Our MLB editor files dispatches from the Winter Meetings in Las Vegas in Notes From Sin City.
While the baseball world watches and waits for Mark Teixeira and CC Sabathia to make up their mind, or even just for a scrap from super-agent Scott Boras, closer Francisco Rodriguez has become the belle of the Winter Meetings ball.
Though the Mets have yet to publicly acknowledge that they have signed the record-setting reliever, it is widely believed that Rodriguez has agreed to a three-year deal with the club worth roughly $37 million and containing a vesting option for a fourth year that could push its value past $50 million.
Problem solved, right? Third straight September swoon averted, right? Hardly.
Look, there's no doubt that the Mets' biggest need heading into the offseason was to fix their wretched bullpen. And there's no doubt that Rodriguez is a big part of the puzzle in that regard. But they also play in the same division as the reigning world champions and a pair of clubs in the Marlins and Braves who are capable of winning 85-plus games if things break right.
There isn't a team in baseball that couldn't use help in the bullpen. Fortunately for teams in need of relief help, this year's free-agent class is particularly deep in that area with record-setting closers Francisco Rodriguez and Trevor Hoffman on the market in addition to proven names like Brian Fuentes and Brandon Lyon and quality sleepers like Juan Cruz.
Despite that depth, it may take several weeks for the market to sort itself out. There are two dominoes central to the relief market -- the Mets, the richest club in need of a bullpen upgrade, and Rodriguez, the top closer available -- and neither seems to be in a rush.
K-Rod's agent has already come out and said that his client will not sign until after the Winter Meetings in Las Vegas, which wrap up two weeks from today. That's a move likely designed to heat up the market for Rodriguez, which has cooled considerably because of the surprising depth mentioned above. The record-holder for saves in a season is eyeing a record contract for a closer. He may get that, but with names like Hoffman and Fuentes also out there, it seems unlikely that he'll get the $75 million-plus deal he was looking for at the start of the offseason.
Footprints in the Snow is FanHouse's look at the paths to be forged by MLB teams this winter as they look ahead to 2009.
See this kid? That's right -- he's crying. Do you know who caused this? That's right: you, New York Mets. You did this to him not once, but twice, losing the final game of the season at Shea Stadium with a sizable division lead in September and your destiny in your hands.
Only bad people make children cry. And if you do fail for a third season in a row, this child will wind up spending more money on extensive therapy than you did signing Luis Castillo. Heck, with this wig on, it may already be too late. But maybe not. So here's what you -- the Mets -- can do to make sure that this child grows up to lead a somewhat normal life.
Though the Mets became the first team in major league history to fail to make the playoffs despite holding a 3 1/2-game lead in the standings in September, they appear to have no problem with the people running the team.
A formal announcement is expected by GM Omar Minaya no later than Tuesday. "Jerry did a very good job in a tough situation, overcoming injuries to [John] Maine and Billy [Wagner]," Minaya said after today's 4-2 loss to the Marlins ended the Mets' season. "I just talked to Jerry and told him I will sit down with ownership tomorrow and give my recommendation. But I was very pleased with the job he did." Owner Fred Wilpon also strongly endorsed Manuel while talking with reporters during today's game.
Minaya might not have deserved his extension, especially when you look through the prism of back-to-back September swoons, but it's hard to say the same for Manuel. He guided the Mets to a 55-38 record down the stretch after taking over for Willie Randolph in mid-June. Considering the hand he was dealt -- a very, very bad bullpen -- Manuel performed admirably as skipper
Indeed, had Billy Wagner not gotten injured, this would probably all be a moot point, and New York might be celebrating an NL East title. Here's to a few more years of Manuel describing Johan Santana as "gangsta" and threatening to "cut"Jose Reyes.
"I've played my last day as a Met, that's the way it goes," Wagner said.
[...] "It's going to be hard to find that team that gives you a chance to get 400 saves and gives you a shot to win a championship when you're coming back from major surgery," said Wagner, who wants to remain a closer. "There are not going to be too many people beating down my door."
Even if he doesn't think he'll return to the Mets, Wagner is committed to signing with some team in 2010. But unless the perfect storm of opportunities presents itself, he'll likely have to make a choice between chasing 400 or winning a title. If he resembles the pitcher he was before he got hurt, just about any contender would be willing to find a spot for him in their bullpen as a setup man, but vacant closer jobs are few and far between.
You know what the best part of sports is? When people refuse to stop playing them.
