Offseason Outlook: Colorado Rockies
The Rockies intend to add an innings-eater and a right-handed hitter this offseason, likely focusing on the trade market rather than free agency due to budgetary constraints.
Guaranteed Contracts
- Todd Helton, 1B: $9.9MM through 2013
- Jorge de la Rosa, SP: $21MM through 2013, if '13 player option is exercised
- Huston Street, RP: $8MM through 2012, assuming club declines '13 mutual option
- Troy Tulowitzki, SS: $152.25MM through 2020
- Rafael Betancourt, RP: $4.25MM through 2012
- Ty Wigginton, 1B/3B/LF: $4.5MM through 2012
- Jason Hammel, SP: $4.75MM through 2012
- Matt Lindstrom, RP: $3.8MM through 2012
- Chris Iannetta, C: $3.8MM through 2012
- Matt Belisle, RP: $3.775MM through 2012
- Carlos Gonzalez, RF: $76MM through 2017
Contractual Options
- Aaron Cook, unranked SP: $11MM mutual option with a $500K buyout
- Jason Giambi, unranked 1B: $1MM mutual option
Arbitration Eligible Players (estimated salaries)
- Seth Smith, RF: $2.6MM
- Dexter Fowler, CF: $2MM
- Ian Stewart, 3B: $2MM (non-tender candidate)
- Ryan Spilborghs, OF: $2MM (non-tender candidate)
Free Agents
- Mark Ellis (Type B 2B), Kevin Millwood (unranked SP), J.C. Romero (unranked RP)
Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd has his work cut out for him this offseason. The team needs an innings-eating starter, solutions at second base, third base, and left field, and a left-handed reliever. The Rockies will require significant trading and creativity to get back on top, if payroll is to remain in the low-$80MM range.
If all four arbitration eligible players are retained, the Rockies would appear to have less than $15MM in payroll flexibility next year. Fortunately, trade candidates abound in Street, Wigginton, Smith, Stewart, and Iannetta. Those five players will earn about $21MM in total next year — a quarter of the team's expected payroll. Iannetta is the least likely to be traded, as Wilin Rosario is probably not ready for full-time duty. O'Dowd projects Stewart and Smith as potential platoon players next year. If a full-time left fielder or third baseman is acquired, Stewart and Smith will become expendable. Street and Smith might be the only veteran Rockies with decent trade value, so O'Dowd may have to part with prospects to improve the team. The Rockies GM has implied that Stewart will be tendered a contract, but that may have been posturing.
200 innings is an arbitrary cutoff, but it's a level 39 pitchers reached in 2011. None of them were Rockies. Trade targets could include James Shields, Carl Pavano, Brett Myers, Jeremy Guthrie, Ricky Nolasco, Gio Gonzalez, and Jason Vargas. Gavin Floyd, John Danks, Mike Pelfrey, John Lannan, and Wandy Rodriguez have at least shown an ability to take 180+ innings. Finding that type of starter in free agency is less likely, and pitchers may still be reluctant to play in Colorado. An August waiver claim on Rodriguez showed the Rockies are willing to assume a commitment in the three-year, $36MM range. It seems odd the Rockies would consider trading prospects for any of the above pitchers when they had Ubaldo Jimenez set to earn $18MM over 2012-14. Obviously, O'Dowd feels strongly about Drew Pomeranz and Alex White. Additionally he probably felt Jimenez's stock would trend downward.
In the Rockies' search for a right-handed bat, Michael Cuddyer seems to possess some positive traits that Aramis Ramirez does not have. The free agent market also features left fielder Josh Willingham. From a trade standpoint, Michael Young, Carlos Quentin, Kevin Youkilis, Mark Reynolds, and David Wright are potential matches. It seems unlikely the Rockies will fill both third base and left field by acquiring regulars, so look for a platoon in at least one of the positions. Ellis is a candidate to return at second base, but that position does not appear to be of primary concern to Colorado. Similarly, left-handed relief is something the Rockies will address, but probably without making a major commitment.
