Major League Baseball

Mets closer meets with agent Boras

Published Jul. 8, 2011 7:21 p.m. ET

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After briefly courting shortstop Jose Reyes, high-profile agent Scott Boras met in Los Angeles with New York Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday.

Rodriguez, who could become a free agent this winter if his contract option for 2012 does not vest, met with the agent and two associates both before and after the Mets' 6-0 loss to the Dodgers on Thursday at Dodger Stadium.

Rodriguez has asked other Boras clients on the Mets whether they would recommend him as an agent, according to a person familiar with the situation. Other agents, evidently aware that K-Rod may be looking to switch agents, have also contacted the Mets pitcher.

Before Thursday's game, the person said, Rodriguez showed one teammate a text message from an unidentified agent — not Boras — who was courting him.

K-Rod declined to say whether he was considering dumping agent Paul Kinzer in favor of Boras, who is regarded as baseball's most influential agent.

"That's something, I cannot say that," Rodriguez said after the game. "I'm not going to answer that."

Standing outside the Mets' clubhouse after the game, Boras acknowledged talking to Rodriguez but downplayed the significance of it.

"Players talk to me all the time about a lot of things," he said. "You're there to talk to them, because they've never met you, they've heard about you, so athletes just talk."

Kinzer did not immediately return a call for comment.

Rodriguez signed a three-year, $37 million contract with the Mets that includes a $17.5 million option for 2012 that vests if he finishes 55 games this season.

If the option vests, he will become the highest-paid closer in baseball history next season. If it does not, he would receive a $3.5 million buyout and become eligible for free agency.

Boras represents Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran and pitcher Mike Pelfrey, along with top pitching prospect Matt Harvey. He spoke earlier this season with Reyes on the phone about the possibility of representing him, but the two did not meet in person.

And Reyes, who will be a free agent next winter, said last month there is "no chance" he's leaving longtime agent Peter Greenberg.