The Rockies are next in our arbitration eligibles series.
- First time: Seth Smith, Dexter Fowler
- Second time: Ian Stewart
- Third time: Ryan Spilborghs
Having signed Troy Tulowitzki, Jason Hammel, Matt Lindstrom, Chris Iannetta, and Carlos Gonzalez to multiyear deals, the Rockies are left with only four arbitration eligible players.
Stewart and Spilborghs are non-tender candidates. Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd recently said he's willing to give Stewart another opportunity, implying he will pay the $2MM or so that will be required if the third baseman is tendered a contract in December. Two months remain until the non-tender deadline, however. There is a case to keep Spilborghs at an approximate $2MM despite his 2011 struggles. The 32-year-old had been a very useful fourth outfielder prior to this year and may have trade value at that price.
As a potential Super Two, Fowler projects to fall in the $2MM range as well. Smith, who would be around $2.6MM, has been mentioned as potential trade bait should the Rockies sign an outfielder.
Cot's Baseball Contracts shows the Rockies have about $61MM owed to players under contract for next year. If all four arbitration eligibles are retained, they'd be around $70MM before accounting for minimum salary players. The Rockies would have around $13MM in 2012 flexibility, though as much as $18MM more could be cleared if the team non-tenders or trades Stewart, Spilborghs, Smith, Huston Street, and Ty Wigginton.
Matt Swartz contributed to this post.
Tim is there a method to the order if this series? Or dontiu just randomly pick a team and write about it then scratch it off a list?
I was going by division but then veered off track so that certain ones would be done in advance of offseason outlooks we are working on. At any rate we have the Reds, D’Backs, Giants, Brewers, Dodgers, and Cardinals left, and maybe we can get to them all this week.
If the Rockies have another disappointing season next year I think O’dowd is going to blow things up in Colorado.
another “disappointing season” and I’m not sure O’Dud will be around to blow anything up.
Brilliant AND clever…double-threat guy!
Rockies would like to move Street and Wiggington. Not sure there is much demand for Wiggy. I expect Stewart to return for one year. Just not much help out there at 3rdbase.
Both Smith AND Spilly won’t be back….they may get tendered then traded though.