Rodriguez Wants Long Term Deal

by Eli Greenspan on Feb 18, 2008 5:21 PM EST

Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez is entering the final year of his contract and it sounds like if a deal is not reached by Opening Day, he will walk. Rodriguez, 26, went 5-2 with a 2.81 ERA and 90 K, but has recored 132 saves over the past three seasons. I think Rodriguez will be looking for at least fifteen million dollars annually over six to seven seasons. He is just twenty-six, and those demands do not seem too unreasonable. The Angels do not plan to trade Rodriguez just yet, but I'm sure they would if the right deal came along. The Angels have one of the best minor league systems and a pretty good draft record, so if Rodriguez does walk, they could take the draft picks and sign someone else. As for possible replacements, Brandon Lyon and Juan Cruz of the Diamondbacks, Rafael Soriano, and maybe Damasco Marte. Another possible replacement, although unlikely, is Japanese lefty Hirotoshi Ishii.

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K-Rod had serious control issues in the second half of last year and couldn't locate his slider at all.

That's why the Angels are hesitant to offer more than $10-$12 million and Rodriguez knows it.

In no world will the Angels give a seven-year/$100 million contract to a closer.

It's well documented that the Angels are very interested in Nathan, a free agent after the season.

And Damaso Marte and Ishii are left-handed. Lefties rarely close (Wagner and Fuentes are exceptions). Not going to happen.

by Christo P. Ney on Feb 18, 2008 6:22 PM EST reply actions

B.J. Ryan as well.

Typically, they have to throw upwards of 100 mph to even sniff the possibility of closing.

And Scioscia loves statistical matchups.

by Christo P. Ney on Feb 18, 2008 6:24 PM EST reply actions