Rockies Designate Jamie Moyer For Assignment
The Rockies designated 49-year-old left-hander Jamie Moyer for assignment, Tracy Ringolsby of Root Sports reports (Twitter link). The move creates space on Colorado's 25 and 40-man rosters.
Moyer, who turns 50 this fall, started ten games for the Rockies after signing a minor league deal with the team in January. He posted a 5.70 ERA with 6.0 K/9 and 3.0 BB/9 in 53 2/3 innings in his return from Tommy John surgery. Remarkably, Moyer's average fastball checked in at just 78.6 mph, according to FanGraphs.
Draft Notes: Cubs, Gausman, Orioles, Rockies
Here are some notes on this year's amateur draft, which is now less than a week away…
- The Cubs will hold a workout for shortstop prospect Carlos Correa at Wrigley Field today, Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago.com reports. The Cubs select sixth overall in Monday's draft.
- Jim Callis of Baseball America previewed the Orioles' draft with MASNsports.com's Steve Melewski, explaining why he expects Baltimore to select a college pitcher such as LSU's Kevin Gausman. The Orioles select fourth overall.
- Jonathan Mayo introduces his readers to Gausman in a piece at MLB.com.
- Conor Glassey of Baseball America lists ten future scouting directors, including Rockies assistant scouting director Danny Montgomery.
Rockies Notes: O’Dowd, Moyer, Guthrie, Pitching
Here's the latest about the Rockies as the team opens up a three-game series against the Reds in Cincinnati….
- GM Dan O'Dowd tells MLB.com's Thomas Harding that the organization isn't going to make any quick changes based on the club's poor record thus far, including his own job. "That's human nature: fire the GM….And we're examining our entire process," O'Dowd said. "We don't stick our heads in the sand, but we make decisions in a calmer way, rather than an emotional way. Hey, I've made them the other way. I've acted the other way in previous years. That doesn't work, either. I've intentionally chosen to act the way I'm acting. I'm all in. No backing out now."
- Owner Dick Monfort told Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post earlier this week that he wasn't going to fire either O'Dowd or manager Jim Tracy. As part of a live chat with Denver Post readers, Patrick Saunders disagreed with Monfort, saying "if the Rockies' season continues to go south this season, O'Dowd's job should be in jeopardy. There is no way he should be getting a free pass. This is a performance-oriented business."
- From that same chat, Saunders also said that Jamie Moyer's time in Colorado is running out as the Rockies will want to give their young pitchers a chance in the rotation. The Denver Post's Troy Renck cited Marco Scutaro and Jeremy Guthrie as midseason trade candidates; Renck would "be surprised if Guthrie is not dealt."
- The performance of the Rockies' pitching staff, as well as Tracy and O'Dowd's handling of those pitchers, is criticized by Paul Swydan of Fangraphs. Swydan also recaps the Rockies' poor returns on recent trades.
Rosenthal On Saunders, Guthrie, Indians, Blue Jays
Highlights from the latest edition of Full Count from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports..
- The Diamondbacks are deep in starters and won't wait to see if they fall out of contention before exploring a trade involving one of their arms. Don't be surprised if Arizona entertains offers for Joe Saunders before the trade deadline, regardless of where they are in the standings.
- Rockies right-hander Jeremy Guthrie is also likely to be in play. The club is looking at their younger pitchers and they've got Jorge De La Rosa set to come back soon. Teams thinking of trading potential free agents might want to act sooner rather than later in order to save a bit more money and get a better return.
- The Indians need a right-handed hitter and another starting pitcher, as they still don't know if they'll see Roberto Hernandez (formerly Fausto Carmona) this season. The problem for the Tribe is that they rank last in attendance in the majors and likely can't increase payroll significantly. They'll have to ask for cash in deals and that means giving up better prospects in return.
- The Blue Jays are deep in prospects and could be a major player at the deadline. They could be in on the Brewers' Zack Greinke and could even be involved with Matt Garza of the Cubs if his contract talks break down.
Esmil Rogers Drawing Interest
FRIDAY: At least two AL teams are scouting Rogers, Troy Renck of the Denver Post reports.
THURSDAY: The Rockies are drawing trade interest in out-of-options right-hander Esmil Rogers, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports tweets. The Rockies are open to moving Rogers in the right deal.
