MLB

Mets trade K-Rod to Brewers for two players to be named

PHOENIX — Back up the truck. It looks like the Mets are cleaning house, and K-Rod is the first to go.

The Mets started unloading talent late last night when they announced after the National League’s 5-1 win over the American League in the All-Star Game at Chase Field that they traded closer Francisco Rodriguez to the Brewers for two players to be named.

“We thank Frankie for his contributions to the Mets and wish him well with the Brewers,” general manager Sandy Alderson said in a statement. “This trade allows us to develop and more fully utilize other members of our 2011 bullpen and offers some payroll relief as well.”

In return, the Mets receive two unnamed minor leaguers from a list of prospects the Brewers provided. The Mets also sent $5 million in cash — essentially the rest of his salary for the season — to Milwaukee.

For the Brewers this is a perfect situation because they have John Axford to close games. Axford already has 23 saves, and it likely means Rodriguez becomes the setup man for them and that also means the Brewers can keep him below the threshold of 55 games finished that automatically kicks in the $17.5 million option for 2012. The Brewers will be responsible for the $3.5 million buyout if he doesn’t finish 55 games.

Rodriguez, 29, who makes $11.5 million this year, finished 34 games for the Mets and would easily have met the threshold because manager Terry Collins was using Rodriguez to win games. That’s not the case anymore.

Bobby Parnell immediately steps into the closer’s role for the Mets. The team will have a press conference this afternoon. As for Rodriguez, he is now being represented by agent Scott Boras and Boras has a way of getting things done.

The Mets were determined to shed salary and make the team over in the image of the new management team. Ironically, Collins said during the All-Star break he was going to his home in Virginia, a home he is going to sell, and clean out the attic.

“I’m just going to shovel everything into the center of the room and throw it down the steps into garbage cans and get rid of it,” Collins said.

Evidently, Alderson had the same plans, and Rodriguez was the first shovel.

This is just the start of the flood of trades that is expected. Carlos Beltran is next on the list. Beltran told The Post last night that he feels it is just a matter of time before he is traded. Before the game Giants closer Brian Wilson announced the NL lineup and made it clear the Giants wanted Beltran.

After the game when asked by The Post why he made such a declaration, Wilson deadpanned, “I was just reiterating some rumors.”

Wilson added, “I guess we’re in talks with them about Beltran. Just another perennial hitter. Could only help out a squad.”

Rodriguez, on the other hand, is no longer a trade rumor.

“Francisco has been one of the best relievers in the game for many years,” Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said in a statement. “He is a high-quality arm who will be a tremendous asset to our bullpen as we prepare for the final months of the regular season and playoffs.”

Rodriguez had his share of controversies while with the Mets. He was arrested and charged with assault last August after he allegedly slugged his girlfriend’s father after a game at Citi Field. The Mets claimed that the closer tore ligaments in his thumb during the altercation and tried to convert Rodriguez’s deal to a non-guaranteed contract. Rodriguez and the union filed a grievance against the Mets, but the two sides reached a settlement.

He also was involved in an altercation with former bullpen coach Randy Niemann last year, but he had been on his best behavior this season.

dan.martin@nypost.com