Putz is signed for $5.5 million next season. The Mets will assume his $9.1 million club option for 2010, and that option could increase to a maximum of $9.6 million if Putz meets all of his appearance-based incentives.

Even a high-revenue club such as the Mets would balk at paying a setup man more than $9 million, so the team easily could decline his option. Signing Putz long-term would be unlikely; he probably would not want to remain a setup man, and Francisco Rodriguez is set for the next three seasons at closer.

Seattle Mariners News News » Putz doesn't want to be setup man
Putz doesn't want to be setup man
J.J. Putz does not want to be a setup man, according to his agent, Craig Landis, but his change in roles could lead to him becoming a free agent one year earlier. Unhappy already?