The Rockies are next in MLBTR’s 2013 Contract Issues series:
Eligible For Free Agency (4)
- Marco Scutaro - Scutaro's off to a slow start at the plate and the Rockies could save by relying on less experienced infielders in 2013.
- Jeremy Guthrie - Guthrie's now on the disabled list, but it won't be surprising if he re-signs with the Rockies this offseason.
- Jamie Moyer - Moyer, who turns 50 this offseason, has a respectable 4.01 ERA in 33 2/3 innings. His age limits his leverage in contract talks, but another minor league deal might work.
- Jason Giambi - The 41-year-old Giambi continues to contribute as a bat off the bench and occasional first baseman. Perhaps the Rockies will bring him back for a fifth season in Denver on a low-risk deal.
Contract Options (1)
- Jorge De La Rosa: $11MM player option with a $1MM buyout. If exercised, the club obtains an $11MM option for 2014. De La Rosa, who's now on his way back from Tommy John surgery, figures to exercise this option barring a tremendous second half showing. It's currently hard to imagine him finding $11MM elsewhere.
Arbitration Eligible (6)
- First time: Jhoulys Chacin, Jonathan Herrera, Josh Outman, Tyler Colvin, Esmil Rogers
- Second time: Dexter Fowler
Fowler and Chacin will lead a relatively small and affordable class of arbitration eligible players. Outman, currently on the disabled list, hasn't thrown a pitch for the Rockies and could be a non-tender candidate by December's deadline. If the out of options Rogers continues to struggle at the MLB level, he could also be non-tendered. As long as the cutoff falls where it's expected to, Rogers and Colvin will be eligible.
2013 Payroll Obligation
The Rockies typically operate with a payroll in the $80MM range and they have committed $46MM to next year's team. Assuming De La Rosa returns and their arbitration class doesn't cost much more than $10MM, GM Dan O'Dowd should have $10MM or so to work with this coming offseason.
Guthrie is not coming back, starting pitching even average starting pitching is expensive. Guthrie is making 8+million this year the Rockies likely will have 11 mil tied up in De La Rosa and have Chacin, Pomeranz, Nicasio, Chatwood, Friedrich and Alex White all at league minimum to fill those other 4 spots, with Edwar Cabrera, Chad Bettis, Rob Scahill, Joe Gardner having a shot.
Guthrie could easily come back if he stays healthy and can produce. The reason we got him was to eat innings, out of all of those names you mentioned (except maybe JDLR, and he still hasn’t broken 200 inn. pitched in his career) I don’t see anyone cracking 200 innings without a giant step in development. Maybe Pomeranz, but again he would have to make great strides this season. I don’t see Guthrie returning on a contract anywhere close to what he’s being paid now but I would bet O’Dowd would love to bring him back at the right cost, with out a doubt.