The Rockies do not intend to deal closer LaTroy Hawkins, reports Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. Having surveyed the market, discussing Hawkins with the Pirates and other clubs, the team determined it would rather keep the veteran than move him for a limited return.
Colorado intends to pick up its club option over Hawkins next year, which registers at a fairly reasonable $2.25MM. The team is also interested in keeping him around for his veteran presence in a youthful clubhouse. The 41-year-old righty has a 3.09 ERA in 35 innings on the year, though he has struck out only 4.4 batters while issuing 2.3 free passes per nine.
As with Chad Qualls of the Astros, who is also expected to stay with his current club despite drawing interest, Hawkins will apparently stay put on a non-contender despite having some trade value. While that may seem somewhat irrational at first glance, it is worth noting that rebuilding clubs rightly value not only veteran mentorship but also the cost savings and reduced risk of keeping in-house options such as this pair. That reasoning has its limits, of course, but a marginal prospect return is not always worth moving such a player and then trying to find a suitable replacement in the offseason.
I don’t understand what the Rockies are doing..
I don’t either, but I think this could actually make good enough sense. They wouldn’t get much of anything back, and it may well make sense to forego a marginal return to keep the vet around and avoid the uncertainty of finding a new one next year.
LaTroy is also one of the.coolest, fan friendly, decent human beings in the game today.
I mean he is 41 year old pitcher who had a body of a 20 year old what do you expect a no hitter game he’s a closer dummy he can’t get a no hitter
What else can they do there a losing team and there about to trade Cargo what can’t hey do
What’s the point of a last place team keeping a 40 year old closer who is going to be a free agent this year.
Well, for starters he has a cheap option for next year. Other reasons given in the post.
I’m not often inclined to defend the Rockies’ decisionmaking, but they wouldn’t get much in return for him anyway. Were I a Rockies fan, this particular call would be among the least of my worries.
they still might deal him later in August or in the off-season. A lot can change between now and next year. Still, this is a very curious decision, I am sure they can net at least one A-ball prospect for LaTroy.
Why because LaTroy Hawkins is doing so good for a 41 year old man that’s why
This changes the entire deadline landscape…
So worth staying up till midnight for!
I stayed up to see if there would be movement on Lester.
The Hawkins news was a wonderful consolation prize.
The Cubs game is pretty impressive.
Was devastated that I couldn’t watch Baker pitch (MLB.com blackout – I live in Denver).
Rockies being the Rockies here.
Hawkins would not be a difference maker for any contending team. Why the Rockies felt compelled to announce this is a head scatcher.
I guess if the return is too minimal to be worth moving him for and his option for next year is so cheap…why the hell not?
I heard this was done to keep the inevitable “Latroy Hopkins” jersey giveaway intact.
The Rockies might be the least predictable organization in baseball. No one ever knows that they are doing. Plus, their front office structure is different than everybody elses. It’s weird.
It’s the $600 million mom and pop corner store.
Like almost all Rockies moves this is defensible but not “smart”
It’s fine to hold onto players who won’t give much return, yet have good value. The odd thing about the Rockies is that on a losing team everyone seems to be untouchable. Maybe the jaunt to New York to see Jeter will spur them to trade their most valuable trade chip Tulo?
LaTroy Hawkins is trying to reach 1,000 appearances this year!! The Rockies are not pitching him enough for that to happen. Also he dosnt want to reach it next year he wants to accomplish 1,000 appearances this year and if the Rockies would pitch him more maybe that would happen all he need it 20 more appearances but the ROCKIES won’t pitch him so I don’t know how he would get 1,000 pitches at the rate the ROCKIES are pitching him.