The Rockies and the Metropolitan Baseball Stadium District, which owns Coors Field, agreed to a 30-year, $200MM lease Wednesday to continue housing the team there, reports Nick Groke of the Denver Post. The two sides had spent four years negotiating the contract, which Major League Baseball approved Wednesday. The Rockies’ lease would have expired Thursday without an agreement, and that could have put their future in question. Instead, they’re now in line to remain at Coors Field through 2047. And, to the team’s credit, none of the pending $200MM in improvements to the stadium will come via taxpayer money. Coors opened in 1995 at a cost of $300MM, more than half of which ($162MM) was public money.
More from the majors:
- If the Rays don’t pare down their 40-man roster by trading catcher Curt Casali, they’re likely to designate fellow backstop Luke Maile or right-hander Ryan Garton for assignment, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Topkin first noted last week, after the Rays had signed Derek Norris, that Casali or Maile might not be long for the organization. The team optioned the two catchers and Garton to the minors Wednesday.
- The Orioles are aiming for a May 10 return for right-hander Chris Tillman, manager Buck Showalter informed David Hall of MLB.com. Tillman has been dealing with a shoulder issue since early in the offseason, though he does feel good about the progress he has made, per Hall. When he comes back, not only will Tillman try to help pitch the Orioles to another playoff berth, but the free agent-to-be will attempt to make a case for a rich contract.
- Rangers righty Andrew Cashner seemed likely to return from biceps tendinitis by April 15, the first time the team will need a fifth starter, but that’s n0w in doubt. Pitching coach Doug Brocail told Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News that he’s “not real optimistic” Cashner will debut in two weeks, and noted: “I want to make sure that when we get him back, we get him back for the full year. I don’t want any setbacks.” In the meantime, Texas could turn to Dillon Gee and/or Nick Martinez to fill in for Cashner.
- The Giants have chosen righty Neil Ramirez over southpaw Steven Okert for their final bullpen spot, Alex Espinoza of MLB.com was among those to report. The out-of-options Ramirez, who inked a minor league pact with the Giants over the winter, planned to opt out of the deal had he not made their roster, tweets FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal. San Francisco “didn’t want to lose Ramirez,” said manager Bruce Bochy, whose bullpen will open the year with one lefty (Ty Blach).
Josh Osich and Stephen Okert– two separate pitchers. Both sent down to Triple A.
Josh Osich and STEVEN Okert, sent down.
Indeed. Should’ve proofread that more carefully. Thanks.
I’ve always liked Neil Ramirez. He was good at times for the Cubs. I hope he can find some success on San Fran.
I think I’d rather have Okert on the roster with Strickland being sent down. I think Law or Ramirez can hold that setup spot. Having Blach as the only lefty isn’t smart for a manager like Bochy who LOVES to utilize matchups.
Osich and Okert will be back with big club sooner then later. I think they are built for continued success.
used a zero in “now” on the third bullet
Sharp eyes! Too bad that so few sites and publications use editors these days….
Should have gone with the “April Fools” excuse
Now is a great time to sneak players through waivers. Most rosters are full and it’s a smorgasbord of fringe guy’s getting DFA’ed.
It’s strange we should have to praise the Rockies for paying for their own upgrade to Coors, but it somehow seems appropriate given the open palms demonstrated by other professional owners. Good for them for realizing they have a good thing going.
Well said. Let’s hope it’s a lesson for the D’backs ownership.
I think everyone is over thinking the Ramirez move. Had the Giants sent him down, they lose him. The G’s face a very right-hand hitting heavy D-backs lineup 7 times in the first 10 games. Having an righty in the pen over Okerk makes a ton of sense and is a pretty shreud way to get value out of Ramirez while they can. Don’t be surprised if Okerk and Osich are both on the roster by the G’s first series against the Dodgers.
How would it be a lesson? If you’re the Diamondbacks ownership, of course you’re going to *try* for public money
Cashner lol
Tired of all the comments by the punctuation police! Who cares if they made an error. Why are you here? To read the news I would hope!
I’ve seen hundreds of typos from top writers from all over. These people who come on here just to critique grammar must have no lives.