Mets withhold K-Rod's salary, put him on DQ list

Baseball Betting Lines

08/17/2010 -

HOUSTON (AP) -The New York Mets are withholding injured closer Francisco Rodriguez's salary while he's sidelined, and the team wants to convert his contract to a non-guaranteed deal.

The moves could be a prelude to the Mets releasing the star closer without paying most of his 2011 salary.

Rodriguez was placed on the disqualified list Tuesday, six days after he tore a ligament in the thumb of his pitching hand while punching his girlfriend's father outside a family lounge at Citi Field. Rodriguez had surgery Tuesday to repair the self-inflicted injury and is expected to miss the rest of the season.

The Mets said he won't be paid while on the disqualified list. In addition, they said they were exercising a contractual right to convert the rest of his $37 million, three-year deal to non-guaranteed, meaning they could try to avoid paying most of what's left on it.

The players' association planned to fight the team's actions.

The Mets announced the move before Tuesday night's game at Houston in a conference call that included chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon, general manager Omar Minaya and executive vice president and general counsel David Cohen.

Rodriguez, a four-time All-Star, was suspended for two days without pay following the fight outside a family room at the ballpark last Wednesday.

By going on the disqualified list, Rodriguez will lose $3,016,393 of his $11.5 million salary this year. Added to the $125,683 he lost when the Mets put him on the restricted list for two days last week, the altercation already has cost him $3,142,076.

In addition, by converting his contract to non-guaranteed, the Mets gave themselves the ability to release Rodriguez in the early part of spring training next year for 30 days' termination pay. That would mean paying $1,885,246 rather than his $11.5 million salary next year. They still likely would owe the $3.5 million buyout attached to the $17.5 million club option for 2012 that's included in his deal.

The 28-year-old reliever was arrested and charged with third-degree assault and second-degree harassment following the fight. He was released on his own recognizance and is due back in court Sept. 14.

He will not be paid or accrue major league service time until he is deemed able to perform his job again and removed from the disqualified list, the Mets said.

``He has to get himself healthy and part of that has to do with anger management to deal with any issues he has right now,'' Wilpon said.

A player can remain on the disqualified list indefinitely.

``There's no specific time limit,'' Cohen said. ``A player can apply for reinstatement, otherwise he's reinstated at the time that the club believes that he is ready to perform the services under his contract.''

Rodriguez's lawyer, Jay Reisinger, declined comment on the Mets' decision. The players' association vowed to take action.

``The Mets' actions are without basis and I expect the union will file a challenge right away,'' players' association head Michael Weiner wrote in an e-mail to The Associated Press.

If the union files a grievance and the case isn't settled, arbitrator Shyam Das would decide whether the Mets' actions were justified.

The Mets said they haven't decided if they'll try to void the remainder of K-Rod's contract, which would be an even stronger step that would potentially eliminate termination pay next year and the 2012 buyout. Wilpon said that's a decision that doesn't have to be made now, but the team will reserve its right to do that in the future.

Minaya said the club is not aware of any problems with violence in Rodriguez's past. The GM said he hopes Rodriguez will return next season.

``We do plan on bringing him back next year,'' Minaya said. ``Today we want him back. Let's see how this process goes.''

Doctors have told the team that if Rodriguez performs his rehabilitation, he'll be ready for spring training next year.

When Rodriguez returned from his suspension, he apologized to teammates and fans, then gave up a leadoff double but didn't allow a run in a 4-0 loss to Philadelphia on Saturday.

Mets manager Jerry Manuel said Monday that Rodriguez didn't indicate he was injured before pitching in Saturday's game. Manuel said he first learned of the injury on Sunday.

Rodriguez is accused of grabbing 53-year-old Carlos Pena, hauling him into a tunnel near the family lounge beneath Citi Field and hitting him in the face. Pena was taken to a hospital with a scrape and swelling above his eyebrow.

Hisanori Takahashi got his first career save while filling in for Rodriguez in a 3-1 win over the Astros on Monday night.

Right-hander Ryota Igarashi was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo before Tuesday's game to take Rodriguez's roster spot.

---

AP Sports Writer Ronald Blum in New York contributed to this report.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

Betarn66 Baseball Betting News

<< Oklahoma's Hand out five months
Norman, OK (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Oklahoma guard Whitney Hand will miss five months after undergoing microfracture surgery Tuesday to repair cartilage damage in her right knee. Hand, the 2009 Big 12 Freshman of the Year, missed the ma

<< Rockies recall Chacin, place Buchholz on DL
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Colorado Rockies on Tuesday placed right-handed pitcher Taylor Buchholz on the 15-day disabled list and recalled righty Jhoulys Chacin from Triple-A Colorado Springs. Buchholz had previously been