The echoes from the July Jimenez trade will be felt this offseason, as O'Dowd prioritizes finding a replacement proven starter. The longtime general manager seems prepared to add a few more major trades to his resume toward making the 2012 club a contender.
West Notes: Rangers, Rockies, A’s
The Rangers advanced to their second consecutive World Series last night. Today, Buster Olney of ESPN.com breaks down some of the crucial moves Texas made — and didn't make — that helped them return to the Fall Classic. More on that and a couple other items of note out of the AL and NL West …
- Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com feels that while the Rangers proved they didn't need Cliff Lee to win the American League pennant, they would not have done so had they traded Michael Young last offseason.
- The Rockies will move their Rookie level affiliate from Casper, WY to Grand Junction, CO, writes William Browning of the Casper Star-Tribune.
- The Rangers considered acquiring starters such as Zack Greinke and Matt Garza when Lee walked in free agency, writes Olney, but because the Rangers were stocked with young power arms, they decided to address other needs. Instead, they acquired players in Adrian Beltre and Mike Napoli who were seemingly undervalued by their former organizations. Beltre, after the Red Sox moved on from him quickly by acquiring Adrian Gonzalez and moving Kevin Youkilis to third, nearly signed with the Angels but felt he had a better chance to win with the Rangers.
- Though it appears unlikely the Athletics will gain approval to build a new stadium in a different nearby city, John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle wonders whether they'd be able to build a new stadium at the site of the Oakland Coliseum. The NFL's Raiders, with whom the A's share the Coliseum, may relocate to a shared stadium with the 49ers in Santa Clara, which would leave the A's as sole tenants of their current digs, so they wouldn't have to consider any other team's needs.
- Mark Ellis provided some stability at second base when the Rockies acquired him this season, but the key stone has persisted as a unanswered question throughout Colorado's existence, writes Jim Armstrong of the Denver Post. Ellis, an impending free agent, "figures to return" to the Rox in 2012, according to Armstrong.
- Elsewhere in Armstrong's piece, he writes that the Rockies will "dive into the offseason trade market in hopes of landing a quality starting pitcher." Three prospects whom other teams might seek are outfielder Tim Wheeler, infielder Nolan Arenado and pitcher Chad Bettis.
Managers And GMs Entering Their Contract Year
As Jim Riggleman would tell you, everyone in baseball wants more job security. Here is a list of managers and general managers whose contracts expire after 2012, featuring both extension candidates and those on the hot seat this winter. (Thanks to the always-invaluable Cot's Baseball Contracts for many of the details.)
White Sox: Kenny Williams has a rolling contract that automatically extends itself every year. Should Williams be fired, the Sox will owe him one year's worth of severance pay. With Ozzie Guillen now managing the Marlins, the spotlight will be directly on Williams to get the White Sox back on track following their rough 2011 season. Williams has already made one roll of the dice by hiring first-time manager Robin Ventura. White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf and Williams have a strong relationship, but if the team struggles again in 2012, the Sox could blow things up and rebuild under a new general manager.
Tigers: Jim Leyland entered this season as a lame duck and signed just a one-year contract extension from Detroit in August. This relative lack of security is how Leyland prefers it, however, since he isn't sure how much longer he'll continue to manage. Given the Tigers' success, one would think they'll let Leyland go year-to-year for as long as he feels up to the job.
Royals: Ned Yost is entering the last year of his contract and I would guess that he'll receive another. While the Royals don't expect any on-field success right now, the onus is on Yost to ensure that Kansas City's wealth of young prospects continue to develop. Yost will return as K.C.'s manager in 2013 unless the Royals heavily regress from their 71-91 record of last year, or (even worse) the likes of Mike Moustakas, Eric Hosmer and Danny Duffy hit a snag in their Major League seasoning.
