K-Rod to Brewers: It Had To Be Done

Arguably Sandy Alderson's biggest move since taking over as the Mets GM, last night he traded Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez to the Milwaukee Brewers for two players to be named later. In the deal, the Mets also send $5 million in cash to the Brewers. 

Initially, fans can look at this move as a bad one; trading away their closer while there is still some hope of making the playoffs as the Wild Card winner. But the Mets are 7 1/2 games behind the Braves at the break and would have to play eight games better than the Braves in the second half to achieve that goal. What are the odds?

K-Rod and his $17.5 million vesting option for 2012 had become too big of a burden -- and a gamble -- for the Mets to carry any longer.  Well on his way to that option vesting, Rodriguez already had 34 of the 55 games finished needed for that option to vest.  The $17.5 million that may have to be paid to him was money that would be better spent elsewhere.

Fred Wilpon and Sandy Alderson have already made it clear that 2012's payroll is going to be lighter; down from this year's $140 million plus to roughly anywhere between $110 and $120 million. And even though K-Rod's option would wash Beltran's salary that most likely won't be on the books next year, that is still money that the Mets can't afford to spend. Not with the salaries of David Wright, Johan Santana and Jason Bay totalling $57 million combined. Oh yeah, and then there's that Reyes guy.

The deal also allows for the Mets to less expensively experiment with Bobby Parnell and even Pedro Beato in a closer's role.  

As a Mets fan, for me, this is a very wise and necessary move right now.  The likelihood of the Mets actually needing K-Rod to close games for them in the second half in order to make the playoffs is little to none.  I'd rather them save their money and chances for next season, than have K-Rod saving ultimately meaningless games for them this year.