Rockies Rumors: Atkins, Holliday, Barmes

Let’s see what we can find in three new columns from Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post today.

• I wrote last week that the Rockies would come in a bit under $80MM after arbitration raises.  Renck pegs it around $75MM.
• The team’s plan is to shop Garrett Atkins for a frontline starter.  If the interest is not there (why would it be?), they could switch to Matt Holliday.  Renck ponders Matt Cain and a prospect to Colorado, but that is a lot to give up for one year of Holliday.  Plus the Giants are not looking to add an outfielder.
• Dave Krieger of the Rocky Mountain News analyzes whether the Rockies could afford to re-sign Holliday.  He believes they could, but doesn’t expect them to go past five years.
• Renck sees Clint Barmes as the starting second baseman heading into ’09.  Barmes could earn around $1.7MM as a first-time arbitration player.
• Manager Clint Hurdle admitted his starters are more like #2-5s, so it’d be perfect to add a #1 and push them all back.  #1 starters are hard to come by, of course.
• Yorvit Torrealba isn’t happy as a backup but the Rockies aren’t looking to trade him.  Meanwhile Willy Taveras is a non-tender candidate.
• The Rockies hope to re-sign free agent Glendon Rusch.