Omar Minaya and Jeff Wilpon with Johan Santana last year. (Tomasso DeRosa/NYSD)

The Mets  have called, not one, but two press conferences this week.

On Wednesday, they will introduce Francisco Rodriguez to the media at the team’s holiday party which will take place at the Citi Building in Long Island City. “Santa” Mike Pelfrey, John Maine and Jerry Manuel will also be there.

Then on Thursday at Citi Field, Joseph Jason Putz will have his introductory press conference.

So it will be a full week for the Mets. And we will have live reports.

Also PBC returns on Thursday at 9 p.m to recap the week.

Posted under New York Mets

LAS VEGAS – Just moments ago, Omar Minaya officially announced what everyone at the Bellagio knew for the last 36 hours: Francisco Rodriguez is now a Met.

“We have come to comepleted terms in filling our No. 1 need in signing Francisco Rodriguez to a three year contract with the New York Mets,” Minaya said. “Our goal, from day one, was to improve our bullpen and I can not think of a better reliever than Francisco Rodriguez.”

K-Rod set a Mjor League record in 2008 with 62 saves. He also converted 23 saves when entering the game with a one-run league and 22 more with a two-run cushion. He went 2-3 with a 2.24 ERA.

“I am thrilled to join the Mets,” Rodriguez said in a statement. “Mets fans are very passionate and playing in a new ballpark is going to be great. I am going to do everything I can to help bring a championship to Citi Field.”

Rodriguez, who wore Johan Santana’s No. 57 with the Angels, will switch the number around and go with No. 75 in Queens.

Posted under Free Agency, Winter Meetings

Speaking with a few scouts last night at the bar, here’s what they thought about K-Rod:

- Everyone I spoke to said glowing things about Francisco Rodriguez. They felt the Mets stole the show [that is until today].

- It will totally change the Mets, because his confidence in the ninth inning will trickle down to the rest of the relief staff.

- The starters will get confidence early in the game, knowing the ninth will be secure.

All in all a great signing for the Mets.

Posted under Free Agency, Winter Meetings

LAS VEGAS – Based on a number of reports and sources, Francisco Rodriguez will sign a three-year, $37 million dollar contract with the Mets tomorrow after a physical in New York.The Mets have seemingly reached this deal after two days of talk between the club and agent Paul Kinzer.”He’s a tremendously skilled closer,” said manager Jerry Manuel during his media session. “I was impressed with the energy he had when he came out and with that energy came confidence.”With Rodriguez, the Mets are signing one of the top closers in the game, who went 2-3 last year with a 2.24 ERA and a Major League record 62 saves for the Los Angeles Angels. Over his six year career, the righthander went 23-17 with a 2.35 ERA and 208 saves.

«FULL STORY»

Posted under Free Agency, Hot Stove, Nysd

LAS VEGAS – After meeting with closers Brian Fuentes and Trevor Hoffman yesterday, the Mets seem to be close with free agent reliever Francisco Rodriguez.

After offering the bidding Sunday night with a 2-year deal for around $24 million, the club has upped the offer guartanteeing the third year to make it a $36 million contract.

With Mets COO Jeff Wilpon on the trip with Omar Minaya, the Mets seemed determined to come away with a closer and Rodriguez is the best one on the market. Originally the former Angel wanted a five year contract worth about $75 million, but because the closer market was satuated, the Mets seemed willing to wait as the money dropped.

Now after two meeting with Rodriguez and agent Paul Kinzer, the price seems to be in the Mets comfort zone and by getting him so cheaply, it opens up doors for the club to revamp the entire bullpen, which was one of the worst in the National League last season.

Last season, the free agent reliever went 2-3 with a 2.24 ERA and a Major League record 62 saves.

A deal may be announced later today.

Posted under Commentary, Free Agency

It’s obvious the Mets will dip into the free agent market to sign a closer over the next few weeks and with the Amazins being the only large market team, they will have their choice.

