PORT ST. LUCIE — Francisco Rodriguez wants to come back to the Mets, which isn’t a startling sentiment for an unemployed closer in March.
But the fiery reliever admitted some of his desire to return to his former team is based on his need to make up for his last stint with the team.
“To come back and redeem myself would be great, because I’ve got to be realistic and honest,” said Rodriguez, who is playing for Venezuela in the WBC but didn’t pitch in Wednesday’s 14-10 win over the Mets at Tradition Field. “You would have to be real blind to not see that I failed when I was there. That’s not even a question. To be able to get one more shot and get it done would be great.”
The feeling, though, is not mutual.
While the Mets considered the possibility earlier in the offseason, they aren’t interested in signing the right-hander who made headlines by getting arrested for allegedly punching his girlfriend’s father at Citi Field in 2010.
General manager Sandy Alderson traded Rodriguez to the Brewers in 2011 to help the Mets avoid paying a $15 million vesting option.
Rodriguez said he would consider setting up again and knows he has to show he can stay healthy.
“I think before I think about that, I just have to prove, ‘[Is] my body, healthy?’ ” Rodriguez said. “Do I want to be able to close again? No doubt in my mind. But I have to step back once again and throw the eighth inning again. It’s out of my mind. Just get my job done when it needs to be and see what happens.”
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Ike Davis had hoped to hear from Team USA about taking the injured Mark Teixeira’s spot on the WBC roster, but the call never came.
“It would have been great, but you can’t argue with what they did,” Davis said yesterday after Kansas City’s Eric Hosmer was selected to replace Teixeira, who was forced out of the tournament because of a strained forearm.
Davis said he got a text from David Wright telling him that manager Joe Torre asked about him.
When asked if Wright gave him a good review, Davis said: “I didn’t make the team. Obviously, David was pulling for me.”
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Jenrry Mejia remained in New York getting tests relating to his physical. His condition is believed to be related to his thyroid. … Kirk Nieuwenhuis’ bruised left knee is healing well and he hopes to return to the field in a few days. … Shaun Marcum said his shoulder felt fine after Tuesday’s two-inning outing.