Mets sign closer K-Rod, Francisco Rodriguez


In what will surely go down into the annals of Mets history as a free agent bust, K-Rod will be with the New York Mets for at least 3 years (three-year, $37 million deal with a fourth-year option based on performance).

K-Rod, 26, set the single season save record with 62 for the 2008 Angels. He is in his prime, and has the stats and stuff which put him on track to be one of the best closers in history.

So why am I so negative?

K-Rod is cocky, arrogant, and thinks he’s better than everyone else. He’s an Angel, and always will be an Angel.

K-Rod is no different to me (as a former Mets fan) than Armando Benitez, Braden Looper, or Billy Wagner: a big name closer who ultimately will not translate into a World Championship.

K-Rod will most certainly be compared to Mariano Rivera, the greatest closer in New York history, on an everyday basis. It’s very possible if K-Rod gets off on a good save streak that the press will anoint K-Rod the best closer in baseball. But to me, K-Rod is just a pretender to the throne, no matter how many K’s he gets or how many saves he piles up.

Mets GM Omar Minaya is being praised by everyone for signing K-Rod to a fair deal (although it is the highest of any closer, including Mariano). All this does is raise the expectations for the Mets to win, but they won’t. I mean, the Mets will have K-Rod, Johan Santana, David Wright, and a bunch of other big names and still won’t win the World Series ring.

It should be noted that the former single-save record holder, Bobby Thigpen, was never the same after he had 57 saves. And John Smoltz and Eric Gagne had to have surgery when they came close.

In other words, K-Rod will not close to duplicating his 2008 season, and will probably be spending time on the DL.

You heard it here first.

Mark it down.

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  20 comments for “Mets sign closer K-Rod, Francisco Rodriguez

  1. Esmeraldang
    December 16, 2011 at 1:11 AM

    Lol wtf San Francisco

  2. geraldinebacalso
    November 20, 2011 at 7:23 PM

    San Francisco is a hell hole and should be wiped off the map, Hiroshima style.

  3. Captain X
    October 8, 2011 at 5:14 AM

    Yes, it's Metropolitans as previously mentioned. I personally think that New York/New Jersey should get a hockey team called the Vets, so that way fans could cheer for the Mets (baseball), Nets (basketball), Jets (football) and Vets. How much fun would that be?

  4. Anonymous
    December 9, 2008 at 8:23 PM

    K-ROD, smay Rod. yanks all the way in our new stadium 2009!
    Call me whatever you met fanatics
    want to, but K- rod will screw up
    in the post season. He reminds me of Gary Shefield who used to be a Yank! ugh! I am soooo happy i do not live in Queens and be forced to
    go see the amazin’ play!

  5. Adv
    December 9, 2008 at 7:21 PM

    This is a great move by the Mets and I’m a Yankee fan. All this nonsense about K-Rod’s velocity going down means nothing because his breaking pitches are among the nastiest in the big leagues. K-Rod will close those games that the Mets couldn’t finish last year and will get this team get back to the playoffs.

  6. Anonymous
    December 9, 2008 at 7:21 PM

    Welcome to the choke squad K-Rod

  7. Anonymous
    December 9, 2008 at 7:20 PM

    Great signing. You sign a record setting closer in his prime at a young age and one who wants to play for this team….at a bargain price!

  8. Carol
    December 9, 2008 at 7:20 PM

    Way to go, Omar! Minaya’s handling of this should be the first chapter in a textbook about how to be a great GM. Cashman should pre-order it from Amazon. Brilliant acquisition

  9. YANKS RULE
    December 9, 2008 at 7:19 PM

    Let’s see how much Mets fans love him when the coughs up a Braves game in August. I can’t wait for the Latino Eric Gagne calls into WFAN the day after.

  10. Steve B
    December 9, 2008 at 7:18 PM

    K-RODS career highlights and awards – World Series Champion (2002) , 3x All-Star (2004, 2007, 2008) ,3x AL saves champion (2005, 2006, 2008) ,2x Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award (2006, 2008) , MLB record for most saves in a season (2008), first pitcher to reach 60 saves in a season (2008) , youngest pitcher to reach 50 saves in a season (2008) , youngest pitcher to reach 100 career saves (2006) , youngest pitcher to reach 200 career saves (2008). LETS GO METS!!!

  11. MetsFan96
    December 9, 2008 at 7:18 PM

    WWWOOOOOOHHHOOOOOOO! Nice much needed signing with one of the top 5 Closers in the game since Wagner’s career is done so now we need a bat like Manny’s, get Castillo out and bring Hudson in and get so much needed middle relief and we’ll be ready to go

  12. Tom
    December 9, 2008 at 7:17 PM

    another bad move by the junior yankees.

  13. Chris
    December 9, 2008 at 7:17 PM

    Excellent signing. Now they need to get someone who can be trusted in the 8th inning

  14. Anonymous
    December 9, 2008 at 7:17 PM

    Everyone will have an opinion. Just remember that he is light years better than ANY option the Mets currently have.

  15. Skew
    December 9, 2008 at 7:16 PM

    I’d prefer if they called back Davey Johnson. Then I’d watch them again.

  16. Rob
    December 9, 2008 at 7:16 PM

    they will be calling for Bobby V next year

  17. Al B Sure
    December 9, 2008 at 7:16 PM

    it doesn’t matter who they sign. thery could sign CC, they could sign albert. they could sign Arod, they could sign ryan howard, they can sign burnett, they could sign Pedroia, they could sign joba, paple, matsuzaka big papi. WHOEVER. they will go 70 and 0 through the 1st 70 games, then they will collapse and lose the next 92 games and miss out on the playoffs.

  18. Anonymous
    December 9, 2008 at 7:15 PM

    You MUST be young.

  19. Dan
    December 9, 2008 at 7:15 PM

    Well, the Mets can’t do any worse by signing him.

  20. John
    December 9, 2008 at 7:15 PM

    What too harsh..not a terrible signing, but the guy is overrated. He can’t pitch more than 1 inning

Comments are closed.