Changing Wagner's Role, Maybe Pursuing Free Agent Closer next year?

Billy Wagner is due back early next week and there is strong speculation that he will not work as the closer right away, instead working his arm back into the role.

Jerry Manuel has showed in Wagner's absence that he is willing to change closers like socks, so my gut says Wagner can be pitching in the ninth quickly if Luis Ayala suddenly remembers that he is Luis Ayala.

But this might be an interesting audition period, as well. The Mets New York Mets may very well be in the market for a closer this offseason, notably free agent Francisco Rodriguez.

And if that is the case, Wagner may be forced into an eighth-inning role or may be put on the trade block. The most meaningful audition, though, is to see what Wagner has left for this season and, possibly, October while also getting some read for 2009, the final year on Wagner's deal.

For a myriad of reasons (mainly financial), the Mets would rather stick with Wagner and find one or two better options around him.

My instinct says the Mets will not go to the dollar area -- think four or five years at $15 million per -- to sign K-Rod. They will probably have to invest their big bucks to reconstruct a rotation with Pedro Martinez Pedro Martinez and Oliver Perez Oliver Perez both free agents.

Source:NY Post