Rockies: Colorado's disappointing 2011 campaign puts the pressure on manager Jim Tracy, who is entering the final year of his original three-year pact with the team. GM Dan O'Dowd recently told Troy Renck of the Denver Post that he doesn't foresee any problems with Tracy working as a lame duck. "Jim is signed through next year and we'd love to have him be manager here for much longer than that," O'Dowd said.
Reds: Dusty Baker signed a two-year extension with the Reds last October. If Cincinnati takes the unlikely step of trading Joey Votto and starting a mini-rebuilding phase, Baker may not want to stick around while the club builds itself back into a contender. A Votto deal is a long shot (at least in the short term), however, so barring a poor season for the Reds in 2012, the team will probably pursue another extension with Baker next winter.
Rays: Because Andrew Friedman works without an official contract, his name was already linked to the GM's openings with the Cubs and Astros earlier this year. Friedman has said he enjoys the challenge of working in Tampa Bay and it would be odd for him to walk away given that the Rays are contenders now and for the foreseeable future given their deep minor league system. Manager Joe Maddon is similarly very likely to stay, even though his three-year contract runs out after next season. Tampa Bay's shaky financial situation makes Maddon's status a very minor question mark, but one would think the Rays will do everything in their power to keep Maddon, especially since owner Stu Sternberg said he expects Maddon to manage the team beyond 2012.
Rangers: Ron Washington signed a two-year extension through 2012 in the wake of the Rangers' AL pennant last season. With Texas on the verge of another World Series appearance, Washington looks to be in line for another new deal.
Indians: GM Chris Antonetti's original five-year contract is up after 2012 and the Indians' progress would indicate that the club will pursue an extension. The Tribe picked up Manny Acta's 2013 option last month.
Giants: Brian Sabean and Bruce Bochy both had their options for 2012 picked up last February, an expected move given San Francisco's 2010 World Series title. That championship also probably ensures both men will receive extensions at some point over the next year since incoming team CEO Laurence Baer has stated that he wants Sabean and Bochy to stay. Unless the Giants have a disastrous 2012 campaign, expect Sabean and Bochy to be in San Francisco for years to come.
Dodgers: Ned Colletti can either activate an out clause in his contract after 2012, or 2012 is actually the last year on his deal. Either way, the general manager will likely be pursued by the club to sign an extension given how competitive the Dodgers were this season in the wake of the ongoing ownership mess. Of course, Colletti could choose to leave given the uncertainty with the McCourts. Chicago native Colletti drew some attention from the Cubs last summer, before the Theo Epstein hiring.
Diamondbacks: 2012 is the last guaranteed year for both Kevin Towers and Kirk Gibson, though Towers had club options for 2013-14 and 2015-16, and Gibson has a club option for 2013. Neither man is going anywhere in the wake of Arizona's surprise run to the NL West crown.
Cubs: Mike Quade is signed through 2012 with a club option for 2013. Rumors are already swirling that Ryne Sandberg could be hired as the Cubs' new manager once Theo Epstein takes over, so Quade could be out of a job once the Epstein era officially begins in Chicago.
Cardinals: Tony La Russa and the Cards have a mutual option for 2012 and the latest indication is that La Russa wishes to return for another season. The manager could have a change of heart should Albert Pujols leave for free agency, though La Russa's return could provide some incentive for Pujols to also stay in St. Louis. It's also worth noting that La Russa is just 35 wins behind John McGraw for second place on the list of all-time regular season managerial wins.
Brewers: Doug Melvin's contract expires after 2012 and given Milwaukee's success this season, he seems like a sure bet to receive an extension. It will be interesting to see how long a Melvin extension would run; ownership may not want to commit to Melvin for more than three years just to see how he operates in a post-Prince Fielder environment in Milwaukee. Ron Roenicke is also technically out of contract after next year, but the Brewers hold a club option on the manager for 2013 that is very likely to be exercised. A new multiyear deal for Roenicke is also not out of the question.
