This season Francisco Rodriguez has served as a bullpen mentor for Bobby Parnell, even endorsing the hard-throwing righty just last week.

Rodriguez said this about Parnell’s closing abilities:

He can do it and he knows it. I love that kid. I talk to him a lot and I love him. He’s a guy who comes here everyday trying to improve himself to get better and better. He definitely has the tools.

Parnell was crowned the 8th-inning man for the Mets in spring training but had a 6.14 ERA in April when he was placed on the disabled list with circulatory issues in his right hand. Since returning to the Mets on June 2nd, he regularly hit 100 mph  on radar guns, has only 3 earned runs in 17 1/3 innings with a 1.56 ERA.

GM Sandy Alderson told reporters on Wednesday that there are strong candidates in the existing bullpen who can take on the closer role.

Izzy has been in that role before, and pitched effectively in that role and effectively for us, this year. And the way Bobby Parnell has thrown the last three weeks or so has been impressive and also was a factor.

Alderson went on to say that those decisions will be best left up for Terry Collins and pitching coach Dan Warthen to address.

Sandy Alderson stated very clearly that the trade of K-Rod did not signal any kind of “fire sale” and certainly had no impact on Carlos Beltran‘s situation.

Direct from Sandy:

As I’ve said on occasion, I’d like to see Carlos with us as we continue this run. At some point, the interest already expressed by those clubs will be reaffirmed, and we will have some conversations. I do want to make it clear the Rodriguez trade should not signal anything to anyone about Beltran.

OK, Sandy, we believe you (wink wink). So we’ll just pretend for a few minutes that Beltran is actually on the block, and examine possible landing spots for the switch-hitting slugger — just for fun!