After punching his girlfriend’s father in the family room of the team’s clubhouse last week, Mets’ closer Francisco Rodriguez will need surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb.

He could be a little lighter in the wallet soon, too.

According to SI.com’s Jon Heyman, the Mets are looking into voiding K-Rod’s contract on the grounds that he injured himself outside of the course of play. Seeing as how he’s set to make $11.5 million in 2011 and $17.5 million in 2012 (which also includes a $3.5 million buyout), voiding the closer’s contract would create a ton of financial relief for New York.

But voiding his contract won’t be an easy task for the Mets, who first need to get past the player’s union. The move could also hurt them in future deals with free agents who don’t want to play for a team that goes after players’ money (even if said player was being an idiot).

Another option the Mets have is going after K-Rod’s remaining 2010 salary. They obviously won’t get as much financial relief in that scenario, but every little bit helps.

Either way, they have a daunting task ahead of them and Rodriguez has certainly put them in an incredible bind. While it’s too early to suggest that the Mets will rid themselves of him entirely, don’t count out an outright release.

According to a report by the New York Post, Mets’ closer Francisco Rodriguez was arrested at Citi Field on Wednesday after he went nutso on his father-in-law.

The blowup occurred just minutes after the Mets’ bullpen cost the team another game in the eighth inning in a game against the Rockies. Manager Jerry Manuel decided not to use K-Rod for a four-out save, instead using Manny Acosta, who promptly gave up a two-out granny to Colorado’s Melvin Mora.

Rodriguez, nicknamed K-Rod for his many strikeouts, allegedly clashed with the 53-year-old man at around 10:15 p.m. amid other players’ families after the Mets blew a lead to the Colorado Rockies and lost, 6-2.

The 28-year-old record-holder for most saves in a single-season was arrested and charged with assault.

“Mind your own f—king business!” the irate pitcher spewed at reporters asking about the incident.

His father-in-law, whose name was withheld, was taken to Flushing Hospital with facial bruises and a head bump.

Cops wouldn’t say whether Rodriguez is accused of slugging or shoving his wife’s father.

Let’s not jump to conclusions here – fights happen for a variety of reasons. One would think that there’s nothing that could get a son-in-law so mad that he would punch or shove his father-in-law, but maybe K-Rod’s father-in-law made fun of the goofy goggles that K-Rod wears. Who knows?

The main story here is how big of a mess the Mets are once again. Johan Santana is being accused of impregnating a woman after assaulting her on a golf course and now K-Rod is beating up family members in the clubhouse. This team went into the All-Star break feeling pretty good about life and now they’re a filthy disaster again.

Ah, the Mets.

Update: Check that, ESPN.com is now reporting that the beaten man was K-Rod’s girlfriend’s father and not his father-in-law. Either way, that’s not the best way to impress your girl.