The fire sale has started early in New York. Looking to move Francisco Rodriguez before his $17.5 million option kicks in, K-Rod has been traded to the Brewers, according to Sports Illustrated's Jon Heyman. The Mets will also send along some money to help pay him. In exchange, the Brewers will send a pair of players to be named later
If K-Rod were to finish out 55 games for the season, the option would automatically kick in. Just over halfway through the season, he’s already finished 34 games, needing just 21 before his guaranteed payday.
On the part of the Brewers, they’ve acquired a great relief pitcher. His ERA is a less than impressive 3.14, but over his career he’s proved than he has the stuff to be the best in baseball. In 2008 he was absolutely unstoppable, recording a record 62 saves for the Angels.
The Mets really didn’t get much back for him. Players to be named later are usually not high-ranking prospects. They’re also sending along money to the Brewers. Evidently, it was a salary dump move, and the Mets did not want to take a chance on being stuck with the $17.5 million option.
K Rod was adamant in wanting to remain a closer, and would have rejected a deal to be the setup man for any of the 10 unknown teams in his no-trade clause. It is yet unknown exactly whether the Brewers were on that list, and where he will pencil in for the Brewers. In the best-case scenario, this is how they’ll use their bullpen.
The Brewers already have John Axford as their closer. The 28-year-old has saved 23 games and posted a 2.83 ERA. He has a better ERA, better strikeout-to-walk ratio and better strikeouts per nine innings ratio than K Rod. Simply put, this season he’s been a better closer. K Rod should be his setup man.
Perhaps more importantly is the looming option for K Rod. If he were to finish off 21 more games, he would get his $17.5 million next season. But using him as a setup man will not trigger that option, and allow the Brewers to use him as a half-season rental.
This move shows the Brewers are serious about making a run at the postseason. It’s widely speculated they won’t be able to retain Prince Fielder, but they certainly have a team which could carry them deep into the playoffs. K-Rod would be their second trade for a top-line pitcher this year, having acquired former AL Cy Young pitcher Zach Greinke from the Royals during the offseason.
Suddenly, the Brewers are back to being the favorite team in the NL Central.
Trade season has just begun, and teams still have until July 31 to acquire players via trade without exposing them to the waiver wire. There’s still plenty of time for the rest of the Central to answer back with moves of their own.
Still, this move proves two things. One, the Mets are in straight sell mode, and won’t be making a serious run at the wild card. Two, the Brewers are making a big run at the postseason, and this move won’t even prevent them from future deals.
It’s going to be a fun summer in Wisconsin.
In 11 days, Alberto Del Rio takes part in his first-ever Money In The Bank pay-per-view. The problem is that there isn't much knowledge as to what exactly he will be at that pay-per-view.
Del Rio was announced as one of the eight Money in the Bank participants for RAW's ladder match. If Del Rio wins that briefcase, he would be given a chance to cash in a title match against the WWE Champion, who is currently John Cena.
Del Rio facing Cena has been a rumored SummerSlam main event for quite some time, so having Del Rio win and cash in quickly could set up this as a main event for SummerSlam with the WWE Championship on the line. This seemed to be a likely scenario for Del Rio, until CM Punk's worked shoot promo occurred.
CM Punk, his promo and his future in WWE is the one thing that has captivated all pro wrestling fans in the last few weeks. His promo has brought more discussion from more unlikely outlets than many other WWE story lines in recent memory.
Last week's RAW was taped the same night as CM Punk's shocking promo, meaning that his suspension and reinstatement was already making its way around wrestling sites days before it actually happened.
With that known, WWE still put on a triple threat number one contender's match on that same RAW to crown a new challenger for John Cena's WWE Championship. Del Rio competed against Rey Mysterio and R-Truth in that match, which was seldom talked about compared to the reinstatement of Punk.
All three men in the match were already a part of RAW's Money in the Bank ladder match. Logic would suggest that the winner would be pulled from the Money in the Bank ladder match in favor of the WWE Championship match, putting a new participant in the mix.
reputation management management
08/03/2011: U.S. Department of Justice, EPA to Hold <b>News</b> <b>...</b>
3, 2011) - Representatives of the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will hold a news conference at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow, Thursday, Aug. 4, in St. Louis, Mo., to discuss a significant ...
08/03/2011: U.S. Department of Justice, EPA to Hold <b>News</b> <b>...</b><b>News</b> In Brief: Life - Science <b>News</b>
Flowery advertising, tempting toilets for shrews, bat beacons and more in this week's news.
<b>News</b> In Brief: Life - Science <b>News</b>Great <b>news</b>: Service industry now slowing down, too « Hot Air
Great news: Service industry now slowing down, too.
Great <b>news</b>: Service industry now slowing down, too « Hot Air
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