Astros: General manager Ed Wade's deal is up after 2012 but his tenure in Houston could finish early once the sale of the team to Jim Crane is finalized. A new GM could also spell the end of Brad Mills as the manager, who is contracted through 2012 with a club option for 2013. While Mills did lead the Astros to the worst record (56-106) in franchise history last season, he didn't have much talent to work with on the Houston roster.
Rockies Claim Andrew Brown
The Rockies announced that they claimed Andrew Brown off of waivers from the Cardinals (Twitter link). St. Louis had designated the versatile 27-year-old for assignment over the weekend to create roster space for Lance Lynn.
Brown appeared in 11 games for the Cardinals this June, but spent most of the season at Triple-A, where he made the Pacific Coast League All-Star team. In 428 plate appearances with the Cardinals' top affiliate, Brown posted a .284/.382/.501 line with 20 homers. He played all four corner positions for the second consecutive season.
Arbitration Eligibles: Colorado Rockies
The Rockies are next in our arbitration eligibles series.
- First time: Seth Smith, Dexter Fowler
- Second time: Ian Stewart
- Third time: Ryan Spilborghs
Having signed Troy Tulowitzki, Jason Hammel, Matt Lindstrom, Chris Iannetta, and Carlos Gonzalez to multiyear deals, the Rockies are left with only four arbitration eligible players.
Stewart and Spilborghs are non-tender candidates. Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd recently said he's willing to give Stewart another opportunity, implying he will pay the $2MM or so that will be required if the third baseman is tendered a contract in December. Two months remain until the non-tender deadline, however. There is a case to keep Spilborghs at an approximate $2MM despite his 2011 struggles. The 32-year-old had been a very useful fourth outfielder prior to this year and may have trade value at that price.
As a potential Super Two, Fowler projects to fall in the $2MM range as well. Smith, who would be around $2.6MM, has been mentioned as potential trade bait should the Rockies sign an outfielder.
Cot's Baseball Contracts shows the Rockies have about $61MM owed to players under contract for next year. If all four arbitration eligibles are retained, they'd be around $70MM before accounting for minimum salary players. The Rockies would have around $13MM in 2012 flexibility, though as much as $18MM more could be cleared if the team non-tenders or trades Stewart, Spilborghs, Smith, Huston Street, and Ty Wigginton.
Matt Swartz contributed to this post.
NL West Notes: Kemp, Kuroda, Goldschmidt, Rox
The Diamondbacks, winners of the NL West in 2011, have pushed the Brewers to a decisive fifth game in the NLDS, and they may not have gotten there without the help of rookie slugger Paul Goldschmidt. Here's more on him and a few other items of note regarding NL West clubs …
- Dodgers GM Ned Colletti said that extending Matt Kemp is an offseason priority but he won't set a firm deadline to get a deal done, according to Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com. Last week, Kemp's agent, Dave Stewart, set an extension deadline of Opening Day 2012, and Colletti told Shelburne he too prefers to work out deals in the offseason, but he doesn't have any hard and fast rules: "I've done a handful of deals during a season, but the total number is very small compared to those that have been done in the offseason," Colletti said. "You take every situation case by case, you never say no to anything."
- That Dodgers right-hander Hiroki Kuroda vetoed pre-deadline trades to the Tigers and Red Sox bodes well for Los Angeles' chances of re-signing the free agent, opines Jim Bowden of ESPN (via Twitter). We heard late last month that Kuroda is on the fence about re-signing with the Dodgers or returning to Japan.
- The Diamondbacks were awarded an August waiver claim on White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko, two sources tell Bob Nightengale of USA Today, but trade discussions didn't progress, as the South Siders were targeting Goldschmidt, whom the Snakes weren't interested in trading. Konerko, who would have had to approve the trade because of his 10-and-5 rights, said a deal was never brought to him — and he's not sure whether he would have accepted.
- The Rockies haven't ruled out bringing back third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff, tweets Troy Renck of the Denver Post. MLBTR's Tim Dierkes first reported that Kouzmanoff had elected free agency today after being outrighted on Tuesday.
