Francisco Rodriguez, Mets Nearing Settlement in Contract Dispute

Francisco Rodriguez's legal issues regarding his alleged striking of his girlfriend's father in August may be nearing an end on all fronts.

Rodriguez, the MLBPA and the Mets were scheduled for a grievance hearing on Monday following the Mets' decision to make his guaranteed contract non-guaranteed and to withhold $3 million as a result of the aforementioned incident — which resulted in season-ending thumb surgery.

Any settlement would likely result in the restoration of his guaranteed contract, but at the cost of a significant cash sum, ESPN.com reports. K-Rod is scheduled to make $11.5 million next season, with conditional options for 2012.

Rodriguez also is still facing misdemeanor charges as a result of the incident, and violating the subsequent order of protection by sending a slew of text messages to his former girlfriend.

That case is scheduled to begin Nov. 11, but attorney Christopher Booth indicated that a settlement may be near on that front as well.

Rodriguez had 25 saves and a 2.20 ERA in 2010.