Could Mets’ closer Francisco Rodriguez be setting up for the Mets’ crosstown American League rival Yankees?
Rodriguez, or K-Rod as he has become to be known as told told Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News that he’d be willing to go into the setup role if he was “traded to good teams like the Yankees or Rays”.
If I am going to be traded, obviously I want the opportunity to close out games, but if it’s going to be good teams like the Yankees or the Rays, and it’s going to be for two months, I can go out there and help them out. I mean I would definitely love to stay here, but I have to be open to every possibility out there right now.
Rodriguez who is 20-23 in save opportunities has a $17 million option for 2012 that vests with 55 games finished and he already has 28. Obviously if he were moved into a setup role it was end that possibility but K-Rod has said that he would be willing to waive the 2012 option if the team trading for him would be willing to work out a new multi-year deal.
As of right now the Yankees do seem like a good option since Joba Chamberlain and Rafael Soriano have been shelved with injury. The Rays on the other hand probably wouldn’t pursue Rodriguez given the impending high cost of retaining him.
Source: NBC Sports, New York Daily News