Headlines

  • Red Sox Place Hunter Dobbins On 15-Day IL Due To ACL Tear
  • Astros Promote Brice Matthews
  • Red Sox Likely To Activate Alex Bregman Tomorrow
  • Phillies Reportedly Targeting Controllable Relievers
  • Yankees Prioritizing Pitching, Also Searching For Infield Help
  • Orioles Trade Bryan Baker To Rays
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

Remove Ads
  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2025 Trade Deadline Outlook Series
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Brewers Avoid Arbitration With Francisco Rodriguez

By Tim Dierkes | January 17, 2012 at 11:26am CDT

The Brewers announced they've avoided arbitration with reliever Francisco Rodriguez, signing the Scott Boras client to a one-year deal.  Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports the value at $8MM, well below my expectation after he earned $11.5MM in 2011.  K-Rod had accepted the team's arbitration offer rather than continue as a free agent.  

Share 2 Retweet 20 Send via email0

Milwaukee Brewers Transactions Francisco Rodriguez

Braves Avoid Arbitration With Michael Bourn
Main
Rangers Avoid Arbitration With Mike Adams
View Comments (46)
Post a Comment

46 Comments

  1. stl_cards16

    13 years ago

    I can’t believe the Brewers offered him arbitration.  Anytime a mid-market team is going to be paying that much for a reliever, it’s going to hurt.

    Reply
    • Lublow Z.

      13 years ago

      They’re paying $8.4M combined for one of the best end-game 1-2s in baseball.  Deal with it.

      Reply
      • stl_cards16

        13 years ago

        I have no problem dealing with it.  But, they just added that the deal is for $8MM, I think everyone expected it to be quite a bit higher than that.  I’m sure they would still like to have the $$ to spend on other areas, but it’s not near as bad as I expected.

        Reply
        • HobokenMetsFan

          13 years ago

          Wouldnt be surprised to see him traded by the deadline, especially if they could get back a piece or two for any potential areas of need 

          Reply
        • burritolikethesun

          13 years ago

          So you’re saying your comment was based on the amount of money when you didn’t even know the amount of money? Heh.

          Reply
          • stl_cards16

            13 years ago

            I think pretty much anyone that follows the arbitration system assumed his salary would be in excess of $10MM and as high as $12MM.

            Sorry you don’t understand. heh

            Reply
    • Lars Chunks

      13 years ago

      All they really did was use Prince Fielder’s $15.5M salary from last year to buy Ramirez and Rodriguez.

      Reply
      • stl_cards16

        13 years ago

        I would much rather have Fielder than those two.  Doesn’t matter though.  I’m sure they could have used that $8MM on a bigger need.  To me, there just aren’t that many bullpen arms worth that.

        Reply
        • big one

          13 years ago

          I’ll bet if your Cards didn’t spend so much on that loser Halliday you could have still had AP.
          Were all baseball fans,I was so happy when you signed the loser because that sealed AP deal with the Cards

          Reply
          • stl_cards16

            13 years ago

            Yeah that Halliday is horrible……….

            Reply
  2. $1742854

    13 years ago

    Though the cost will be very high for the Brewers, K-Rod will be a great trade chip if he’s having a great year and the Brewers are out of contention.

    Reply
  3. jhfdssdaf

    13 years ago

    Good deal for the Brewers.  I thought he’d get a raise through arbitration.  Had he gone for $10 mil at an arb hearing, I’d bet he wins it.

    I’m suprised he was willing to take only $8 mil.  I wonder what else is in the contract that made him sign it (or if he just took less to stay with the team and allow them to compete).

    Reply
    • HobokenMetsFan

      13 years ago

      I bet its a calculated move, having a lower salary at the deadline will make him more appealing to other teams. Maybe he gets traded to a contender in hopes of negotiating an extension? Maybe far fetched….but at least plausible?

      Reply
      • jhfdssdaf

        13 years ago

        I think they still have to eat salary in order to get a decent return, but this does make him more tradeable.

        That being said – Brewers are likely to compete for the division, unless they completely collapse while Braun is out.  Why would they want to trade him?

