According to Metsblog: Mets and K-Rod settle Contract 2010 Dispute
In a team press release, Jeff Wilpon said:
“We are pleased that Frankie Rodriguez has accepted responsibility for his actions and their consequences. We have been assured that he is taking steps to address the issues that led to the incident, and that those efforts will continue. We have also been assured that he will work hard both on and off the field to regain the trust of the organization, Mets fans and the community.”
So basically the Mets get to keep 3.1M and Krod. Hopefully his legal troubles are solved quickly and he can come back and continue to be the best pitcher in the Mets pen.
25 comments
njstuckintx
10/19/2010-2:57pm at 2:57 pm (UTC -4)
It’s a better team with him on it. I’d still be open to something that would bring back something comparable via trade, (Jenks + someone, or something like that), but he was the best BP pitcher the Mets had and having him for 2011 is a positive, talent wise.
TRS86
10/19/2010-3:01pm at 3:01 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t believe he is a clubhouse cancer or anything. In fact based on many poster’s definition he’s a winner so why would we not want him?
kistics
10/19/2010-3:11pm at 3:11 pm (UTC -4)
The only lingering thing would be the $17.5M option. I think he finished like 45 games this season. He needs to finish 55 games and stay ‘healthy’ and the option gets picked up.
TRS86
10/19/2010-3:15pm at 3:15 pm (UTC -4)
I mentioned that in the other thread. It does not really bother me that much if it kicks in or not. It was basically a backloaded contract when it was signed. Krod wanted to be with the Mets and took a backloaded contract that would explode in 2012 the year the Mets had tons of money coming off the books.
njstuckintx
10/19/2010-3:34pm at 3:34 pm (UTC -4)
the 17.5 mil for 1 closer vs. 17.5 mil spread over several people is the real debate here. But, like you mention, if you look at it as the whole over the course of the contract, it’s not too hurtful. It’s tough not to keep harping back on what that 17.5 could bring…
TRS86
10/19/2010-3:54pm at 3:54 pm (UTC -4)
Oh I agree but I try not to look at it in yearly increments but in terms of a larger contract. They maybe on the hook for 2012 at such a high rate because they got a reduced rate. So the impact to the Mets is the same.
I think we get tied down too much to the annual salary of a team when in fact a team may look at a much larger scale.
kistics
10/19/2010-3:45pm at 3:45 pm (UTC -4)
Hopefully he’ll remain relatively quiet and just pitch for the rest of his Mets tenure.
stickguy
10/19/2010-3:53pm at 3:53 pm (UTC -4)
NO TRS, you are wrong about that. Don’t you read the internet? Every Met fan knows 100% true no doubt about it that no player has ever, or will ever, want to play for the Mets. They are a pariah of an organization. The Devil in drag. No player will come with 100 miles of that meddling owner Jeff W.
OT, but every time someone tosses out that BS about the Wiplons being meddlers all I can think of is “I would have gotten away with it if it wasn’t for those meddling kids and their darn dog”.
TRS86
10/19/2010-3:55pm at 3:55 pm (UTC -4)
LOL. I am guessing they will contrast that with the fact that all was much better when they signed Krod but has since become the drudge of earth.
kistics
10/19/2010-4:27pm at 4:27 pm (UTC -4)
So it’s all KRod’s fault!!
Prismo
10/19/2010-3:37pm at 3:37 pm (UTC -4)
Here you go TRS, your Mets news for the day. :p
stickguy
10/19/2010-3:53pm at 3:53 pm (UTC -4)
Hey, he got 152 comments on his Seinfeldian “nothing to talk about” post, so no complaints there.
TRS86
10/19/2010-3:56pm at 3:56 pm (UTC -4)
LOL>
kistics
10/19/2010-3:52pm at 3:52 pm (UTC -4)
I wonder how this settlement would impact bringing back Taka.
stickguy
10/19/2010-3:55pm at 3:55 pm (UTC -4)
They need plenty of arms. I don’t think Taka was every being brought back specifically to be the closer. They still need some 8th inning arms (unless K Rod gets the 8th, and taka the 9th!).
Somehow, I don’t think Taka has that wagner problem of not being able to pitch without the adreneline rush of a save situation, so whatever makes him suitable to close, should make him just as good for the 8th inning role!
TRS86
10/19/2010-3:56pm at 3:56 pm (UTC -4)
To me you just say hey Taka we will give you this amount to PITCH for us. If he ask what role say a paid one.
saltygary
10/19/2010-4:25pm at 4:25 pm (UTC -4)
Yea they need to sign Taka and I think he will take what the team offers. To have that flexibility to move a pitcher from pen to starter and back to the pen is such a great strength.
kistics
10/19/2010-4:31pm at 4:31 pm (UTC -4)
kinda like Figgy?? lol
kistics
10/19/2010-4:30pm at 4:30 pm (UTC -4)
But I wonder if there will be other teams in the league willing to offer him a closer role for the same $$.
saltygary
10/19/2010-4:23pm at 4:23 pm (UTC -4)
I know this was discussed above but I was a little late to the party.
I am fine with him pitching next season as long as he punches someone else out before that option kicks in.
If you take TRS’s argument and to look at it as a “back-loaded” contract he still would of been paid at 13m. over 4 years. The 11.5 a year was way too high in the first place and 13 is stupid for a closer not named Mariano. KROD is a fine closer and frankly the team hasn’t given him much to work with but his contract is out of line.
Also from a team perspective currently for 2012 there is 55 million tied up in Wright, Bay and Santana with an entire roster to sign beyond that. It’s this back loaded crap that has a potential to cause more issues in 2012. Add KRODS option and that is 72.5 to 4 players.That is more than 12 other teams payroll based on 2010 numbers. I was not a Omar hatter at all and the more I look at this crap the more hot I get.
GravediggerHebner
10/19/2010-4:39pm at 4:39 pm (UTC -4)
He’s not the only GM to put his signature on some very team-unfriendly contracts by any means. But in some cases they went to players they simply shouldn’t have and in others the players have been or are injured and thus are providing nothing for their huge salary.
Omar may be gone but his legacy is here through 2013 with a couple options for 2014 (Santana $5.5 mil, Bay $3 mil). Next GM gets “his” team completely, in terms of contracts offered, in 2015.
saltygary
10/19/2010-4:43pm at 4:43 pm (UTC -4)
Another crazy one I saw from the Nats spreadshoot that TRS posted was Christian Guzman getting 8m this season, WTF!
hazmet
10/19/2010-4:53pm at 4:53 pm (UTC -4)
To paraphrase Frank Costanza from Seinfeild “K-Rod’s like a phoenix, rising, from Arizona”
whatever, he’s still a good closer, we’re better with him, nothing to see here, keep movin’ folks. Now where’s our GM team Wilpon?
stickguy
10/19/2010-5:56pm at 5:56 pm (UTC -4)
if nothing else, hopefully K Rod threw the FIL and the rest of the freeloaders that seem to hate him (and his mom!) so much out on the street. Let them go support themselves for a while.
And if the wife doesn’t leave him (after disclosing the earlier abuse against her) then she needs help too.
metsfan4decades
10/19/2010-7:32pm at 7:32 pm (UTC -4)
Once again I find myself agreeing with you sentiments Stick.
O.K. – I actually believed this would probably shake out like this so I’m glad it’s settled sooner rather than later. Thought it was a long shot to get that contract non guaranteed anyway. Better this was settled now then next March/April. Less of a distraction.
Here’s hoping KRod will get some help to control his temper and he’s grown up a bit after this episode. I agree with others above that we’re better with than without him.