<< Mets place Rodriguez on disqualified list after thumb surgery
Flushing, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Mets took another step towards distancing themselves from embattled closer Francisco Rodriguez on Tuesday, placing him on the disqualified list. The move came immediately followin

<< IndyCar wraps up road/street course schedule at Sonoma
Sonoma, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Series: IZOD IndyCar. Date: Sunday, August 22. Race: Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma. Site: Infineon Raceway. Track: 2.303-mile, 12-turn road course. Start Time: 5:45 p.m. (et). Laps: 75. Miles: 172.7. 2009 winner: Dario

<< Seahawks release RB Peterson
Renton, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Seattle Seahawks released running back Adrian Peterson, less than a week after signing the former member of the Chicago Bears. Not to be confused with the Minnesota running back of the same name

Lakers owner still enjoying Hall of Fame induction >>
BELL GARDENS, Calif. (AP) -Relishing the afterglow of being inducted into the Hall of Fame last week, Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss was candid, funny and reflective when sharing his thoughts on his life, his team and the Miami Heat.Buss, a pok

If healthy, Blackmon provides versatility for Pack >>
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) -Sometimes, Will Blackmon's versatility even surprises his teammates.Exhibit A came early in training camp, when wide receiver Greg Jennings ran his route and plowed straight into a safety. Then Jennings looked up and did a doub

Nolasco leads Marlins to shutout of Pirates >>
Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ricky Nolasco threw six shutout frames and drove in two runs to lead Florida to a 6-0 win over Pittsburgh in the second meeting of a four-game set. Nolasco (14-8) allowed five hits, walked one and st

Buchholz strong on mound, Kalish hits slam as Red Sox blank Angels >>
Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Clay Buchholz turned in seven scoreless innings and Ryan Kalish hit his first career grand slam as Boston downed the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, 6-0, in the opener of a three-game set from Fenway Park.

Oswalt, Rollins lift Phillies over Giants >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Roy Oswalt pitched seven solid innings and Jimmy Rollins drove in three runs, as Chase Utley and the Philadelphia Phillies downed the San Francisco Giants, 9-3, in the opener of an important three-g

Big East Conference odds

Work left to do: Villanova, Syracuse, DePaul, West Virginia, Providence

Notre Dame and Louisville appear to have done enough to make the move, so we'll make them locks. The Cardinals, despite a modest RPI, are trending way up and have clinched at least a tie for third in the Big East, which should be more than enough with their pair of big road wins. Villanova got back to .500 and gets back to more solid footing. Syracuse got a very important road win and crippled a fellow contender in the process. West Virginia's fate could be in its hands Tuesday at Pitt.

Work left to do:

Villanova [18-9 (7-7), RPI: 21, SOS: 5] Pounded Rutgers to get back to .500. If Cats can get their last two (at UConn, vs. Syracuse), that should be enough with strong computer numbers and a host of wins away from The Pavilion. The Cats have beaten Texas and swept the Big 5 (never easy in Philly), but have a couple of losses to bubble teams (Xavier, Drexel), too. I still think they'll be OK, possibly even at 8-8.

Syracuse [20-8 (9-5), RPI: 53, SOS: 62] History says 10 wins will be plenty, but it might be hard for the Orange to get that last one with a final two vs. G'town, which is trying to win the league title, and at Villanova, which will be desperate for a W. The relative lack of nonconference heft and the weak computer numbers are still concerns, but the Orange have won four in a row and got a very, very big win at Providence on Saturday.

DePaul [16-12 (8-7), RPI: 54, SOS: 18] Beat Cincy and should get past South Florida to get to 9-7, but then what? They have beaten Kansas and Cal (right after the DeVon Hardin injury) earlier this season, but also have lost to Bradley and Purdue, among others. They'll likely need a couple of BE tourney wins, too, but we'll see ...

West Virginia [19-7 (8-6), RPI: 58, SOS: 125] The game at Pitt on Tuesday night could decide the Mountaineers' fate (barring a deep tournament run). They can still get to 9-7 in the Big East without it by beating Cincinnati, but the nine wins would be against UConn, Villanova, St. John's, South Florida, DePaul, Rutgers, Seton Hall twice and the Bearcats. Beating bubble foes is fine, but where's the beef? Outside of beating PG-less UCLA in nonconference play (still a top quality win), there's not a lot to fall back on (besides maybe NC State). WVU vs. Syracuse would be an interesting debate, as the teams don't play in the Big East regular season. WVU has the best win, but Cuse has played the much better schedule.

Providence [17-10 (7-7), RPI: 70, SOS: 33] The Friars likely saw their at-large hopes die at home in the four-point loss to Syracuse, barring an unexpected run to the Big East semis or more. The RPI, bad already, won't be helped by playing St. John's and South Florida in the final two league games.

For more March Madness odds go to MySportsbook.com

For more College Basketball betting lines go to BettingExpress.com

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.