The Mets are reportedly dangling reliever Francisco Rodriguez to the Yankees, Bob Klapisch reports.
Mets Shopping Francisco Rodriguez To Yankees, According To Report
Rodriguez will be paid $11.5 million this year and has a remarkable $17.5 million option and a $3.5 million buyout in 2012. I don’t think there’s much chance anyone will pick up that option on purpose (it vests automatically if Rodriguez finishes 55 games this year), so that means that at this point, Rodriguez will have to be paid about $9 million ($5.5 million for 2011, plus the $3.5 million buyout) before the contract expires. Rodriguez is still a good reliever (he has 42 strikeouts in 39.2 innings this year), but at that price, he would basically be a salary dump, meaning the Mets couldn’t expect to receive much in return unless they pick up some of Rodriguez’s salary.
Klapisch indicates that the Yankees are "only marginally interested," which makes sense. Not only is Rodriguez expensive, the Yankees really don't need him. Mariano Rivera is still great, David Robertson has been flat-out amazing, and Luis Ayala has stepped in and pitched quite well. They'll also get Rafael Soriano back eventually. They certainly could use Rodriguez - any team could - but there's no urgency for them to pay the price in money and prospects that the Mets would probably want them to. I'd say it's very unlikely that the Yankees will be acquiring K-Rod anytime soon.
For more on the Mets, check out Amazin Avenue. For the Yankees, there’s Pinstripe Alley.
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