"In a deal that eliminates much of the potential for hurt feelings or controversy, the Milwaukee Brewers and newly acquired pitcher Francisco Rodriguez on Friday agreed to a deal that now will require both parties to approve the reliever's contract next season.

Much had been made of Rodriguez's contract when the New York Mets traded him to Milwaukee on Tuesday for a pair of players to be named later. It originally gave Rodriguez the option to exercise a $17.5 million next year with the Brewers had he finished 21 more games over the course of this season.

The Brewers, had they chosen to not allow Rodriguez to finish 21 games, which was practically a guarantee, then could have bought Rodriguez out after the season for $3.5 million.

Now, with the Brewers having agreed to increase the buyout to $4 million, both sides can head into the remainder of the season not having to worry about how many times or when Rodriguez is used.

"What this does is it converts the contract from the sole vesting option to now a mutual option, meaning both parties have to agree to extend the contract. Whether he finishes 20 games, 30 games, 40 games is no longer a factor in terms of what happens with the option next year," assistant general manager Gord Ash said.

" Scott Boras had called Doug (Melvin) after the deal on Tuesday night, and they talked again on Wednesday. Obviously, the benefit for K-Rod is this gives him clear free agency, if he wants that.

"Obviously, our benefit is we're not concerned about his usage. So it's one of those typical win-wins, hopefully."

Rodriguez, for his part, believes the new agreement will take any potential pressure off both sides.

"Definitely," he said. "I was saying at the beginning of the year that it's not about the money - it's about being comfortable and being able to embrace my role the way I wanted to."