        Reply
        • HobokenMetsFan

          13 years ago

          Admittedly I’m not very familiar with the Brew Crews bullpen or farm system, but the reason I think a trade might be possible is they already have good pitching and a solid closer. Krod, while good, might be a luxury depending on what other guys could step up in that set up mans role. Maybe they could trade him to get another bat, or pitcher, etc at the deadline that they might need more so than an 8th inning guy? All just speculation on my point here.

          Reply
          • stl_cards16

            13 years ago

            Problem being, the only teams that would be interested in Krod would be teams that are competing.  Why would a team that’s competing trade away a bat or pitcher that’s already contributing?

            Reply
            • HobokenMetsFan

              13 years ago

              Thats why you play the game, who knows what the Brewers situation will be on July 31st, what if a starting pitcher goes down? Or one of their bats goes down and they need to replace that production during the stretch run, trading krod might net them a potential piece. Especially since the rest of their pen will be good, might not need him as much as another area.

              The point of my post is just about potential dealings with krod this year and 1 reason why he might have accepted a lower salary. Not trying to project how the brewers will be doing in the standings on july 31st when its january 17th

              Reply
              • stl_cards16

                13 years ago

                I’m not trying to project either.  But a contending team is not going to trade a piece that is helping them in the middle of the season for Krod.  A team that is not contending is not going to be interested in Krod if they are trading something to the Brewers.

                Hey may get traded, but it will be for a prospect.

                Reply
  4. j6takish

    13 years ago

    Ryan Madson is also a Boras Client, after seeing the market for closers implode the way it did this was probably the best idea. Also having 2 clients competing for limited jobs probably doesn’t look so great for you as an agent

    Reply
    • User 4245925809

      13 years ago

      Yet another feather in the cap of the Boras clientele for the off season.

      Ya gotta love it. Fielder, Jackson the next to get hammered and then his winter will be truly Eboneezer screwed.

      Reply
  5. CyYoungSuppan

    13 years ago

    Wow…this is a huge surprise and makes him accepting arb. a little easier to swallow.  Good work Dougie.

    Reply
  6. Dave Pierce

    13 years ago

    My guess is this deal revokes the Brewers right to offer arbitration in 2012.

    Reply
    • jhfdssdaf

      13 years ago

      Arbitration works differently under the new CBA.  Signing team would not have to lose a draft pick any longer, so the no arbitration clause is no longer relevant.

      Instead, I’d bet on a limited no-trade clause.

      Reply
  7. James Coughlin

    13 years ago

    Pretty good deal for the Brew Crew. If Ramirez can get off to a hot start while Braun is out, I don’t see why they can’t win the Central.

    Reply
  8. alxn

    13 years ago

    Makes no sense for K-Rod to accept this, unless he was worried that he would be cut during spring training.

    Reply
    • stl_cards16

      13 years ago

      That’s a really good point.  Maybe the Brewers gave him a guarenteed contract in exhange for the lower salary.

      Reply
    • Lars Chunks

      13 years ago

      Maybe he and Boras got scared when Madson didn’t get any offers. I doubt anyone would pay him much more than what Madson got.

      Reply
      • jhfdssdaf

        13 years ago

        I can’t imagine the Brewers cutting him in Spring Training, given that they are likely to compete for the division.  If they don’t cut him, what other teams might offer is irrelevant.

        I’m shocked he was willing to accept this deal.  Any reasonable arbitration offer, he wins.

        Reply
    • bjsguess

      13 years ago

      No way he would be cut in ST unless there were criminal allegations. Cutting a player because you offered arb when you shouldn’t have is a guaranteed fight with the Union. One the club would lose.

      Reply
      • SunsetStripper

        13 years ago

        Exactly.  I don’t know why people don’t understand this.

        Reply
  9. John

    13 years ago

    Man! Go Red Birds!

    Reply
  10. John

    13 years ago

    Yeah the Cards are the best team.

    Reply
  11. John

    13 years ago

    Yeah Braun is the worst outfielder in the game. Matt Holliday is the best.

    Reply
    • stl_cards16

      13 years ago

      John, don’t make us all look bad.  Thanks

      Reply
      • big one

        13 years ago

        Hey why don’t you worry about your cardinals and we worry about the Brew.

        Reply
    • Disgustedfan

      13 years ago

      Dude are you high or something?

      Reply
  12. Lars Chunks

    13 years ago

    Didn’t they have to buy him out or something?  Maybe they took that into consideration.

