Finally, the Mets have a closer:

The conjecture of the past two days and, more accurately, of the past two months, reportedly has turned into something substantial. The Mets have agreed to terms with free agent closer Francisco Rodriguez, according to published reports.

Terms of the deal are reported to be three years and $37 million. There is a vesting option for a fourth year at $14 million that would make the deal worth $51 million

Contract details have to be worked out and the deal is contingent on Rodriguez passing a physical. The Mets have not confirmed that an agreement has been reached.

I was initially against the Mets pursuing KRod because I never thought 37 over 3 was a reasonable expectation of what it would take to sign him. I changed my mind after it was reported that Fuentes was seeking 33 million over 3 years. For the extra 4 million, KRod is the obvious choice.

I’ve also been wary of this delivery and the shoulder problems that could arise from his form. The first time I ever watched KRod pitch, I said to a friend “The Mets will sign him 3 months before he develops a shoulder or arm problem.” I really hope I’m wrong. At 27 I think he should be fine throughout the contract. If this guy develops arm problems, I see it hitting about the time we saw Pedro fall apart health wise.

I have to believe that Hoffman meeting had to be a tactic to get KRod and his agent Paul Riser Kinzer to the table quickly. I can’t see Minaya bringing in another old arm to try and fix a team’s biggest need on a club that got old very quickly since October 2006.

Kudos to Minaya getting this done early. Though I’m not placing the blame at his feet for the sluggish off-season last year, setting the market AND addressing the Mets biggest need in early December gives him plenty of time to find a corner outfielder, possibly a second baseman and finding a viable starter, hopefully before the end of the year.

Alight, the Mets set the market and the signings should start to come in a rapid fire fashion throughout the week and not a moment too soon. I’ll be glad to stop bitching about college football and Lifetime movies and start focusing on the 2009 Mets and important issues like who wears number 57, K-Rod or Santana?

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