Almost immediately follow the end of the 2011 All-Star Game the New York Mets and Milwaukee Brewers solidified a deal that sends closer Francisco Rodriguez to the Brew Crew in exchange for $5 million in cash and two players to be named later.
From the outside looking in it appears that the Mets are about to begin a serious fire sale if they are basically giving away a veteran closer with good numbers (23 of 26 saves completed, 3.16 ERA in 42 appearances in 2011) for cash and two invisible ballplayers, but how will that effect the San Francisco Giants and their chances of landing Carlos Beltran, or even Jose Reyes? Quite possibly a lot.
The Giants have already begun their courting process of Beltran as skipper Bruce Bochy named him to his All-Star team late, taking Beltran to the All-Star game with them on their charter flight after they finished the series in San Francisco before the break, as well as Brian Wilson's rumor talk during the All-Star game broadcast. And now with the Mets essentially giving Rodriguez the proverbial dont-let-the-door-hit-you-on-the-way-out maneuver, they could easily send Beltran packing as well.
Let's not forget what got the Mets into this place, their finances. Like the Los Angeles Dodgers the Mets are essentially broke, barely making enough to keep functioning on their own. In fact, if it wasn't for a loan from MLB they might not be staying afloat at all.
Another factor is all the PR mess that Rodriguez created for the organization last season as Rodriguez was arrested for assaulting his then girlfriend's father after a game at Citi Field. The Mets have have just been waiting to dump him anyway, and the price in which they did may certain prove that, but they also may just be trying rid of as many big contracts as possible.