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.
The Mets are being cautious in their own right. New York has shown how much it needs relief help after consecutive September collapses where the bullpen has acted as kerosene on the fire.
GM Omar Minaya may very well sign two relief pitchers, but it's not clear exactly who those pitchers will be at this point. The Mets have been connected to just about every big name out there. There's a natural link to Rodriguez, particularly with incumbent closer Billy Wagner out for all of 2009.
But Minaya has also shown interest in Fuentes, according to Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News, balking at his $30 million asking price. If you believe Joel Sherman, he even had a chance to land Huston Street after he was traded from Oakland to Colorado earlier this month.
The point is this: The Mets, as the richest team in on the big-money relief market, will have their pick of bullpen arms. K-Rod, as the top closer available, will also have a number of suitors to choose from in the coming weeks. With neither party in a rush to settle their situation for next season, it might take some time for the Fuentes and Hoffmans of the world to find a home.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-27-2008 @ 5:15PM
charlie said...
K Rod has lost his fastball. The proof was in the playoffs. Way too many breaking balls. Why do you think the Angels have not made him an offer ? Buyer beware.. He's not worth the big money anymore
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11-27-2008 @ 5:39PM
Wade said...
As weird as this sounds to say, I think the Royals may be the only team that doesn't need any real help in the bullpen. Now, if they could just figure out the rest of the line-up.
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11-28-2008 @ 2:51AM
Joseph said...
With all due respect, Wade - your remark about KC being the ONLY team without bullpen trouble is a bit off the mark, bro. Rivera, Lidge, Brian Wilson, Nathan, Valverde, Papelbon, Sherrill & Jenks are just a few extremely solid closers currently kickin' ass throughout the show (and those were just the ones off the top of my head). But, I DO concur about the Royals needing some MAJOR help in all other areas......
11-28-2008 @ 8:31AM
andy said...
I have no idea if KRod has lost anything. It is so hard to tell at the end of a season after a power pitcher pitched so many innings. I do think as a coach I saw some problems in his delivery and a reluctance to correct them instead going to offspeed pitches instead. If he is not too proud, and if he has not damaged his arm, he can be a great asset to any team that picks him up given that whoever coaches him will help him utilize his born talent in such a way to preserve his affectiveness.
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11-28-2008 @ 5:51PM
Mike said...
I guess I was at the airport when my ship came in. Can't quite wrap my brain around the reasoning for MLB deal making and player signings. "Laying groundwork for a trade"? "Hope to sign with a team before Xmas"? What the.................! This ain't rocket science here folks. It should be, "hey, we'll offer you this, yes or no"? It shouldn't take months to decide who you want to play for. Take about making a mountain out of a molehill. What a farce.
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11-28-2008 @ 5:51PM
Mike said...
KRod's motion is like a young kid trying to fool batters by throwing a very bad changeup---all motion and little else.
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11-28-2008 @ 8:27PM
Lloyd said...
Idiot story. Why was Kerry Wood not mentioned. He will probably have the best year of any of these guys.
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12-01-2008 @ 10:44AM
Bill Palmer said...
The Angels are one of the real good teams in baseball and owe much of their success to the bullpen. Why wouldn't they do all that's possible to resign K-Rod? Perhaps everyone should take a step back and weigh all the options. I hope the Mets spend a bundle on him and it blows up in their face like every other attempt they have made to buy a title with "superstar" tallent as the past has so vividly shown!
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12-01-2008 @ 12:00PM
LEW said...
K ROD IS THE ANSWER NOT A 33 YEAR OLD. DONT BESO CHEAP MUTS, LESS MONEY WONT WIN THE DIVISION. GET RID OF THE GARBAGE SANCHEZ HEILMAN SCHOENWEIS, NFD THEMOTHER TRASH. THAT MMINAYA PICKED UP FROM THR GARBAGE PILE. GET SOME CLASS TO SURROUND SANTANA WITH. HOW GREAT IS SANTANA HE SHOULD HAVE 22 WINS LAST SEASON. MUTS SHOW SOME CLASS GET QUALITY NOT SOMEONE ELSES GARBAGE,
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2-25-2009 @ 1:23PM
tulu9 said...
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12-05-2008 @ 7:17AM
LEW said...
THE BULL SHIT PEN OF THE METS BLEW 30 GAMES LAST YEAR.HOW IMPORTANT IS THE BULL PEN.. IF THEY BLEW 20 THE METS WIN 99 GAMES. EVEN WITHOUT CLUTCH HITTING. STOP THE CRAP GET K ROD. GET RID OF THE GARBAGE IN THE PENN . METS YOU KNOW WHO THEY ARE. GO WIN A TITLE. STOP THE CHEAP AND STUPID PURSUING OF OTHER TEAMS DISCARDED CRAP.. USE YOUR BRAINS.
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