Krod accepts arbitration

[love_that_reefer]

Francisco Rodriguez has accepted arbitration from the Brewers.
K-Rod doesn't want to set up for John Axford, but evidently he'll make an exception if it means making around $13 million through arbitration. Of course, the Brewers could also wind up trading him to another team in need of a closer. K-Rod held a 2.64 ERA and 79/26 K/BB rate over 73 games this season for the Mets and Brewers in 2011

OUCH!! $13 million for a setup guy has to hurt. The Brewers would have to eat some dough if they are to trade him to another team. There were rumblings that the O's could be interested but not sure if they watch up well with the Brewers. Brewers better hope they can move him.

[Hardy Blonde]

Wooooooooooooow....Did not see this coming especially with all of the other good players we are letting go...Looks like Fielder is on his way to St. Louis????

[realmofotalk]

They should've never offered him arbitration. Talk about a plan backfiring, haha.

[Hardy Blonde]

K-Rod, Crew beat deadline, agree to contract
By Adam McCalvy / MLB.com | 01/17/12 1:00 PM EST

MILWAUKEE -- The Brewers and reliever Francisco Rodriguez agreed to a one-year, $8 million contract just ahead of Tuesday's deadline for arbitration-eligible players and their teams to exchange figures.


Rodriguez was the team's trickiest case because he was a free agent who accepted arbitration, not a player with the usual three to six years of Major League service, and because he is a career closer who is serving as a setup man with the Brewers. Those factors could have made for an interesting debate between the Brewers and agent Scott Boras about Rodriguez's value in the current market. Per club policy, the Brewers did not announce any salary information, but an industry source confirmed the $8 million base salary. The deal also includes incentives, but the base salary is much lower than some analysts expected considering Rodriguez earned $11.5 million in a 2011 season split between the Mets and Brewers.

Rodriguez is fourth among active pitchers and 24th all-time with 291 career saves, but he accepted arbitration knowing that John Axford was in place as the closer. That decision surprised the Brewers, who had extended the offer expecting Rodriguez to decline and sign with a team with a ninth-inning need, positioning Milwaukee to receive two compensatory pick in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft.

Instead, barring a trade, Rodriguez will return to pitch the eighth inning in front of Axford, who is still one season shy of qualifying for arbitration. Assuming Rodriguez remains, the Brewers will be guaranteeing $8.5 million-$9 million to their eighth- and ninth-inning men, a relatively manageable amount considering the payroll is projected for the $90 million-$100 million range.
Rodriguez was not thrilled to cede the ninth inning, but he pitched brilliantly for the Brewers during the second half of the season and into the postseason. He allowed only six earned runs in 29 regular-season appearances in a Milwaukee uniform with a 1.86 ERA. The sides settled just before Tuesday's noon CT deadline for teams and players to exchange salary proposals. With Rodriguez's deal done, the Brewers were still working on three arbitration-eligible pitchers: starter Shaun Marcum and relievers Kameron Loe and Jose Veras.

[love_that_reefer]

Rarely do you see a player take a paycut to avoid arbitration.

[Hardy Blonde]

Interesting for a guy that didn't want to stay here....