Although I have heard some in the organization still rather trade for JJ Putz, obvious choices are the “Big Four”

1. Francisco Rodriguez – Some published reports have him at No. 1, and at three years, who can blame the club for going for the holder of the single season save record. Yet, he’s not the strikeout pitcher of a few years ago and there are questions about his long term durability. That being said, if the Mets can get him on a three-year deal, it will be worth it.
2. Brian Fuentes – He’s pitched in the National League and he’s lefthanded, which is something the Mets like. Going into the off-season, he would have been the No. 1 choice, but with K-Rod’s price coming down, Fuentes goes on the back burner. If he’s out there and his price comes down, Fuentes becomes a good eighth inning option.
3. Kerry Wood - A darkhorse a few weeks ago, Wood actually looks to be the best option, because he can still come in with the strikeout, something that K-Rod may not have anymore. Yet, Wood has always been injury prone, so Wood looks like a pass unless something major happens.
4. Trevor Hoffman – Let’s see. He’s old. He has great numbers on paper and he falls apart in big spots. He’s the perfect Met closer. That said, I don’t see where he will fit into the equation.

Any thoughts on your end?

Posted under Hot Stove, New York Mets

Newark Star-Ledger columnist Dan Graziano posted this excellent column on the closer situation. The veteran baseball reporter wrote the Mets are have put Francisco Rodriguez as the No. 1 choice at the closer situation, but thinks Kerry Wood might be the better move.

To quote:

“On pure stuff, Wood has it all over Rodriguez, Fuentes, Hoffman and any other closer who’s available this winter (except maybe J.J. Putz, but nobody knows if he’s really available). As one person put it to me last week, “Who would hitters rather face?” The answer to that question is that hitters would rather stand in against Rodriguez or Fuentes than against Wood, who’s the most unhittable of the closers available.”

I think the Mets will probably go after K-Rod first and if there’s an impass, they will look at Wood or Brian Fuentes. They have a choice here.

Posted under Hot Stove, New York Mets

It looks like the Mets are taking their time looking for a closer, allowing the market to come to them, rather than big against themselves.

Joel Sherman wrote in the Post, the team is worried about giving four-year contracts to wither Francisco Rodriguez or Brian Fuentes, because they got burned by Billy Wagner’s Presidential Term deal he signed before the 2006 season.

Also the team seems to be content to wait, especially if JJ Putz comes on the market, further solidifying their position, being the only big players in the closer market.

I would think the Mets will wait until the Winter Meeting before getting this done, since the agents will come to them rather than the other way around.

Posted under New York Mets

Adam Rubin’s article today gives a clearer picture on why Francisco Rodriguez was in the US to get a medical report or a physical over the weekend. Apparently, the Angels have not released his history to his agent Paul Kinzer and clubs need the info before they bid.

So a blood test and an MRI makes sense, because his agent can release that to the indivdual teams.

Also this quote:

“Team doctors for the Mets and other interested teams will review the Angels’ records. A Mets official said the organization likely wouldn’t make any offers to free agents until next week. “

Posted under New York Mets

Take this for what it’s worth. According to El Universal, a Venezuelan newspaper, Francisco Rodriguez is travelling to New York to be checked out my Met doctors.

This is a rough translation by Babel Fish:

“Yes, it is truth. Francisco traveled to New York to become a control medical. That is the unique thing that lacks to give course him to its contract with the Mets”, confessed a tie source to the stellar Venezuelan lock, that comes to impose a record for the Great Leagues, to the 62 rescues that it conquered during the regular drip jar.”

Anyway, I wanted to throw this out there and thanks to my loyal guys on NY Sports Day for pointing this out.  

For those that read Spanish, here’s the original article.

On Edit: Rich Coutinho of 1050 ESPN called and confirmed this with the Mets. He reported on the air, K-Rod is coming in on Tuesday. Also take a look at this from Dan Graziano, who is usually on the mark. Even though the Mets and K-Rod’s agent are denying it, it doesn’t mean it’s not true.

Posted under New York Mets