The Francisco Rodriguez Situation
In case you missed it last night, Francisco Rodriguez has been placed on the ‘disqualified list,’ making his contract ‘non-guaranteed,’ i.e., the Mets do not need to pay him, so long as he’s unable to physically perform.
The way I understand it, basically, the Mets will not pay Rodriguez until they are told to do so by the league.
However, before that happens, from what I’ve been told, the team might approach Rodriguez this off season about re-working his contract and making it all ‘non-guaranteed,’ in an attempt to avoid sending the case to an arbitrator.
Basically, it sounds to me like the Mets are going to do their best to have it both ways: keep Rodriguez around, since they still might need a closer next year… but if he isn’t healthy, or if they’re just not happy with the overall situation, they can cut him at very little cost.
Nevertheless, last night on a conference call with reporters, Jeff Wilpon said the team expects Rodriguez to be healthy and ready for Spring Training next season, after which Mets GM Omar Minaya said:
“We do plan on bringing him back next year.”
I have seen some people complaining about Minaya’s comment. Why? I mean, what is he supposed to say?
Look, if he wants to try and trade Rodriguez, or if for whatever reason Rodriguez is still on the team next season, Minaya cannot come across as anything other than supportive – be it for political reasons or for bargaining reasons.
However, in the end, it’s not about words, it’s about action.
Speaking of Minaya, to me, this is a huge black eye for him.
Right now, there are at least three players on the roster who most fans ‘hate,’ who are overpaid, useless and totally immovable, and all of whom he signed.
