Milwaukee Brewers opt for arbitration offer for Francisco Rodriguez – MLB News
The Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday, December 7, offered arbitration to the reliever and free-agent, Francisco Rodriguez. If accepted, the Brewers shall have little space for manoeuvrings as far as spending the required sum of dollars on their bullpen and
shortstop.
This comes amid the report that the Brewers are weighing their available options for Prince Fielder, a free-agent slugger. But the fact that the club decided to go for offering arbitration has deprived the Brewers of their chance to get two premium picks
from the 2012 First Year Player Draft.
The Brewers are, it goes without saying, well aware of the risks involving the arbitration offer. But given the nonavailability of closers in draft, the Brewers had to go for exercising this option. This was because Rodriguez might have got an offer from
other teams, prompting an instantaneous move by the Milwaukee Brewers.
This was what the team general manager Doug Melvin is cognizant of. Speaking to the media after Wednesday’s Winter Meetings, Melvin stated that the club knew there was a bit of risk here, but the lack of draft picks had resulted in seeing an opportunity
in this arbitration offer.
"We knew going in there was probably a little bit of risk," Melvin said while he was waiting. "But we've been frustrated over the years with the lack of Draft picks we get. We thought this was an opportunity to get Draft picks if Prince left, and with K-Rod."
Also, and very importantly, more often than not, the arbitration offers are not guaranteed. Melvin also referred to this aspect of the deal.
"He can help your ballclub," Melvin said. "We were a good ballclub last year with him in the eighth [inning]. He's a good pitcher. He should be closing for somebody, but this is what the rules are and you play [by] them.”
Whether Rodriguez accepts the arbitration offer or not is something to be seen in the coming days. For now, apparently, Rodriguez will like to stay with the Milwaukee Brewers for the upcoming 2012 regular season.
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