“Whatever happened is in the past… You have to move forward… I don’t want to make any controversy, but with me and Putz and the additions in the bullpen, I feel like now we are the team to beat.”

Rodriguez doesn’t expect there to be any problem with him and J.J. Putz, who had been a closer for the Mariners, but will now be a set-up man with the Mets.  He says the two will certainly talk about it at some point, and he expects it to be fine.

He acknowledged being a little anxious and nervous to be in Mets camp, noting it’s a different environment for him.

For pictures from camp today, including Rodriguez in Mets gear, check out Howard Simmons’s photos for the Daily News and Adam Rubin’s blog.

Sheldon writes…

“Terms were not revealed, but a baseball source told MLB.com that the deal was worth $46 million in guaranteed money, with a fifth-year option worth an additional $12 million.

In terms of guaranteed money, Cordero’s contract is the largest ever for a reliever and it’s also the largest free agent signing in Reds history.”

…the brewers bullpen suffers yet another blow thanks to a struggling team willing to overpay in order to try and improve.  i know some people hoped for the mets to land cordero, but there was never a realistic chance of that happening.  cordero wanted to close, and wagner isn’t going anywhere…

Cordero, who pitched for the Brewers last season, was 44-for-51 in save chances and had a 2.98 ERA in 66 appearances in 2007.

The 32-year-old Cordero converted 44 of 51 save opportunities in 2007 while compiling a 2.98 ERA in 66 appearances.

However, accordingly to Haudricort, Melvin and Cordero’s agent, Bean Stringfellow, have agreed not to negotiate before Nov. 13, when players are eligible to hit the open market and other teams are allowed to make offers.

…cordero has the same agent as Billy Wagner, and so i would not be surprised to see him seek a similar four-year, $40 million deal, like wagner got from the Mets, if not more…

…also, though i realize the Mets need to upgrade their bullpen, even if they were comfortable dishing out this contract for cordero, i have to assume he would much rather go to a place where he can actually be a closer, not a set-up man to wagner…plus, cordero is the second-best closer on the market, so you can expect him to milk that as long as possible and for as much as possible and for the best possible opportunity…