditions. people are spending WAY less on everything and a $800 trip to the ballpark is an easy cut from a tight budget
Kind of a bold move by Omar and it might blow up, but it really does show his willingness to pursue shorter term cheaper prospects. Krod knows the Mets are the biggest payday at the end of the day, he just got a harsh truth on his market value
you are only worth what someone is willing to pay and that means he is not getting a 4 year deal anywhere, guaranteed or optioned
Plus, I think that Omar is trying to follow the trend of the league and rely heavily on the minor to produce affordable talent. he is about half way home and has even said he want FA not trades. if he can manage on the open market, draft well, and hold on to alot of the ceiling talent in the low minors, the Mets just might be one of the teams shown as a model for the minors
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