Rockies Remain Open To Helton Trade

When the Rockies spoke to the Angels about a possible Todd Helton trade in December and at the winter meetings, it represented a change in philosophy regarding their expensive first baseman.

Rockies owner Charlie Monfort publicly admitted yesterday that the Rockies are exploring trading Helton because allocating 30% of payroll to one player isn't wise.  Dan O'Dowd, the game's second worst GM according to Dayn Perry, will have his work cut out for him.  Helton is due $90 million over the next five seasons (an AAV of $18MM).  PECOTA values him at just $31.7 million over that same time period.  There seems to be no way the Rockies can unload Helton's salary without eating $30MM or so.

Comments

[bravesrule14]

i can honestly say that i dont care about this storyu and im sure that in a couple of post it will be a compltely different subject, but in any case. Helton is already past his prime now that Coors Field isnt giving up as many homeruns as it used to. it was ranked #10 i think last year in HR's given up i think, but dont take my word for it.

[wmk51]

Yeah, the humidified baseballs is stupid and hurts everyones value at Coors Field except for the pitchers.

Trading Helton is ESSENTIAL for the Rockies to put together a competitive team for the future. Helton is paid too much money and there is no way they could resign Holliday with that kind of money.

they MUST trade Helton for the good of the franchise.

[Marvel]

Dayn Perry obviously has no idea what he is talking about. He ranked Tim Purpura 16th. I'm not arguing that O'Dowd hasn't made bad decisions but he was able to fleece the Astros and acquire two good pitchers and one above average defensive center fielder (all still years from being free agents) for an average starting pitcher with a lifetime losing record, career ERA of 4.74, and one year left on his contract (who inflated his numbers with the humidified balls). Maybe he can trade Helton to the Astros. I'm sorry. I'm still bitter.

[Guitar Hero]

Tod Helton's contract is looking pretty bad. He's not a bad hitter though. He has a good OBP, and perhaps can get some power back, but 18 million a year for 5 more years. Yikes.

[allabouthephils]

You guys might say the humidified balls are stupid, but it's the only way that Colorado is going to compete..... When you have balls that are normally caught by the shortstop flying out of the park, there is a problem.... It hurts Heltons value sure, but in the longrun it will attract more free agent pitching and help you guys compete.... You can't play in a park that kills your pitching for 81 games and compete... No matter how good your lineup is, it will be offset by the fact that you can't keep the ball in the yard...

[allabouthephils]

I have no idea how a GM of Ned Colletti's track record for developing a farm system is ranked 21st..... They have one of the most stacked farms in baseball.... They just keep bringing up talent... and have more to spare....

[allabouthephils]

I would also have Mark Shapiro over Cashman, Stoneman, Minaya and Towers...... Have you looked at the Indians payroll lately ???

[RotoAuthority]

Colletti didn't have anything to do with creating that stacked farm system.

[Darin]

Just on a side note, PECOTA forecasts Buchholz and Hirsh to be absolute disasters next year.

And I love Marvel's comments about how bad Jennings has been, and then goes on to say he "inflated his numbers with the humidified balls". Could it be the other way around? Maybe the non-humidified balls in Coors hurt his numbers and the humidified balls equaled them out. Plus he's been a better pitcher on the road for his career. I didn't like the trade much, but I'll at least wait and see how each player does before saying it favored one team or another.

Back to Helton....is there even a team that would want this guy? He's rather human away from Coors the past few years. I can't see a team needing a gimpy 1st baseman that'll likely post a sub .300avg and .800ish OPS outside of Coors. The Angels come to mind, but they've got enough options already. Maybe if SF and Bonds parts way, but inter-division trades are rare. Atlanta's paring payroll these days....I just don't see a match.

[beeniez]

The list is based on their tenure with their current team. Maybe why Colletti is ranked a little lower than he should.

JS ranked first :)

[beeniez]

"Maybe if SF and Bonds parts way, but inter-division trades are rare."

