go to MSN.com
  autos     money     sports     tech     more    
  MSN home  |  Mail  |  My MSN  | 

Sources: Mets, K-Rod agree to 3-year, $37M deal

by Ken Rosenthal

Ken Rosenthal has been the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com since Aug. 2005. He appears weekly on the FSN Baseball Report and MLB on FOX.


add this RSS print
Updated: December 9, 2008, 5:00 PM EST
Comment
The New York Mets have reached an agreement in principle with All-Star closer Francisco Rodriguez on a three-year, $37 million contract, according to major-league sources. The deal includes a $14 million vesting option for a fourth year that would raise the total value of the contract to $51 million.

The deal is contingent upon Rodriguez passing a physical, and the language of the contract still needs to be finalized.

That vesting option is within reach as long as Rodriguez pitches his normal number of innings as a closer, either in the third year of the deal or in a combination of years two and three. "Basically, he's just got to be healthy," one source said.

The deal also includes performance bonuses that are considered within reasonable reach.

News of an imminent deal was first reported by the New York Post. Contract figures were first reported by SI.com.

K-Rod recorded a record 62 saves for the Los Angeles Angels this year, five more than the previous big league mark set by Bobby Thigpen of the Chicago White Sox in 1990, and then filed for free agency.

A three-time All-Star who turns 27 next month, Rodriguez was regarded as the top closer on the market.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Please note by clicking on "add a comment" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms of Use and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Be polite. Inappropriate posts may be removed by the moderator.

 advertisement

FOX SPORTS MLB VIDEO

Not so free agents
Former MLB GM Jim Bowden discusses the top available pitching free agents, where he thinks they'll end up and what it will take to sign them.
Nats retain Riggleman
New Washington Nationals manager Jim Riggleman talks about removing the interim tag from his manager position.

 advertisement

Statistical Information provided by: STATS LLC
© 2009 Fox Sports Interactive Media, LLC. All rights reserved.