The Toronto Blue Jays and Milwaukee Brewers, two clubs believed to be seeking bullpen help, may have more competition if they are thinking about signing Francisco "K-Rod" Rodriguez.
K-Rod is seeking $10 million contract but with #Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen out 8-12 weeks after foot surgery, LA could be nice fit.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) February 18, 2015
K-Rod saved 44 games for the Brewers last season, the fifth-best total in baseball, yet it appears his asking price this year is too rich for his suitors' blood. According to reports, Rodriguez is seeking a two-year, $10 million contract but would settle for a one-year deal if the price is right.
The 44 saves is impressive, but some of Rodriguez's advanced metrics might be giving pause to teams like Toronto and Milwaukee. His 4.50 FIP and .216 BABIP indicate that his nice surface numbers (3.04 ERA) had an element of luck to them, and his 23.3 percent HR/FB ratio is alarming.
Milwaukee has been linked to talks with the Philadelphia Phillies for closer Jonathan Papelbon, but an inability to agree on the types of players the Brewers would surrender in return have all but killed those talks. Movement on K-Rod remains slow, however, because the market seems cool.
That could change if the deep-pocketed Los Angeles Dodgers get involved, and there's good reason to suspect they will. Their closer Kenley Jansen, who tied K-Rod's 44 saves with a better ERA and strikeout rate, could miss up to three months after undergoing surgery to remove a growth on a bone in his foot.
Their in-house options to fill in for Jansen are Brandon League, who struck out just 5.43 batters per nine and walked almost four, and Joel Peralta, who posted a 4.41 ERA in 2014.
L.A. is currently focused on snaring one or both of the highly-touted Cuban infielders Yoan Moncada,19, and Hector Olivera, 29; once those situations get settled, securing bullpen insurance will top their priority list.
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