- The Rox also are interested in retaining minor leaguers Jose Morales and Matt Daley, who were also outrighted, according to Renck (via Twitter).
Minor Moves: Rockies, Wise
The latest minor moves from around MLB…
- The Rockies outrighted Jose Morales, Matt Daley, Jim Miller, Greg Reynolds and Cory Riordan to Triple-A Colorado Springs, according to MLB.com's transactions page. Morales, a 28-year-old catcher, appeared in 22 games for the Rockies this year and Reynolds, the second overall pick in 2006, posted a 6.19 ERA with 5.1 K/9 and 2.8 BB/9 in 32 innings. Colorado's 40-man roster now stands at 35.
- Center fielder Dewayne Wise, who suited up for the Marlins and Blue Jays this year, elected free agency, according to the same transactions page.
Monfort On Third Base, Pitching, Tracy, O’Dowd
Rockies co-owner Dick Monfort recently conducted a Q&A session with fans over at The Denver Post. Here are the highlights…
- Third base, a right-handed bat, and outfield stability are at "the very top" of the team's "to-do" list this winter, but Monfort cautions that there isn't much third base talent to go around. They still feel Ian Stewart can be their solution at the hot corner.
- Monfort emphasized that the team must develop homegrown pitching because "paying a pitcher $15 million per year when he is in the latter stages of his career is a mistake our club cannot make if we expect to be a competitive team."
- Monfort expressed his pleasure with manager Jim Tracy and GM Dan O'Dowd, noting that they "believe in continuity in our leadership group."
- The Rockies consider themselves to be a mid-market franchise, like the Rangers or Brewers. Monfort is in favor of a ten-team playoff scenario, or as he put it, "anything that helps our club reach the postseason."
Kouzmanoff Elects Free Agency
THURSDAY: Kouzmanoff has elected free agency after clearing waivers, MLBTR has learned. Word is that multiple teams are interested in signing him to a big league deal.
TUESDAY: The Rockies are in the process of outrighting third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff from the roster, MLBTR has learned. The 30-year-old third baseman is expected to reach free agency once he clears waivers.
The alternative for Colorado would have been to tender Kouzmanoff a contract and pay him at least $3.8MM for 2012. Since that's not in the cards, they're removing him from the 40-man roster now rather than wait until the December 12th non-tender deadline.
The Rockies had acquired Kouzmanoff on August 25th, giving him a 27-game trial for the remainder of the season. He has a .243/.284/.389 line for 2010-11, failing to match the moderate power he showed in San Diego. The offensive issues will hurt Kouzmanoff's earning power, though his defense is above-average according to UZR.
Rockies Rumors: Stewart, Wright, Headley, Alvarez
The Rockies pick tenth in next year's draft, a pick that will be protected if they sign a Type A free agent who turned down arbitration this offseason. The latest on the team, from Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post:
- Kevin Kouzmanoff is unlikely to return to the Rockies next year. MLBTR reported yesterday that the team is in the process of outrighting the third baseman. Ian Stewart will get another shot at the third base job if he "makes baseball his first priority from the start of the winter until the end of it," GM Dan O'Dowd told Renck. The Rockies will need to make a decision on Stewart by the December 12th non-tender deadline though. Tendering him a contract probably means paying him around $2.2MM again.
- Opposing executives expect O'Dowd to aggressively pursue Mets third baseman David Wright. Otherwise Renck expects the Rockies to cast a wide net, including the Padres' Chase Headley and the Pirates' Pedro Alvarez but not free agent Aramis Ramirez. I have a hard time imagining the Padres sending Headley to their division rival; the two teams haven't matched up for an offseason trade since the Rockies' inaugural season.
- The Rockies are looking to trade Ty Wigginton even it means eating some of the $4.5MM owed to him.
- Renck reiterates that the Rockies seek an innings eater this offseason.