PORT ST. LUCIE — Just give Francisco Rodriguez the damn ball.
That is the sentiment of Major League Baseball players’ association head Michael Weiner, who yesterday said the union will be paying attention to whether the Mets try to prevent K-Rod from getting the 55 games finished he needs this season to trigger a $17.5 million option for 2012.
“A club’s decision for using a player has to be motivated by trying to win,” Weiner said. “There is arbitration precedent that says a team cannot sit a player down or decline to use him in order to prevent him from earning a bonus or have a year vest. I have every expectation the Mets are going to fully honor the basic agreement.”
Weiner, making the rounds to all 30 spring training camps as the basic agreement between the players and owners expires after this season, said he’s confident the Mets will continue to operate as usual despite facing a lawsuit for up to $1 billion from the Trustee for Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi scheme victims.
“We want to make sure contractual obligations to the players are honored, and we’ve been assured through the commissioner’s office that is the case,” Weiner said. “There are no concerns there. It’s in the interests of everybody associated with baseball that the National League franchise in New York be a strong franchise. The Wilpons have always attempted to field a competitive team. They’ve had success at doing that in their tenure and we certainly hope they continue to do that.”
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Carlos Beltran
may not be removed from the first week of Grapefruit League games after all. Manager Terry Collins
said the DH will be implemented for most of the Mets’ exhibition games over the first 2½ weeks, and that would likely give Beltran a spot in the lineup. Collins is hesitant to use Beltran in the field until a determination can be made about Beltran’s right knee.
“If we can build up his at-bats where they are enough, we can get the leg ready and the defense ready late in camp,” Collins said. “What I was worried about was him not playing at all early and then all of a sudden you’ve got to force it late, and that scares me.” Beltran is continuing a supervised running program as part of the determination if he’ll play center field or right field.
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Scott Hairston
and Willie Harris
would seem to be the prime candidates for backup outfield positions, but Collins also has another player on his radar.
“I’m going to throw Nick Evans
‘ name in the hat,” Collins said.
Evans, who is out of options, spent most of last season in the minors before making a cameo with the Mets late in the season.