Mets Trade Francisco Rodriguez To Milwaukee Brewers

Last night, the Mets traded Francisco Rodriguez and cash to the Milwaukee Brewers for two players to be named later.

Below is the press release sent by the Mets:

FLUSHING, N.Y., July 12, 2011: The New York Mets tonight announced that they have traded RHP pitcher Francisco Rodriguez and cash considerations to the Milwaukee Brewers for two players to be named later.

Rodriguez this season was 2-2 with a 3.16 ERA and 23 saves in 26 appearances. Last year, he was 4-2 with a 2.20 ERA and 25 saves in 53 games; in his first year with the Mets in 2009, he was 3-6 with a 3.71 ERA and 35 saves in 70 games. For the Mets, Rodriguez was 9-10 with a 3.05 ERA with 83 saves in 165 games.

The 29-year-old was signed as a free agent by the Mets on December 10, 2008, after seven seasons with the Angels. Since breaking into the Majors in 2002, Rodriguez has a 32-27 record with a 2.54 ERA and 291 saves in 573 appearances.

"We thank Frankie for his contributions to the Mets and wish him well with the Brewers," said Mets General Manager Sandy Alderson. "This trade allows us to develop and more fully utilize other members of our 2011 bullpen and offers some payroll relief as well."

Alderson will address the media via conference call Wednesday at a time to be determined tomorrow.

Don't expect the Mets to get much back when it comes to the players to be named later. Milwaukee has little to offer after acquiring Zack Greinke last year.

This deal essentially makes Milwaukee responsible for K-Rod's 2012 option.

Despite his switching agents this past week, and having it announced that he did not want to go any where to be a set-up man, I don't see him being anything other than that.

The Brewers already have John Axford as their closer, and they will not want K-Rod's option to vest.

Whatever happens, the important thing is he's gone and so is the threat of having to pay him $17.5 million.

So, who will close for the Mets? I would have to believe it would be either Bobby Parnell or Jason Isringhausen. The only reason I say Isringhausen is because he is only seven saves away from 300 in his career.

I wouldn't mind seeing Pedro Beato also given the opportunity to close.