Today, an announcement was made that Billy Wagner will not be back this season, nor is it likely he will throw a pitch in 2009. The news broke today when an MRI showed he had a torn medial collateral ligament in his pitching elbow. This type of injury should require Tommy John surgery which is known to take a long period of time to recover from. Now, it looks like the Mets will be a big part of the bidding for current Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez whose contract is up at the end of the season. Even if Wagner were to recover successfully, it is unlikely that with his older age and an older, aching elbow that he would be able to throw similar to how he had been recently. Unless Luis Ayala improves significantly, the Mets might have to make a big run at K-Rod. The down side is that his price is likely to be very high and the Mets won't be the only team competing for the closer who is only two saves away from tying the single season MLB record. Billy Wagner is owed $10.5 million next year and it is going to be a whole lot to chew on. At this point, Mets fans can only hope that either K-Rod will come with out spending too much money(doubt that) or a proven relief pitcher emerges somewhere from within the organization.
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