Source: Cardinals Will Pursue Rodriguez, Fuentes

by Eli Greenspan on Oct 18, 2008 6:20 PM EDT

According to a source in the industry, the Cardinals will aggressively pursue a closer, and plan to talk with Francisco Rodriguez and Brian Fuentes. The Cardinals bullpen hurt their chances for the playoffs more than ever this season, as they finished in fourth place with 86 wins, blowing 31 save opportunities. While they have young players like Chris Perez and Kyle McClellan, bringing in an established closer and using these guys to help set up for him would make the bullpen a lot stronger. While the Cardinals have not gotten their organizational meetings underway, it is believed they would be willing to offer a four year deal, with either club or performance based options.

The Mets and Angels are two of many teams that will pursue Rodriguez, who will let the desperate market determine his salary. As for Fuentes, a team like the Tigers or Indians could make an aggressive offer to get him off the market early.

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

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Can you please supply the link of the source? I doubt the Cards pay up for a closer with so much elsse to do.

by Anonymous on Oct 18, 2008 7:54 PM EDT reply actions

i cannot reveal my sources without their my permission. I can tell you that they saw cardinals scouts at both rockies and angels games, pulling out their radar guns for k-rod and fuentes, and a couple times for Jon Garland.

the cardinals have the money to spend and have the pieces (w/ a good bullpen) to get to the top of the rotation. they have one of the best coaching staffs in the league, and could make a serious run with a closer like rodriguez, and gm jon mozeliak knows it.

by Eli on Oct 18, 2008 8:03 PM EDT reply actions