Report: K-Rod signs with Mets

Quote :

LAS VEGAS -- Record-setting closer Francisco Rodriguez and the New York Mets reached a preliminary agreement Tuesday on a US$37-million, three-year contract.

K-Rod recorded 62 saves for the Los Angeles Angels this year, five more than the previous big league mark set by Bobby Thigpen of the Chicago White Sox in 1990, and then filed for free agency. His agent, Paul Kinzer, had hoped to get a five-year contract, possibly equalling the $15-million average salary Mariano Rivera is earning from the New York Yankees.

But with baseball executives worried about the national recession, Kinzer accepted a more modest deal.

With the agreement, the Mets are ceasing negotiations with Brian Fuentes and career saves leader Trevor Hoffman, two other free-agent closers, one of the people said. Rodriguez's contract will contain an option for 2012 that could become guaranteed based on his performance, the person said.

A three-time all-star who turns 27 next month, Rodriguez was regarded as the top closer on the market. While some teams were worried about his violent pitching motion and drop in velocity last season, he developed an outstanding curveball to go along with his other pitches.

In a slow free-agent market, Rodriguez was the first of the top-tier free agents to reach an agreement. Pitchers CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, first baseman Mark Teixeira and outfielder Manny Ramirez are among the high-profile players still searching for deals.

For a guy who seemed so set on making more than Rivera, I'm surprised he settled down so quickly. I guess he saw the number of potential suitors for him was really just 1 or 2 teams and he needed to get a deal done before they got a cheaper alternative.