The Rockies have agreed to sign Casey Blake to a one-year deal, pending a physical, Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd announced (Twitter link). The sides agreed to a non-guaranteed contract worth $2MM plus $1MM in performance bonuses, according to MLB.com's Thomas Harding (on Twitter).
Blake hit .252/.342/.371 in 239 plate appearances for the Dodgers in 2011, spending considerable time on the DL with a cervical strain. He had surgery in September and the Dodgers declined his $6MM option for 2012 after the season. The Indians were among nine teams with some interest in Blake, who should be ready to play in 2012, agent Jim McDowell told MLBTR.
The move provides the Rockies with depth at third base to go along with Jordan Pacheco and Chris Nelson. Nolan Arenado, a 20-year-old third base prospect in the Rockies' system, has yet to play in Double-A.
glad to see he got another gig.
Thought he might sign with the Cubs to play 1B/3B for when Stewart/LaHair fail. Ah well, guess I can’t say I ever thought much of him as a player anyway.
I was hoping Cubs as well. CaseyBlakeDeWitt must reunite!
Omg that’s your name
WHAT!??!1! It is?? I thought my name was Notsureifsrs. Darn. I wish I was that guy…
Isn’t Casey Blake just Ty Wigginton with a beard? I thought DOD “wasn’t going to dabble in marginal players”. Seems like he is just collecting a bunch of multi-position infielders and hoping one of them rises to the top.
And PTBNLs, instead of people like Edinson Volquez
To be fair Blake is half the price per year as Wigginton and 1/4 the price contract wise. This is a total value signing similar to Giambi. If they suck you can cut them at minimal loss.
I’d bet the $1M in incentives will be all too easy to reach but you are right. Plus, unlike Giambi, Blake is only holding down a base for a top prospect. It’ll take a year, tops, for Arenado to take over. Blake’s contract: One year. Perfect.
Casey Blake was a 3WAR 3B in 2010, a 4.9WAR 3B in 2009 Ty Wiggington was worth 6.6 WAR between 2002-2011 for 400% more money, and Blake doesn’t have a guaranteed contract.
Yes. I almost feel bad for comparing anyone to the infamous Wiggy, but thought it was pretty funny anyway. The nice thing with this signing is that it’s only for one year and isn’t a guaranteed contract. From what I’ve read, if Blake isn’t healthy/ doesn’t make the 25-man roster, they can cut him with little financial commitment. “So they have that going for them… which is nice.”
bummer – no prado for seth
Wouldn’t Prado play second?
That was unlikely, anyway. It would be fantastic, if only to see Braves fans go apoplectic.
Good signing. I could see him providing some pop from the hot corner while Arenado continues to develop.
Correct answer.
BTW the Rockies now have: Blake, Cuddyer, Pacheco, Arenado to play 3B at some point….Hopefully Tracy can figure out how to run a lineup this year. Prado can play 2B? right?
This move won’t hault any trade of Prado coming to Colorado.
1. Fowler (CF)
2. Prado (2B)
3. Gonzalez (LF)
4. Tulowitzki (SS)
5. Helton (1B)
6. Cuddyer (RF)
7. Hernandez (C)
8. Blake (3B)
Now, that is a lineup. Unfortunately, there’s a pitching rotation in desperate need of a fixture because as of right now, its shaped up to be someting like this:
1. Chacin
2. Hammel
3. Slowey
4. Chatwood
5. Pomeranz
yikes.
Think you’ve mixed up Hammel and Pom.
If you have 3 third basemen that means you don’t have a third baseman,
And having 6 mediocre infielders is not an improvement over having 5 mediocre infielders.
Cuddy isn’t really going to play 3rd and Arenado is barely on the fringe of being ready. Pacheco is the designated UT guy. Blake plays 3rd until Arenado gets enough AA/AAA seasoning – which could take all year.
and he just built a house in des moines….he told us he was retiring. HA
gonzalez is going to play center
Take a good hard look, Cody Ross. Whether you like it or not, this is the caliber of deal that you are going to be signing sometime this offseason.
So Cody Ross is 32 this year, Casey Blake is 39…
Agreed, but production wise, they are very similar. My point is that the 3/$21M that he was demanding at the beginning of the season is a pipe dream. At best, he’ll muster out a 2/$6M deal. More likely, a one year.
Isn’t Brandon Wood lurking too? He’s finally in the hitters park, might be a sleeper!
The one really good thing on this deal is that Blake won’t be tormenting the Rockies from the opposing dugout anymore. Is it just me or did he ALWAYS get big hits against us while playing for the Dodgers?!?
One year that’s not guaranteed. Maybe the smartest move O’Dowd has made this winter. If Arenado is ready coming out of Spring then they cut Blake, and if he isn’t then Casey shares the corner with Pacheco for the year.
wasn’t Cuddyer signed to play third?
Arenado hasn’t even played in double A yet
Hopefully it means no Seth Smith for Martin Prado. I am sick of those rumors from the Rockies beat writers.
na right field
Cuddy doesn’t play 3B, mainly RF and 1B when Morneau was out. You’ll probably see him in RF and platooning at 1B when needed.
Doesn’t matter he’ll be up unless he’s awful in the spring. Was AFL MVP. 122 RBI’s last year.
As for Cuddyer he doesn’t like to play third because he’s deaf in left ear.
Blake is cheap and a nice bat with some pop. Why not I say. I don’t see this as a no EY for Turner move. Rockies just stocking up
I am too… But as a Braves supporter
You’re the only one bringing it up any more. Get over it.
Cargo, Smith, Fowler, and Blackmon
what am I missing here?
Show me in any Rockies press release or media coverage where it says that Cuddyer is playing 3B.
I didn’t, I listed 4 OFers and they signed another one.. I don’t get it
Still don’t understand why they signed Cuddyer then
His splits are really lopsided
Blackmon and Fowler won’t platoon. Dex had a big 2nd half and will be full-time CF. Cuddy will play RF and Blackmon will likely be 5th OF and will give Dex and CarGo days off or play RF if/when Cuddy plays 1B. Smith? Gone for whatever his best trade value is. Maybe to Cincy, Seattle, A’s, or who knows?
Unlikely we see Arenado to start the season. Likely he begins 2012 in Tulsa/Springs unless he has an off-the-hook Spring and probably not even then. Pencil in Arenado for August/September. Blake is a nice stopgap. Job well done, Dan.
Smith will be gone by Spring Training, Blackmon with be the 4th OF