In the first major trade after the National League won the All-Star Game yesterday, the Mets traded closer (and texting enthusiast) Francisco Rodriguez to the Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers, who are tied for first in the NL Central, will send two players later to be named. Although this leaves the Mets bullpen in shaky standing, and casts a shadow on the likelihood for a long-shot wild card run this year, the move was seen as inevitable by most, and a means to a different sort of end: retaining All Star shortstop Jose Reyes.
As the News points out, even though 29-year-old K-Rod is having an excellent season (2-2 with a 3.16 ERA and 23 saves), Mets GM Sandy Alderson had to make the move for monetary purposes: K-Rod has a $17.5 million vesting option for 2012 which could have decimated next year’s already tight payroll. K-Rod, a four-time All-Star who set the single-season saves record with 62 in 2008 with the Angels, notched 83 saves during his stay with the Mets since 2009— though he might be best remembered for the incident last year when he punched his girlfriend's father during a game at Citifield.
Most of all, the more was done to try to hold onto Reyes, Wright and other top Mets players next year—and the K-Rod deal may not be the last frugal deal made for the team before the July 31 trade deadline. And though they're currently one game over .500 and playing decent baseball, the team was a longshot for a wild card run anyway this year. Even so, there are some bright spots on the horizon: Bud Selig said yesterday that the Mets were close to completing their agreement to make David Einhorn a minority partner, ensuring their financial future. And he added that it's all but inevitable that the team will host the 2013 All-Star Game, the most important baseball game of the year.