    Reply
  13. Sev O Tyndall

    13 years ago

    Hes just trade bait thats y they got him back and KRod knew that thats y he accepted it

    Reply
  14. toddcoffeytime

    13 years ago

    8 Million is an absolute steal, given that most were projecting his arbitration salary in the 10-12 mil range….don’t know how you do it, dougie.

    Not trading K-Rod also seems to be the idea here, it would allow our bullpen to not fall off as much with the loss of Takashi Saito and Latroy Hawkins to FA this year.

    Reply
  15. ceraunograph

    13 years ago

    What did K-Rod gain by agreeing to waive his 17.5mm vesting option? Or did it just not vest at all? I remember him agreeing to waive it, but maybe it’s moot at this point? Either way, it seems he missed out on 10mm just for 2012 alone.

    Reply
    • jhfdssdaf

      13 years ago

      With the 17.5 million vesting option in place, if there were an injury to Axelrod, the Brewers would have kept K-Rod in the setup role.

      Brewers gave him a little more money on the buyout IIRC, so that he would waive the vesting clause.  With the vesting clause gone, Brewers could use him to close games if Axelrod was hurt, without fear of vesting the option.

      Reply
      • SunsetStripper

        13 years ago

        Hey genius, his name is Axford, not Axelrod.

        Reply
  16. bjsguess

    13 years ago

    This is a very strange signing. K-Rod left several million on the table – without a doubt. I have to assume that there were concessions on the part of the Brewers in order for him to take such a low base salary.

    Reply
  17. flharfh

    13 years ago

    When a player’s multi-year contract expires and he accepts arbitration (and would otherwise be a free agent) does the arbitration board (or w/e it’s called) consider his previous contract as a baseline? Or do they evaluate the club’s and the player’s proposals w/o considering the old contract?

    If the latter is the case, this number makes a lot more sense for both sides.

    Reply
  18. Ray Darr

    13 years ago

    K-Rod also got $4 million to buyout his option, so it is like getting $12 million.  He also has incentives for games finished, should he become the closer.
    So basically, he signed for just less than what fellow Boras client Madson got, but if you add in his buyout, he is similar to Papelbon on the high end of the reliever scale.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.

Log in Register

    Top Stories

    Red Sox Place Hunter Dobbins On 15-Day IL Due To ACL Tear

    Astros Promote Brice Matthews

    Red Sox Likely To Activate Alex Bregman Tomorrow

    Phillies Reportedly Targeting Controllable Relievers

    Yankees Prioritizing Pitching, Also Searching For Infield Help

    Orioles Trade Bryan Baker To Rays

    Yankees Release DJ LeMahieu

    Trevor Williams To Undergo UCL Surgery

    Nationals Fire PBO Mike Rizzo, Manager Dave Martinez

    Brewers Activate Brandon Woodruff

    Clarke Schmidt Expected To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Bobby Jenks Passes Away

    Braves Release Alex Verdugo

    Top 40 Trade Candidates For The 2025 Deadline

    Rays Reinstate Ha-Seong Kim

    Yankees Have Shown Interest In Ryan McMahon

    Royals Interested In Bryan Reynolds

    Rangers Option Josh Jung

    Kevin Pillar Announces Retirement

    Braves Place Spencer Schwellenbach On IL With Elbow Fracture

    Recent

    Royals Receiving Interest In Catching Prospects

    J.C. Escarra Drawing Trade Attention

    Cristian Javier Begins Rehab Assignment

    Multiple Teams Showing Interest In DJ LeMahieu

    Rafael Devers Suffering From Disk Injury In Lower Back

    Mets’ Dedniel Nunez To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Trade Deadline Outlook: Seattle Mariners

    Reds Activate Jake Fraley, Option Christian Encarnacion-Strand

    Red Sox Place Hunter Dobbins On 15-Day IL Due To ACL Tear

    Cubs Select Brooks Kriske

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Sandy Alcantara Rumors
    • Luis Robert Rumors
    • Alex Bregman Rumors

     

    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android App Store Google Play

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Remove Ads, Support Our Writers
    • Front Office Originals
    • Front Office Fantasy Baseball
    • MLBTR Podcast
    • Trade Deadline Outlook Series
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • RSS/Twitter Feeds By Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

    hide arrows scroll to top

    Register

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version