I don't think the Rockies will be very picky when it comes to who they trade him to. They'll give him to anybody for free probably.

[bsox21]

Helton has vetoed several trades already.

He won't leave Colorado becuz he knows he will be revealed as a fraud.

I think Helton has this stupid idea that he will make the HOF.

No way the voters allow Helton into the HOF.

Sean Casey + Steroids + Colorado = Todd Helton

[Darin]

The list isn't based on tenure.

[Darin]

"I don't think the Rockies will be very picky when it comes to who they trade him to. They'll give him to anybody for free probably."

I doubt they'll just give him away, and will have to pick up salary...but there's two teams (sometimes more) involved in a trade, which means SF might not be willing to part with players that would be staying within their division, at least not MLB talent.

[stormstarter28]

"He won't leave Colorado becuz he knows he will be revealed as a fraud.

I think Helton has this stupid idea that he will make the HOF."

Thank you bsox, for yet another baseless, pointless comment.

[beeniez]

"The list isn't based on tenure."

"The rankings are, of course, highly subjective, and they're based mostly on each GM's *tenure* with his current team (although, for those GMs who have toiled elsewhere we'll give minor consideration to their entire bodies of work)."

Why should Helton be punished because MLB decided to put a stadium in Colorado? Tons of other players have played in Colorado without the success that Helton has so he's obviously something special. Probably not lately with the injuries and age, but he used to be one of the best players in the game.

I didn't mean they would give Helton away for free - just figure of speech. Basically if they have any takers they'll trade him.

[GoBoSox420]

What was so pointless about it? Get the dick out of your ass. This is a rumors site. He said he THINKS helton thought that.

[stormstarter28]

Gettin a little sensitive over your fellow sox fan, huh? This is a trade rumors site, not a mindreaders site. No one cares what bsox thinks Helton is thinking. Especially when there is no grounds behind the idea.

[Darin]

"The rankings are, of course, highly subjective, and they're based mostly on each GM's *tenure* with his current team (although, for those GMs who have toiled elsewhere we'll give minor consideration to their entire bodies of work)."

Sure they're subjective, it's one guy's (a douche bag) opinion, but I think the higher ranked GMs tenure is more indicative of the job they are doing, with lower ranked GMs either having little to no body of work to base a ranking on(John Daniels), or have been unsuccesful(Dan O'Dowd) or maybe both (Wayne Krivsky).

[ejruiz777]

I happen to think that Helton is an ideal 2-hole hitter at this point in his career and that he's worth more than what PECOTA projects. That said, the Rox really do need to find a taker for him now and spend the ammount of money neccesary to get him of their books as soon as possible.

[GoBoSox420]

No stormstarter. Its just I've seen you say some ridiculous stuff about the Cardinals, yet no one gets upset when you do it. Tons of things said here have no basis to them.

[nrmax88]

Even with the humidor, there are some games where balls are just launched out of there. Ask Jose Valentin. Hit 2 bombs out of colorado is a game where they looked like pop ups off the bat

[nrmax88]

Stormstarter, its a todd helton thread, hes talking about todd helton. What is the problem here. You should know by now Bsox isnt a redsox fan. Your about th 10th person to call him a redsock fan including me. Its his opinion, and like gobosox said, nobody complains when your talking nonsense about your beloved cards

[stormstarter28]

1st of all, I made ONE ridiculous comment, and it was a joke taken seriously...second of all, you're right, I forgot bsox wasn't a sox fan, all apologies. Finally, there is a difference between "saying something ridiculous" and speculating on what someone else is thinking. It's pointless and a waste of time.

[Darin]

"Finally, there is a difference between "saying something ridiculous" and speculating on what someone else is thinking. It's pointless and a waste of time."

Actually all this womanly bickering is pointless.

[Brickhaus]

If Helton was really afraid of being exposed as a fraud, he'd try to get traded to a park that plays better for hitters than Coors did last year.