Rogers, 26, has allowed 24 hits, 13 walks and 17 earned runs in 17 2/3 innings so far this year. However, he has 21 strikeouts and his average fastball velocity is a career-best 95.9 mph, according to FanGraphs. Assuming the projected super two cutoff is accurate, Rogers will be arbitration eligible as a super two player this offseason. He can't be sent to the minor leagues without passing through waivers.
Rockies Notes: Coaches, Front Office, Rogers
With the Rockies off to an underwhelming 13-21 start, there is no shortage of speculation about what the team could do to shake things up. Let's check the latest news out of Coors Field…
- GM Dan O'Dowd tells Troy Renck of the Denver Post that he doesn't plan to make any changes to the Rockies' coaching staff. "It's been frustrating for everyone involved, for our fans, for the players, for everyone. But I don't sense that we are that point (where there would be changes). That's not how we do business," O'Dowd said. Renck points out that the Rockies "are historically patient with personnel decisions and almost never act during the season." While Colorado signed manager Jim Tracy to an indefinite contract extension last winter, Renck notes that the club wanted to keep Tracy as part of the overall management team, not necessarily as the on-field manager.
- "If 2012 turns out to be a disaster, Rockies ownership must take a very hard look at the entire front office," writes Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post as part of a reader mailbag.
- Troy Renck writes that Colorado is keeping Esmil Rogers on the Major League roster since the right-hander is out of options and the Rockies don't want to risk exposing Rogers to waivers. Rogers has a 9.18 ERA in 16 2/3 innings with the Rockies this season, while the more effective Carlos Torres was just optioned to Triple-A to make room for Jeremy Guthrie's return from the disabled list.
2013 Contract Issues: Colorado Rockies
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.
Outrighted To Triple-A: Eliezer Alfonzo
The latest outright assignments…
- The Rockies have outrighted catcher Eliezer Alfonzo to Triple-A, according to MLB.com's transactions page. Alfonzo, a veteran of six MLB seasons, received a 100-game suspension last fall following his second positive test for a performance-enhancing substance. He owns a .290/.332/.475 batting line in a minor league career that spans 15 seasons. The Rockies designated the 33-year-old for assignment earlier this week.
Rockies Designate Eliezer Alfonzo For Assignment
The Rockies designated catcher Eliezer Alfonzo for assignment, according to the team's transactions page. The Rockies appear to have removed the 33-year-old from their 40-man roster to create space for left-hander Christian Friedrich, who will start tomorrow's game.
Alfonzo had an impressive .319/.347/.777 line with 12 homers in 101 plate appearances at Triple-A Colorado Springs last year. He owns a .290/.332/.475 batting line in a minor league career that spans 15 seasons and has experience in six MLB campaigns, most recently with the 2011 Rockies.
Rosenthal On Ethier, Santana, Blue Jays, D’Backs
Here's the latest from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports…
- Impending free agent Andre Ethier is "the first opportunity for the Dodgers’ new ownership to make a statement in the post-McCourt era," and while Ethier has let it be known that he's willing to negotiate a new deal during the season, Rosenthal thinks Stan Kasten would prefer to see Ethier perform well and stay healthy for the entire 2012 season before offering him a contract extension. Rosenthal predicts Ethier will look for a deal similar to Jayson Werth's seven-year, $126MM contract with the Nationals, and given the lack of proven power bats on the market, Ethier "probably can name his price" this winter if he keeps producing.
- Johan Santana's hefty contract and no-trade clause will make it hard for the Mets to move him without eating a lot of money in a deal. Rosenthal thinks it makes more sense for the Mets to just hang on to Santana, who can be a valuable mentor to the team's young pitchers.
- The Blue Jays are unlikely to trade either J.P. Arencibia or Travis d'Arnaud before the end of the season, as the Jays like Arencibia's game-calling and d'Arnaud's overall potential. Rosenthal cites the Diamondbacks as one of several teams interested in Toronto's catchers, which follows up on his report in March that the Snakes were looking at Arencibia. Arizona's interest would seem to indicate that the D'Backs are preparing a backup plan should they not be able to re-sign Miguel Montero.
- It "does not appear out of the question" that the Rockies will make changes to the coaching staff given the team's pitching woes, defensive struggles and overall poor start.
- A scout tells Rosenthal that Andy Pettitte "does not look close to ready" and will need several more minor league starts before he's ready to return to the Yankees.