Francisco Rodriguez: Open to be Mets Closer

By Kevin Kernan, The New York Post

Frankie Rodriguez' locker sits in the left-hand corner of the Angels' clubhouse. It is a prominent place for the Angels' most prominent pitcher. K-Rod put together a record-setting season, compiling a major-league record 62 saves.

Where will he be dressing next season? Rodriguez becomes a free agent after the World Series. The Mets, who are coming off Collapse II, have a nightmare bullpen.

This is a match made in baseball heaven.

The Mets traded for Johan Santana last offseason; this year they need to sign K-Rod. It's that simple. Omar Minaya owns a new contract extension despite the Mets' failings, now he needs to go out and get a super closer to replace Billy Wagner.

Minaya came to New York with the idea that to become a championship team, you must start by building a great bullpen. Somehow, that all changed.

Rodriguez, 26, said he doesn't know where he is going to wind up, but he loves New York and would not be intimidated by playing in the Big Apple. In 2002 he visited the Statue of Liberty with his cousin, who lives in New York, and still remembers the trip as if it were yesterday.

"The Statue of Liberty is something I always wanted to see; it was a dream come true," said Rodriguez, whose Angels remain mystified by the Red Sox, having lost 10 straight postseason games to Boston, including a 4-1 defeat in the ALDS opener Wednesday night. They will try to get even tonight at Angel Stadium when Ervin Santana takes the mound against Daisuke Matsuzaka.

Rodriguez was shocked that the Mets collapsed for the second straight season.

"They have an unbelievable team, so much talent," he said. "But the bullpen struggled."

Asked if he could wind up as the Mets closer, Rodriguez smiled and said, "You never know. We're going to look at all our options and we'll see. "

Source: NY Post