The fire sale has started early in New York. Looking to move Francisco Rodriguez before his $17.5 million option kicks in, K-Rod has been traded to the Brewers, according to Sports Illustrated's Jon Heyman. The Mets will also send along some money to help pay him. In exchange, the Brewers will send a pair of players to be named later
If K-Rod were to finish out 55 games for the season, the option would automatically kick in. Just over halfway through the season, he’s already finished 34 games, needing just 21 before his guaranteed payday.
On the part of the Brewers, they’ve acquired a great relief pitcher. His ERA is a less than impressive 3.14, but over his career he’s proved than he has the stuff to be the best in baseball. In 2008 he was absolutely unstoppable, recording a record 62 saves for the Angels.
The Mets really didn’t get much back for him. Players to be named later are usually not high-ranking prospects. They’re also sending along money to the Brewers. Evidently, it was a salary dump move, and the Mets did not want to take a chance on being stuck with the $17.5 million option.
K Rod was adamant in wanting to remain a closer, and would have rejected a deal to be the setup man for any of the 10 unknown teams in his no-trade clause. It is yet unknown exactly whether the Brewers were on that list, and where he will pencil in for the Brewers. In the best-case scenario, this is how they’ll use their bullpen.
The Brewers already have John Axford as their closer. The 28-year-old has saved 23 games and posted a 2.83 ERA. He has a better ERA, better strikeout-to-walk ratio and better strikeouts per nine innings ratio than K Rod. Simply put, this season he’s been a better closer. K Rod should be his setup man.
Perhaps more importantly is the looming option for K Rod. If he were to finish off 21 more games, he would get his $17.5 million next season. But using him as a setup man will not trigger that option, and allow the Brewers to use him as a half-season rental.
This move shows the Brewers are serious about making a run at the postseason. It’s widely speculated they won’t be able to retain Prince Fielder, but they certainly have a team which could carry them deep into the playoffs. K-Rod would be their second trade for a top-line pitcher this year, having acquired former AL Cy Young pitcher Zach Greinke from the Royals during the offseason.
Suddenly, the Brewers are back to being the favorite team in the NL Central.
Trade season has just begun, and teams still have until July 31 to acquire players via trade without exposing them to the waiver wire. There’s still plenty of time for the rest of the Central to answer back with moves of their own.
Still, this move proves two things. One, the Mets are in straight sell mode, and won’t be making a serious run at the wild card. Two, the Brewers are making a big run at the postseason, and this move won’t even prevent them from future deals.
It’s going to be a fun summer in Wisconsin.
The economic uncertainty of the next few years is leaving people to wonder if they will even have a job next year. With budgets already tight, many families are struggling to keep one job and still have difficulties making ends meet. The good news is that you can begin to supplement your income this year by taking advantage of online opportunities in blogging, podcasting, and writing for others. If you’re passionate about something, you can find a way to express yourself in the online world and eventually start to make extra money from it.
Making Money With A Blog
While blogging has great long term potential, don’t expect to make money with a blog right away. If you’re looking for a way to express your passion while taking advantage of potential income opportunities like Adsense or affiliate products, starting a blog is a great place to begin. It’s common for bloggers to see small earnings in the first year, but don’t expect to pay for your mortgage right away. With consistent posting and a commitment to providing good information to your online community, you can start to see a few extra dollars.
Writing For Other Sites
One of the best ways to land a job writing for others is by writing your own blog and getting an invitation to join a staff writing team. You can, however, find legitimate writing jobs online that pay well. One of the newest resources is the ProBlogger job board, which lists the job requests of companies who are hiring writers. Topics range from technology to fashion and can pay from $10 an article to $75 and up.
Create an eBook or Webinar
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