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K-Rod Gets $10M In Loss

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The Associated Press

Published: February 23, 2008

TEMPE, Ariz. - The Los Angeles Angels defeated Francisco Rodriguez in salary arbitration Friday, and the closer will receive $10 million rather than his request for $12.5 million.

Rodriguez, whose 132 saves over the past three years are the most in the majors, took the arbitration defeat in stride.

"It's a situation you can't control. In the meantime, I'm happy because I'm here and I've just got to move on and make sure to be ready for the season," he said at spring training. "I'm a Halo, still a Halo for this year. I've got to represent my team. I've been here since I was 16 years old."

He sat through the arbitration hearing, which lasted some four hours.

"I didn't know what to expect," said Rodriguez, 26. "Of course you heard things that you don't want to hear, but that's part of the negotiations."

Asked if he had any hard feelings toward the Angels, he shook his head and said, "No, no, no. It's a part of the process. You cannot take anything personally."

Despite the loss, Rodriguez tied the record for the highest salary in an arbitration decision, a mark he shares with Alfonso Soriano, who lost his case against Washington in 2006, and Ryan Howard, who beat Philadelphia on Thursday.

Rodriguez made $7.1 million last year, when he tied for second in the AL with 40 saves. He is eligible for free agency after this season and recently indicated that he might leave the Angels, expressing dissatisfaction that they haven't offered him a long-term deal that suits him.

In the day's other arbitration decision, Mets pitcher Oliver Perez won his case and will be paid $6.5 million this year rather than the team's offer of $4,725,000. The left-hander went 15-10 with a 3.56 ERA last year, when he made $2,425,000.

Owners finished with a 6-2 advantage over players in cases that went to hearings.

CUBS: Manager Lou Piniella plans to experiment with his batting order this spring to see where Kosuke Fukudome can best help the team. The Japanese star might hit third, a spot where he feels most comfortable.

That would mean a drop from third to fourth for former NL batting champion Derrek Lee and a switch from fourth to fifth for last year's team RBI leader, Aramis Ramirez.

"I think Lou probably has 100 lineups in his head like he did at this point last year," Lee said Friday.

But he made it clear early in camp that he doesn't care where he bats.

"Whatever makes this team win games," Lee said.

He's had an informal discussion with batting coach Gerald Perry about the move, and Piniella said he'll talk to his first baseman about it as well.

As the No. 3 hitter, the left-handed hitting Fukudome would follow leadoff hitter Alfonso Soriano and Ryan Theriot. It could give the Cubs more speed at the top of the lineup, while also busting up a long stretch of right-handed hitters.

Soriano, Theriot, Lee, Ramirez, No. 6 hitter Mark DeRosa and No. 7 Geovany Soto are all right-handed batters.

DIAMONDBACKS: Outfielder Trot Nixon agreed to a minor-league contract.

METS: New ace Johan Santana threw batting practice to New York hitters for the first time in Port St. Lucie.

Third baseman David Wright walked away impressed, especially since he knew which pitches were coming and still had trouble picking them up.

"They were still jamming me because he's got a little late movement," Wright said.

RED SOX: The team will head to the White House on Wednesday to celebrate its 2007 World Series championship with President Bush.

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