Could Wagner’s Injury Mean Mets Will Splurge On K-Rod This Winter?

In light of the news that New York Mets closer Billy Wagner will undergo surgery that will cost him at least one full year, the Mets find themselves without a closer at the back end of one of the most vulnerable bullpens in the league.  Surely, they must shore up this position in the off-season if they wish to improve upon their recent success and enhance their future odds of winning a championship.

Francisco Rodriguez has become one of the most dominant closers in today’s MLB.  He is one save shy of Bobby Thigpen’s all time single season saves record of 57 and still has three weeks to play.  The Angels know how valuable he is, the fans know, and more importantly, Rodriguez himself knows it.  This has often been a topic of debate, as the 27-year old K-Rod has made it known that he will be seeking a salary of roughly $15M per season, probably for 5 seasons, following this year.  And with the barren market for a top flight closer, he will surely get it.

The Angels have a big winter ahead of them.  Along with K-Rod, they have potential free agents in Mark Teixeira, Jon Garland, Juan Rivera, Vladimir Guerrero ($15M club option), Garrett Anderson ($14M club option), and John Lackey ($9M club option).  That is a lot of money on the table, and adding K-Rod’s $15M+ to their payroll may not be a top priority in Anaheim.

That opens the doors to teams with pitiful bullpens – like the Mets and Detroit Tigers.  Both teams are in the top 5 in team payroll and would love to avoid having a terrible bullpen for the umpteenth consecutive year.  With a rising star at one of the hardest positions in the game to fill confidently, at the prime age of 27, you can guarantee the Mets will drive up the pricetag on Anaheim’s dynamic closer now that Wagner is on the shelf for ‘09.