Francisco Rodriguez to the New York Mets?

The New York Mets are desperate for a closer. Last season, Billy Wagner suffered a serious injury and isn’t expected to return at any point soon — or perhaps ever. After Wagner went down, the Mets struggled to find a capable closer.

Francisco Rodriguez had a completely opposite season. With the Los Angeles Angels, Rodriguez had a Major League Baseball record of 62 saves — breaking the record formerly held by Bobby Thigpen of the Chicago White Sox.

It’s no wonder that one of the first things the Mets did in the winter meetings was to offer Rodriguez a contract. The contract, which is believed to be worth around $25 million over two years, would make Rodriguez one of the highest paid closers in the game and would give the Mets a closer to build their bullpen around.

Although it was a pricey offer, the rumblings in the winter meetings indicate that Rodriguez wants a three-year contract at the very least. Expect him to get at least $40 million from the team that eventually wins his services. Will it be the Mets? They’d need to offer more but with their glaring need, they just might.