How much is K-Rod worth now?

The Los Angeles Angels' Francisco Rodriguez saved his 58th game on Saturday night, breaking Bobby Thigpen's record set in 1990 with the Chicago White Sox. It seems to be perfect timing for "K-Rod," setting a record in his free-agent year on a team already headed to the playoffs.

"A lot of great things have happened this week," said Angels manager Mike Scioscia to MLB.com. "We did a lot of things right on the field, and for it to culminate tonight with Frankie setting a record, that's up there with any record in baseball that's special. So we're very excited for Frankie, the year he's having, the career he's having."

Rodriguez will certainly cash in with a big contract this offseason (perhaps with the Mets, who will need a closer because of Billy Wagner's injury). But will it be fool's gold? An interesting crystal ball appeared in the National Post over the weekend.

Rodriguez, 26, has 204 career saves, more before age 27 than anybody in baseball history. But of the 10 players below him on that list, seven flamed out early and were never the same again. That list includes closers such as Billy Koch, Mitch Williams, Gregg Olson and Thigpen, who had 148 saves at age 27, and 53 in the rest of his career.

The aberrations: Bruce Sutter (in the Hall of Fame) and Ugueth Urbina (now serving a prison sentence in Venezuela, convicted of attempted murder) and Rod Beck (who passed away last year).

Rodriguez has a herky-jerky motion that could lead to arm trouble down the line, too. Angels fans don't want to lose him, but having a $15 million albatross on the roster with a bum shoulder doesn't sound all that appealing, either. But somebody will pay him this winter, then just hope K-Rod doesn't become a statistic.