K-Rod Loses Arbitration, Gets $10 Mil

by Neo8234 on Feb 22, 2008 9:18 AM PST

TEMPE, Ariz. -- The Los Angeles Angels defeated Francisco Rodriguez in salary arbitration Friday, and the reliever will receive $10 million rather than his request for $12.5 million.

L I N K -to- S T O R Y

Despite the loss, Rodriguez tied the record for the highest salary in an arbitration decision, a mark he shares with Alfonso Soriano, who lost his case against the Washington Nationals in 2006, and Ryan Howard, who beat the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday.

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I'm sure...

That's not going to help in talking extension with him (not that I agree with giving that kind of money to a closer anyway).

by onthevirg on Feb 22, 2008 9:54 AM PST reply actions

Is 10 million enough?

I really like KRod, and would like to see him pitching here for a long time, till the end of his career if possible.

Do you all think we can work out a deal now, or is this the death knell on KRod relationship with the Angels?

by matthiasstephan on Feb 22, 2008 9:56 AM PST reply actions

Well, he's got no choice...

That's going to be his salary, like it or not (and I'm guessing not). If he wouldn't take the 3/34 (I think that was it) he's surely not going to take a contract that only pays him $10M per when he's a FA.

Sounds to me like he's wanting to break the record for a RP contract. That's just too much for a guy that plays all of 70-80 innings a year.

by onthevirg on Feb 22, 2008 10:12 AM PST up reply actions

my $.02

he's gone next year to the highest bidder. some idiot will offer him 5 years at $13M-15M/per

by TTTT on Feb 22, 2008 10:08 AM PST reply actions

My 2 ¢

Trade him and get what they can for him. Though I'm not sure what kind of market there would be for a $10M closer that's a pending free agent. Might be better off just taking the pick for him depending on what offers, if any, they could get.

by onthevirg on Feb 22, 2008 10:18 AM PST up reply actions

yea, but...

who's to say Arte isn't that "idiot"?

he's "optimistic" about extending him.

http://mlbfleecefactor.com/2008/02/22/k-rod-ruling-expected-today-moreno-optimistic-about-extension/

i could definitely see moreno giving him 4/60. and that wouldn't be the worst thing, would it?

by em3 on Feb 22, 2008 10:39 AM PST up reply actions

Well...

It certainly wouldn't be the best thing either. Say they bump the payroll up to $130 next year, that means they'd have just under 12% of payroll tied up in one guy, that doesn't play everyday or have as much value as a SP.

I think they'd be better off using that cash as a way to extend Lackey and/or Vlad or...whatever. But tying up that much money and years for a closer seems like a bad plan.

by onthevirg on Feb 22, 2008 10:57 AM PST up reply actions

What if...

Aybar shows us some Jose Reyes type potential and Wood tears up AAA. This allows management to let Figgins go and plug Brandon into a cheap young infield, and then sign Frankie.

I sort of get the feeling we're headed that direction anyway, minus the signing Frankie part.

by Wytelitning on Feb 22, 2008 11:05 AM PST up reply actions

I agree with you....

...that they should prioritize keeping Lackey ahead of keeping K-Rod.

by em3 on Feb 22, 2008 11:22 AM PST up reply actions

great

this is great for re-establishing some good blood between k-rod and the team. sitting in florida arguing why hes not worth 12 million and winning. im sure frankies thrilled.

by ihearhowie2.0 on Feb 22, 2008 11:40 AM PST reply actions

Best thing that can happen in regards

to re-signing Frankie:

Hope that Rivera and Cordero go bust this year.

by Caseys Kiss of Death on Feb 22, 2008 12:09 PM PST reply actions

Take THAT K-Rod...

Seriously, though. We'd love to keep you, but don't you think your demands are just a tad too high?

I could see a slim possibility of us keeping him next year. The biggest payers will not be looking for a closer next year, which might keep his price reasonable. He might be willing to settle for 10-11 million per year.

I'm a gutless, two-faced little b!tch.

by Los Angeles de Anaheim on Feb 22, 2008 2:40 PM PST reply actions

other options

i'd prefer to take that money & GA's money and use it to sign Dunn or Manny (if he isn't kept) for DH. Either could give Vlad some time off in RF occasionally. Yes, D will be hurt, but offset more so by much higher production.

Shields/Speier take over as closer. Hopefully some youngs guys are ready next year to pickup the slack in the 6th/7th innings.

by TTTT on Feb 22, 2008 4:36 PM PST reply actions

i like how in saturday's oc register...

says that this will probably be krod's last season with the angels but he's open to negotiate. on one hand he wants this to be his last year on the other he is open for a big contract. does he want free agency, an extension from the angels, a contract from the angels after testing the waters of free agency, hold the team hostage or all of the above?

by thejd on Feb 23, 2008 9:37 AM PST reply actions