K-Rod likely for free agency

March 30, 2008 · Paul Raymond · Jump to comments

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It looks like the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and closer Francisco “K-Rod” Rodriguez will not be coming to terms on an extension before Opening Day. The problem is the Angels aren’t willing to budge from their initial contract offers to K-Rod. Angels GM Tony Reagins has said the team “is always open to dailogue” but yet won’t make an offer better then the 3-year , $34 million deal that is already on the table. He’s also made it clear the team isn’t looking to trade K-Rod either just to get something back. “No. Right now, Frankie is an important part of our team,” Reagins said. “The fact that his contract expires at the end of the season and he can become a free agent doesn’t mean we have to trade him any more than any other player whose contract expires at the end of a season.

Rodriguez and his agent Paul Kinzer don’t plan on having any negotiations during the baseball season. “Right now, we’ll wait it out until the season is over,” said Kinzer, “Normally, I don’t like to do that (negotiate during the season). It’s tough on the player.” Kinzer has said thou that there is no deadline for the Angels, which would lead me to believe if say in July they offer a big contract then the two would accept. But its more then likely that K-Rod will be a free agent. Rodriguez said, “Everything’s headed that way … But there’s going to be six long months of the season and I can’t predict what’s going to happen in one week or one month or six months.”

The 26-year old closer is due for a HUGE pay raise thanks to the deal that 33-year old Joe Nathan just signed with the Minnesota Twins. “The market for Frankie is pretty much established,” Kinzer said. “I think it (Nathan’s contract) just helps reinforce the market.” Rodriguez is already among the elite closers in the league, easily top 5 and ahead of Nathan, while also being 7 years younger. Nathan signed a 4-year $47 million deal, only Mariano Rivera of the New York Yankees makes more at $45 million for 3-years. Nathan has 160 saves in 4 season as a closer, while K-Rod 132 in his first 3 full seasons. At his young age, K-Rod may also have the chance to rewrite the record books for a closer, unless Jonathan Papelbon does it first.

Thanks to Nathan and Rivera the market for closers is about to change in a big way and may never take a turn back. Very soon elite closers are going to be paid like elite starters and hitters which I believe is fair since the teams with best closers usually wind up playing playoff baseball. Boston Red Sox’s Jonathan Papelbon and Rodriguez have a chance to take Nathan’s contract to an entirely new level. With their ages I’m sure they’ll even pass the $15 million a year that Mariano makes. Come November it will be interesting to see where the bidding war takes Rodriguez. If Mariano’s age catches up this year, could the Yankees make a big run?