PHOENIX – Prince Fielder's night was already pretty good, having been named Most Valuable Player of the All-Star Game thanks to his three-run home run.
He was walking down a Chase Field hallway, heading back to the clubhouse when a New York reporter informed him that his team had just completed a trade for Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez.
The news brought a smile to Fielder's already-beaming face.
"That's awesome," Fielder said. "That's a big trade. He can really help us."
Brewers manager Doug Melvin closed the deal Tuesday night, parting with a pair of players to be named later in exchange Rodriguez, who has saved 23 games for the Mets this season and has 291 in his 10-year career.
On the surface, the deal looks like it could create a controversy at the closer position, where John Axford has been stellar this season, converting 23 of 25 save opportunities including 20 in a row.
Reached by phone Tuesday night, general manager Doug Melvin said the move wasn't about replacing Axford but instead adding help to the back end of the bullpen, which has struggled at times this season.
Milwaukee is fourth in the National League with 14 blown saves, 11 of those by Kameron Loe, who is tied for the league lead. By adding Rodriguez, Melvin thinks his relief corps is much stronger.
"We feel that it's only (a controversy) if it's talked about a lot," Melvin said. "I talked to John about it and I talked to Frankie about it. We have four guys that have saved games now in the back end. John Axford has a lot of saves. So does (Takaski) Saito. So does K-Rod.
"Our goal is to find as much quality pitching as we can."
Fielder agreed with the GM and said that Rodriguez's history of success can only help the team, which is currently tied with St. Louis atop the NL Central, in the second half.
"He’s definitely going to bring the success he’s had in his career, that confidence, he’s going to bring that to the team," Fielder said. "He’s going to keep doing what he’s been doing. You can’t go wrong when you get that kind of talent."
The Mets will also send an undisclosed amount of cash to the Brewers, who will part with two players to be named later. The money will likely be used to offset Rodriguez's $11.5 million salary for 2011.
He also has a $17.5 million option for next season which could factor into how he's used with the Brewers. The option, according to Cot's Baseball Contracts, automatically vests if Rodriguez finishes 55 games this season.
Should the option not vest, Rodriguez could be bought out for $3.5 million.
The team will formally announce the deal Wednesday during a 2 p.m. press conference at Miller Park.