Special plug: Tonight's footballian user handle is credited to my good friend Mike, the man who designed the Dugout template. Be sure to check out his hilarious write-up about his visit to Tropicana Field over at our home base, Progressive Boink. It is longer and more organized than a Dugout, but if you read all of the words and look at all of the pictures you will surely be rewarded.
Tonight's Dugout is one step closer to being finished when you click the jump.
I'm all for showing emotion, even when it's not appropriate. However, professional athletes crying at the wrong times needs to stop. Take Billy Wagner's most recent press conference, for instance. Wags was talking about how he's not done and he thinks he has another run left in him and everything, when he decided to discuss his 10 year old son and how he's taking the news that dad is hurt.
Now, forgive me if there is something wrong with Wagner's kid. Seriously -- I don't want to be out of line here. But if he's just a 10 year old that wants to quit living the dream of being in an MLB clubhouse or having Dad on the mound every night, well, um, sorry, but yeah, I don't feel so bad.
From the Windupis FanHouse's daily, extended look at a particular portion of America's pastime.
Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez is hurtling rapidly toward the single-season saves record. The flashy Los Angeles reliever has 55 saves this year, two short of Bobby Thigpen's record of 57, and with more than two weeks remaining he's a virtual lock to set a new benchmark for relievers.
Perhaps not so coincidentally, Rodriguez will also be a free agent this winter. In the pantheon of contract years, his 2008 season has to rank right up there with the best.
The Angels are not expected to bring back Rodriguez, but at least six teams have already been linked with the closer -- the Cardinals, Rays, Tigers, Indians, Cubs and, with the injury to Billy Wagner, the Mets.
No closer in baseball is more renowned than Mariano Rivera, but Rodriguez has to rank a close second. He arrived on the scene during the Angels' 2002 World Series run, becoming the breakout star from that club despite making his first appearance with it on Sept. 18. He's the fastest player to 200 saves in major league history. And, like any great closer, he has flair -- from his bending, tilting slider to his ostentatious, sky-pointing save celebration.
After shutting himelf down on Sunday, Billy Wagner received some grim news when he was examined by doctors on Monday: he has a torn flexor pronator and MCL in his left elbow, meaning he needs to undergo Tommy John surgery before he can throw another pitch.
This is where things get murky. Wagner is already 37 years old and is only guaranteed money through 2009 (the Mets hold an $8 million team option for 2010, but at this point, it seems unlikely they'd want to exercise it). Considering pitchers generally require a solid 12-18 months to recover from Tommy John, is Wagner really up for a grueling year of rehab just to test the open market as a 39-year-old free agent?
"If he wants to pitch again, he'll pitch again," Minaya said. "I believe Billy is a good enough athlete. He's determined." [...] "He was really looking forward to getting to 400 saves (Wagner is sixth all-time with 385) and I thought he was one year away from that," Minaya said. "I still think when guys have those numbers out there, you don't know. It's a lot of work. This kind of surgery is one you have to really work hard."
Billy Wagner's rehab from a swollen elbow had been going swimmingly ... until Sunday, when Wagner threw off the Shea mound between games of their doubleheader with the Phillies. As he was facing a live hitter for the first time in three weeks, he threw one at Gustavo Molina's foot and that was it. Wagner ended the rehab.
"That's it, I can't do it anymore," he said.
Now the Mets bullpen had pitched 23 and 2/3's innings of shutout ball before an unearned run on Sunday night. That being said ... yikes! No offense to Luis Ayala, but he was a Washington Nationals castoff and now he's the closer, and if you're a Met fan that should concern you a wee bit.
The Mets are clinging to a two game lead against the Phillies on the backs of a bullpen that had been very streaky. Without Wagner, every game becomes a circus once the starter goes out. And even if the Mets get through September, which is very possible with the help of September call-ups like Al Reyes and Ricardo Rincon, October becomes daunting. The playoffs are where bullpens win and lose games, and without the glue that holds the 'pen together it's going to be a rough ride.
Update: The ride got a whole lot rougher, as Wagner isn't just out for 2008, but he's out for 2009 too after Tommy John surgery. The Mets no doubt are planning their sales pitch for Francisco Rodriguez right about now.
There isn't a team in baseball that couldn't use help in the bullpen. Fortunately for teams in need of relief help, this year's free-agent class is particularly deep in that area with record-setting closers 
Though the Mets became the first team in major league history to fail to make the playoffs despite holding a 3 1/2-game lead in the standings in September, they appear to have no problem with the people running the team. 
When Mets GM 
After 
