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July 10, 2011 Latest Mets News Joe Janish

Francisco Rodriguez Signs with Scott Boras

Per the official New York Mets website on MLB.com, Francisco Rodriguez has ditched agent Paul Kinzer for Scott Boras.

I don’t know how this can be good for the Mets.

As we all know, K-Rod is only 21 finishes away from the pot of gold — the $17.5M option for 2012 that automatically vests when Frankie finishes his 55th game. The cash-strapped Mets, of course, need to find a way to avoid paying $17.5M to a closer next year. They can’t keep him from finishing games or the MLBPA will be all over them. So the alternative is to trade him to another team — presumably one that needs him as a setup man, since it’s unlikely there are any teams out there who want to pay a closer not named Mariano $17.5M, either.

I’m not smart enough to know exactly how the Boras factor will play into the Mets’ ability to deal K-Rod, but my gut feeling is that somehow this will affect the dynamic of shipping him elsewhere. Who knows, maybe it could be a good thing. For example, maybe Boras can find a team that will take Rodriguez as a closer while simultaneously dropping the option and giving him a 3-year extension. Certainly, there are a few teams in the hunt who can use a lights-out closer.

What are your thoughts? Is the Boras factor a good thing, bad thing, or will he have no effect at all on the Mets’ ability to trade K-Rod? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

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Joe Janish began MetsToday in 2005 to provide the unique perspective of a high-level player and coach -- he earned NCAA D-1 All-American honors as a catcher and coached several players who went on to play pro ball. As a result his posts often include mechanical evaluations, scout-like analysis, and opinions that go beyond the numbers. Follow Joe's baseball tips on Twitter at @onbaseball and at the On Baseball Google Plus page.
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  1. John July 10, 2011 at 10:13 am
    Anytime Scott Boras is involved it can’t be a good thing. Actually it is the reason I would be inclined to see what you can get for Pelfrey before the deadline. As a Boras client eligible for arbitration, there is not a good outcome there.
  2. Joe July 10, 2011 at 10:32 am
    I think it could be a good thing to the extent his success involves selling expensive players to teams for even more money. There should be at least one team that wants him. This will make it more expensive for them but it might help convince them to pick him up.

    Wariness is sound advice with Boras and the Mets in general, all the same.

  3. Mike July 10, 2011 at 12:38 pm
    I think he did this so that he could get maximum value in his next inevitable contract when he is traded. Or renegotiate with the Mets while still retaining the value. Boras would be great at that.
  4. AC Wayne July 10, 2011 at 4:25 pm
    Okay, K-Rod has been pretty good so far, 23/26 SavOpp – 46K/42.2 IP – his ERA has been below average of what we expect out of a prime closer…if the Mets were not so cash-strapped, I think they would have eaten the option for next year and just kept him.

    As for Boras, he’s a business man, if he’s within his right, I say, so be it…K-Rod will be a tough sell, no question, his stock has dropped since he signed that god-forsaken option.

  5. Walnutz15 July 11, 2011 at 12:04 pm
    Disclaimer (to put my bias out in the open):

    Never cared for K-Rod, and wanted nothing to do with bringing him aboard – around the time of his agent’s “5-year, $75MM” initial demands a few winters ago.

    Reached my boiling point with him last summer – after the “Murphy’s Law” Mets watched him (very smartly) take a swing at an old man within the confines of the ballpark.

    *shudders*

    Hopefully, this is somehow indicative of expediting his departure.

    I’m praying that this means he knows he’s being traded somewhere else to set-up; and that Bora$ will already have been on board as he again enters the Hot Stove as a free agent.

    Putting himself in line now, rather than scrambling to make the decision later on down the road.

    We’ll see.

  6. Mic July 11, 2011 at 12:15 pm
    Walnutz et al.

    In an era of salary excess krod is hardly an island. Zambrano is still a cub, various players…are still employed in all sports who have had episodes of misdemeanour/ poor judgement…and then there’s bonds, arod and clemens. Personally i think krod is a model of reformation ( so far).

    So if not krod who closes? I personally hope he renegotiates. Again i warn you FEW closer wil come to new york and to get the few that will overpaying is required.

    2. On boras. Krod has said so far, he wants to stay, he will waive his no trade clause, and will drop his option in favor of a new deal..what is it? Krod needed a new agent to get thru this time leading to the july 31st deadline so he accepts the right trade.

  7. Mic July 11, 2011 at 12:17 pm
    Ps there is a great story out this morning with quotes from pelfrey.
    • Walnutz15 July 11, 2011 at 1:44 pm
      From the NY Times. I’d read it this morning, as well — but for anyone who didn’t come across it:

      “We think something’s going to happen,” said Mike Pelfrey, who took the loss Sunday despite pitching fairly well. “Someone’s going to get traded, but we’re hoping it doesn’t happen and when we get David and Ike back, and maybe Johan, we can make a real run.”

      Pelfrey was referring to the injured players David Wright, Ike Davis and Johan Santana. Wright and Davis might be able to return in the next couple of weeks, and with the way the Mets have played the last couple of games, it might be helpful to have them back sooner than later.

      http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/11/sports/baseball/despite-a-solid-start-mets-enter-all-star-break-on-a-sour-note.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print

      ……sounds a lot like “The Cavalry” talk we’d heard in the past. If you asked me, the Mets won’t have everyone they’re “supposed to” have in the lineup actually in it together at any point this season.

      For me, guys like Beltran and Rodriguez should be no-brainers – provided the deal’s there for them to make.

  8. Walnutz15 July 11, 2011 at 1:28 pm
    I loathe K-Rod, so really – anyone but him. As we fall further out of contention in the 2nd half, we can put pretty much anyone else in the role, and it won’t matter.

    …..it will, however, give us a better idea of who might be ready to take on a bigger role out of the pen; all the while, we can look for a cheaper, cost-effective solution.

    No one should ever pay a closer $17.5MM. Especially if his name’s not Rivera.