Both of those stances make the catcher's decision to sign a $6 million, two-year deal with the Washington Nationals a fascinating one.
This is, after all, a club that figures it has a star-in-the-making at catcher in Jesus Flores, even if the kid is coming off shoulder surgery. And this is also a club that led the major leagues in losses in 2008 and 2009, accumulating more than 100 each year.
"He's a very prideful guy. And he thinks his skills are at their finest. He might be right. You never know. ... He's going to be a significant contributor to the ballclub," Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said. "Now if that means 70-80 games, or if that means 70-80-90-100 games, those are questions that will be answered throughout the course of the season. The best problem that I'll have all season is: Who of these two hot catchers are we going to play on a daily basis?"
Flores was injured in May, when he was hit by a foul ball, returned for three at-bats in early September, then had surgery to repair a torn labrum. He hit .301 with four homers and 15 RBIs in 93 at-bats, and Rizzo said Flores is expected to be ready for spring training.
Flores is 25 and has played in 198 games in the majors.
Rodriguez is 38 and has caught a record 2,288 games, earning 14 All-Star selections, 13 Gold Gloves and the 1999 AL MVP award along the way. He also has a .299 career batting average, with 2,711 hits, 305 homers and 1,264 RBIs, and has thrown out 42 percent of would-be basestealers.
All of which is why Rizzo opened Friday's news conference at Nationals Park by calling the player known as Pudge "certainly the greatest catcher in our generation
- and quite possibly the greatest catcher in the history of baseball."
And why Rodriguez said: "I'm ready to play every day. We discussed that. I'm a player that I still can play every day and I will play every day and, basically, the thing is just, you know, to do my best for the club. I know that it's hard for me to play 162 games. That's impossible for a catcher. But as long as I'm healthy, and I'm feeling great physically, I'll be in the field playing."
He split last season between Houston and Texas, hitting a combined .249 with 10 homers and 47 RBIs in a total of 121 games. Rizzo indicated he thought that was too high a total.
And while the Nationals are looking for better on-field production from Rodriguez, they also want him to mentor Flores, guide what could be an inexperienced pitching staff and provide leadership in the clubhouse.
