Irene's Weblog

Moments after the All-Star Game had concluded, we learned that The Mets had traded their closer, Francisco Rodriguez, to the Milwaukee Brewers for cash and two players to be named later.

Signed to a three-year, $37 million contract before the 2009 season, Rodriguez pitched well for the Mets – but his deal contained a $17.5 million option for next season that would vest if he finished 55 games this year, which he was on pace to do. That option would have been crippling to next year’s payroll, and the Mets’ chances of re-signing free-agent-to-be Jose Reyes.

I’m not really sure how I feel about this trade at the moment. Judging by the fan poll on The Daily News‘ site, most folks are torn over the decision as well. It seems like a huge white flag that the Mets are ready to give up on this season, yet we all know that they cannot afford his option at the end of the season. If K-Rod is gone, look for others to be traded as well.

This may be a sign that The Mets would rather have Jose Reyes stay than having a top closer. The Mets could still trade Reyes, but it seems more unlikely now. The fact is, this was a money move. The Mets simply cannot afford K-Rod’s option and continue to build the team. I guess we’ll all have to see what happens next.

The Daily News ran a story yesterday about how Fransisco Rodriguez has said he is willing to waive his no-trade clause if he’s asked to.

Although Rodriguez has a clause blocking trades to 10 undisclosed teams, a source close to him said that he will consider any potential deal that is presented to him. Rodriguez is also open to waiving the vesting option in the event an acquiring team wants to negotiate a multi-year extension, the source said.

“Instead of signing someone like (Jonathan) Papelbon or (Heath) Bell this winter for three or four years, a team could pick up that option and have K-Rod for a year and a half,” the executive said. “That could be very tempting, and the Mets might actually get a prospect back in that case.”

Said another NL executive: “It is still a high annual salary, but he is pitching like an elite closer, and he would be off the books after next year.”

Rodriguez has helped this argument by pitching well this season, and behaving off the field. If the perception of him last season was of a declining pitcher with alarming behavior, he has reversed that view with on-field dominance and off-field penitence. The turnaround could help him land on a contending team this summer.

One can only speculate as to whether he wants out of the current NY Mets circus or if the Mets want him gone after the incident last year where he punched his future father-in-law. Considering the Mets’ history of defending players even when they are in the wrong, one wonders what the exact cause is to make this story public. Is K-Rod being shopped or is K-Rod looking to get out of town?

As a Met fan, I can’t disagree if K-Rod wants out of town. He’s a top 5 closer on a team that is going nowhere. Fred Wilpon threw players under the bus last week in his interview with Sports Illustrated. He’s also said the $68 million that will come off the books at the end of the season is not going to be used next season. With that in mind, why would one of the top closers in the game want to stay?

The fact is that the Mets cannot afford players like Carlos Beltran and Jose Reyes. They are asking for far too much money for their worth. Yes, they are great on the field when they are not injured. Given the fact that both players spend considerable time on the DL, are they really worth keeping when you can trade them this season and get some good prospects back in trade? The key to the Mets’ future is when these guys are traded and for how much. For now, it looks like everyone wants to jump ship in New York and I can hardly blame them.

Nico Rosberg of Mercedes GP Petronas explains how the steering wheel of his F1 car works.

We finally have the return of Formula 1 tonight with the Australian Grand Prix. So, in case you’ve never seen a full onboard camera view, here’s a hot lap with Jenson Button at Mount Panorama (Bathurst).

This is not a video game. This is what the drivers see while on the track. It’s the best motor sport on the planet and NASCAR fans can just go suck it.

For those of you that know me, I never wanted Oliver Perez and Luis Castillo resigned. I said it would be a mistake to do so. I was happy knowing their contracts were up. Then, former general manager Omar Minaya resigned both to gigantic contracts. They got rewarded for mediocre play. I was angry. I knew things wouldn’t go well and they haven’t. Their performances over the past few years have been disgraceful. I don’t care if they had potential. Potential shouldn’t get you $12 million and $6 million, respectively, per year. Potential gets you league minimum.

In one of his last outings as a Met, Perez said a few things that leads people to conclude that he just doesn’t care or just doesn’t get it.

“People can say a lot of stuff,” Perez said. “I did everything I can. It’s one of those days. You’re going to have really bad days. I know I don’t want to have a really bad day, but I think it’s one of those days. I just have to come here tomorrow and try to get better.”

The problem is, Perez has been saying this same thing for several years in one form or another. You never know what you’re going to get when he gets on the mound. It’s usually something awful. That’s why he was put in the bullpen last year and hardly used. Every day is a bad day for Ollie. He’s not going to get any better.

In seven Grapefruit League outings — two as a starter — Perez has posted an 8.38 ERA with six strikeouts, eight walks and 13 hits in 9 2/3 innings (numbers strikingly similar to those produced in the Mexican Winter League). His fastball velocity on Saturday never climbed higher than 87 mph, also typical of his recent work.

With such performances in Spring Training and winter ball, Perez should never have been a candidate for a spot on the rotation. The Mets had to face facts. They had to cut Perez and eat the $12 million. You can’t put a guy like this into the rotation. With thirty starts a year, the team would not have been able to pick him up every single game. Keeping Perez and putting him in the rotation would have meant at least twenty losses for the Mets. That’s a hard pill to ask players to swallow when they’d like to win.

Yes, I’m happy both players were cut. No, the Mets aren’t going to win the World Series this year. They probably won’t even make the playoffs, but when you’re trying to cut players who are mediocre and useless, sometimes you have to eat the contracts of your predecessors and move on. The Mets need to rebuild. Now is as good a time as any to replenish the farm system and start building a solid team.