As Angels 'turn page,' K-Rod could head to Mets

More and more, it looks like Francisco Rodriguez is on his way out of Anaheim.

And, maybe, on his way to New York.

As my colleague Scott Miller wrote earlier today, the Angels have put Mark Teixeira and CC Sabathia ahead of K-Rod on their list of free-agent priorities. So far ahead, it turns out, that K-Rod is barely even on the list anymore.

"As a whole, we're probably turning the page on this one," Angels owner Arte Moreno said today on his Los Angeles radio station, KLAA, when asked about Rodriguez. "I'm not one of these never, never people, but I'm just saying I think as a whole it's important for us to turn the page and move forward."

In the same interview, Moreno suggests that the Angels could pursue Manny Ramirez, if they don't keep Teixeira.

(The entire interview can be heard here.)

If the Angels do indeed turn the page, where would that leave Rodriguez?

Very possibly, with the Mets.

The Mets are determined to fix their bullpen, but they shied away from Rodriguez after his agent told SI.com last month that the bidding would start at five years and $75 million. Kinzer has since backed away from those comments, and when he did Mets officials started telling people that they're back in on K-Rod.

The Mets could be well-positioned to get him, too, because the other teams in need of a closer this winter (Tigers, Indians, Rays) are very unlikely to spend anything close to $15 million per year. The Mets could end up going that high, although not for the five years that Kinzer was originally demanding.

Moreno said the Angels made six different offers to Rodriguez over the last year or so. It's believed that they went up to about $42 million for three years, and that Rodriguez told them that wasn't enough.

dalerolfe Since: Jun 14, 2007	Posted on: November 13, 2008 1:47 am As Angels 'turn page,' K-Rod could head to Mets Salary cap??? Why shouldn't the open market determine what a player's value is? People like to point to the players as being greedy when the real greed often lies in the front office. Owners aren't paying these exhorbitant salaries because they're just very nice, very wealthy people who like to give their money away. Most owners have gotten wealthy by making many good investments. Signing a player to a 3 or 4 or 5 year deal is making a 3 or 4 or 5 year investment. Are they all wise investments??? Of course not! But don't let them fool you into believing the reason you have to pay such high ticket prices...the reason you have to pay as much as $8 for a hot dog and $6 for a soda...the reason you have to pay as much as $20 just to park in the stadium parking lot....is because of player salaries. It is actually just the reverse....They PAY those salaries because fools like you and I are willing to pay those crazy prices to see a ballgame. They charge those crazy prices because they can....they charge those prices because they want to maximize their profit... they charge those prices because they want to make as much money as they possibly can and fans like us are willing to fork over the dough!!! The Rays don't charge low ticket prices and give breaks on the price of parking for carloads of 4 or more in order to be nice to their fans...they do it because up until this season they have put a lousy product on the field and people weren't showing up at the games. They needed to do whatever they could to make it seem like enough of a value to fans that they'd show up at the park. Now they are defending American League Champions....think they won't use that as an excuse to make more money off the fans??? Don't kid yourself!!!! Players don't set the salaries......owners do. A player can only make what an owner is willing to pay him. And how is that wrong???? [ Reply to Comment ]
Gerbelhater Since: Feb 4, 2008	Posted on: November 13, 2008 1:37 am As Angels 'turn page,' K-Rod could head to Mets ; As an Angels fan, I loved K-Rod when nobody knew how to deal with his "never really hits the strike zone" slider. It was a pleasure to watch him humiliate batter after batter during our run to the World Series years ago. Since then he has been one of the worst post-season closers/releif pitchers in baseball. If someone wants to fork out 50 mil for this dramatic idiot that rarely ever throws a true strike, you're not going to disappoint me. He is unarguably one of the best regular season closers to ever play the game. But this guy gives up a game- winning hit everytime he takes the mound in the post-season. I say the Angels are absolutely justified in going after Mark Teixeira, or better yet, Manny. Nothing would crush the Dodgers more than for the Angels to strip Manny from the Dodgers' clutches. By doing that, the Angels would officially rule baseball in Los Angeles. However, I don't want the Angels to pay C.C. Sabathia. That guy hasn't proven to be a consistent starter in the post-season...and the Angels desperately need to bring players who have a solid post-season track record. [ Reply to Comment ]
rock_da_house Since: Mar 31, 2008	Posted on: November 13, 2008 12:34 am As Angels 'turn page,' K-Rod could head to Mets Although I would be excited to have him come in, I don't like these ridiculous prices for these players. I still believe they should have a salary cap based on economic standpoints as well as the social standpoint of being payed way too much to play a game. I would cap the salaries at 20 million a year, with a 100 million team salary cap. If you can't afford it, then you can't own a team. Also shared revenue should be implemented to make this successful like the NHL, NFL, and NBA. This is the only way that we will see regulation in baseball. [ Reply to Comment ]
fin1354 Since: Oct 15, 2007	Posted on: November 13, 2008 12:31 am As Angels 'turn page,' K-Rod could head to Mets The most he should get is just $8 mill a year. He's a closer that only pitches 1 inning a game vs a starting pitcher who pitches for more than half the game. That's another reason why MLB should have a salary cap to prevent GREEDY agents and players who force owners to over pay for a player. I agree with you on going to the Rays games. You also don't have to pay parking if you have 4 or more people in a car unlike other places where you have to pay. [ Reply to Comment ]
PatriotNation Since: Nov 10, 2006	Posted on: November 12, 2008 11:13 pm As Angels 'turn page,' K-Rod could head to Mets Greed has no loyalty! The common person can no longer identify with todays athletes. That's why I like the Tampa Rays. $14 to get a ticket. You can bring your own food and water and not pay scalper's prices for these amenities. And at $42 million (the entire team payroll-the price Krod turned down) you get to watch World Series caliber baseball. [ Reply to Comment ]
jrat2388 Since: Jan 12, 2007	Posted on: November 12, 2008 10:59 pm As Angels 'turn page,' K-Rod could head to Mets what a selfish ungrateful punk 42 million dollars! in 3 years! wow take the money man your playing for a competitor to ! [ Reply to Comment ]

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