Offseason Outlook: Colorado Rockies

Next up in our Offseason Outlook series, the Rockies.  Their likely commitments for 2010:

C – Chris Iannetta – $415K+
C – Paul Phillips – $415K 
1B – Todd Helton – $16.6MM
2B – Clint Barmes – $1.625MM+
SS – Troy Tulowitzki – $3.5MM 
3B – Ian Stewart – $404K
IF – Omar Quintanilla – $408K
LF – Carlos Gonzalez – $403K
CF – Dexter Fowler – $401K
RF – Brad Hawpe – $7.5MM
OF – Ryan Spilborghs – $415K+
OF – Seth Smith – $403K
OF – Matt Murton – $430K+

SP – Ubaldo Jimenez – $1.25MM
SP – Aaron Cook – $9MM
SP – Jorge de la Rosa – $2MM+
SP – Jason Hammel – $422K+
SP – Jeff Francis – $5.75MM

RP – Huston Street – $4.5MM+
RP – Franklin Morales – $402K
RP – Matt Daley – $400K
RP – Taylor Buchholz – $1.055MM+
RP – Manny Corpas – $2.75MM
RP – Matt Belisle – $850K
RP – Randy Flores – $650K

Other obligations: Yorvit Torrealba – $500K, Alan Embree – $250K

Non-tender candidates: Garrett Atkins

The Rockies have about $63MM committed before arbitration raises to Iannetta, Barmes, Spilborghs, Murton, de la Rosa, Hammel, Street, and Buchholz.  It would not be surprising to see the raises put the Rockies close to $80MM.  They entered 2009 at $75.2MM according to Cot's Baseball Contracts, so there's not much to spend this winter.

While the Rockies may have limited resources, GM Dan O'Dowd doesn't have much to do besides perhaps signing a late-inning reliever.  Rafael Betancourt could be the guy; it's believed the Rockies will offer arbitration to the Type A free agent.  O'Dowd has also said he's interested in re-signing Jose Contreras and Joe Beimel to bolster the 'pen.  The rotation looks strong, with Francis coming back from shoulder surgery to replace Jason Marquis.

The Rockies also appear set at all positions, though the two-year offer made to Yorvit Torrealba indicates they're not completely comfortable with Iannetta behind the dish.  Atkins' Colorado career is over; O'Dowd is now just trying to get anything in return before the December 12th non-tender deadline.

The Rockies have a surplus in the outfield, as they might be best-served with an affordable trio of Smith, Fowler, and Gonzalez.  That O'Dowd has more than $5MM to spend tells us that either the team's payroll is going up, or Hawpe will be traded.  However, while it seems that the Rockies will listen on Hawpe, they won't shop him.  Once source of Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi indicated a few weeks ago that the Rockies would seek "a right-handed-hitting outfielder and a reliable seventh-inning reliever" for Hawpe.  The Cubs, Mets, and Red Sox could be potential suitors, though the Cubs' plan to move Kosuke Fukudome back to right field might take them out of the mix.

It looks like a quiet offseason for the Rockies – O'Dowd figures to look into potential Hawpe trades and otherwise tinker with the bullpen and bench.  Management will still have their hands full with the multiple significant arbitration cases.