Pitchers and catchers for the Los Angeles Angels began working out on Friday, but there was one key member of the Angels bullpen who was absent from the team's first workouts of the spring. Closer Francisco Rodriguez, he of the 132 saves and 297 strikeouts in 207.2 innings the last three seasons, wasn't in camp on Friday but it's not because he's going all NFL on the team and holding out for a new contract."He had a personal problem come up in Venezuela, and he is due in [today]," Paul Kinzer said. The agent added that he had left a message for Angels General Manager Tony Reagins earlier this week.Rodriguez is scheduled to go to arbitration with the Angels on Thursday in St. Petersburg. In January Rodriguez and Kinzer asked the Angels for $12.5 million, and the Angels came back with a $10 million offer, the second largest gap between player and team amongst arbitration eligible players this season.
Rodriguez made only (Ha! Only.) $7 million last season but if he thinks he's going to get that $5.5 million raise he's asking for, he hasn't been paying much attention to the way things have been working this winter.
So far in arbitration hearings this year, players are 0-4.
