The year was 2008. The New York Mets had just completed yet another end of season collapse for the second straight year missing the playoffs by three games. Omar Minaya needed to make a move during the following offseason, so he went out and signed the best available closer on the market Francisco Rodriguez, aka K-Rod.
K-Rod had saved 62 games in 2008 and pitched to a 2.24 ERA. As part of the Mets signing K-Rod, they had to relinquish their first-round pick in the 2009 MLB First-Year Player Draft. Their selection that year was 24th overall which would go to the Los Angeles Angels.