"Francisco Rodriguez recently hired Scott Boras as his agent. But Boras wasn't the mastermind behind the trade that sent K-Rod from the Mets to the Brewers.

In fact, it appears Boras had no direct influence on the trade talks.

Milwaukee wasn't among the 10 teams to which Rodriguez could have blocked a trade, major league sources told FOXSports.com, meaning the deal took place without the blessings of Boras or the four-time All-Star reliever.

As a result, Boras was unable to negotiate any financial bonuses or conditions with the deal – such as whether Rodriguez will serve as a closer with his new team. K-Rod's role is of the utmost importance from a contractual standpoint, since his $17.5 million option for next year will vest if he finishes another 21 games during this regular season.

If Rodriguez closes for the first-place Brewers, it's likely that he will hit that mark. But the team could avoid that expense by using K-Rod in a setup role. John Axford, the Brewers' current closer, has a lower ERA than Rodriguez in a comparable number of innings this season. But Axford, who is in his first full season as a closer, lacks K-Rod's overall career credentials.

Rodriguez could waive the $17.5 million option in order to become a free agent after the season. While Rodriguez would be giving up guaranteed money in that scenario, sources say the players' union would permit him to do so because the act of becoming a free agent has inherent value to the player."