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The Rockies’ 2011 Rotation

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Ubaldo Jimenez, Jhoulys Chacin and Jason Hammel will probably be in the Rockies' 2011 rotation, but the remaining two spots are considerably harder to predict. Jimenez is a Cy Young candidate, Chacin is striking out a batter per inning as a 22-year-old and Hammel is putting together a second consecutive solid season. The Rockies could theoretically fill the rest of the rotation from within, but that's not necessarily what they'll do. Here are their options:

Esmil Rogers and Aaron Cook are under team control for 2011, so Jim Tracy could just slot the pair into the rotation. It's not that simple, though. Rogers recently joined the rotation after pitching out of the bullpen for much of the season and Cook, who is under contract for 2011 at $9.25MM, could become trade bait. The Rockies entertained the idea of trading him this summer, so there's no guarantee that he starts next year in Colorado. 

This could be the final season in Denver for two of the team's most recognizable left-handers. The Rockies have a $7MM option for Jeff Francis but they may decide that's too much to commit to a pitcher who missed all of last year and much of this year with injuries. Francis is on the DL with left shoulder soreness now, but he has struck out three times as many batter as he has walked, so the 29-year-old can pitch when healthy. 

Another left-hander, Jorge de la Rosa, is sure to hit free agency after the season. He missed time early in the year with a finger injury, but has posted solid numbers since. The 29-year-old has a 4.74 ERA with 8.7 K/9 and 4.9 BB/9 in 68.1 innings, which should be enough to attract serious interest in the offseason.

The Rockies probably can't count on Greg Reynolds and Christian Friedrich, a pair of prospects who don't appear to be big-league ready. Many expected Reynolds, the second overall selection in the 2006 draft, to be an option by now, but he is still pitching at AA and his numbers are just OK, so the Rockies certainly aren't about to hand him a rotation spot. 

Friedrich, 23, entered the season as the 33rd-best prospect in the game, according to Baseball America. He has been hittable at AA and his 8.0 K/9 strikeout rate is impressive, but not as eye-catching as the career 12.0 K/9 rate he had going into the season. Meanwhile, 2009 first rounder Tyler Matzek is striking opponents out, but he has posted 6.2 BB/9 batter so far and certainly needs seasoning. 

Letting Francis and De La Rosa walk would leave the Rockies with a thin rotation, especially if they trade Cook. Their best pitching prospects are either adjusting to the upper minors or still in the lower minors, so it's hard to imagine immediate help coming from the system. 

Troy Renck of the Denver Post suggested on Twitter that the Rockies will add a veteran pitcher to next year's rotation. It does seem likely that the Rockies will pursue one or more starting pitchers this offseason, whether that means bringing back Francis, bidding on De La Rosa, or pursuing a different free agent starter.

Rockies Designate Randy Flores For Assignment

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The Rockies designated left-hander Randy Flores for assignment to make room for Jonathan Herrera, according to Troy Renck of the Denver Post. The Rockies’ bullpen is now thin, so the club could call on left-handed reliever Franklin Morales. 

Now that Herrera is up again, the club could put Clint Barmes on waivers to determine interest. Renck reports that the Cardinals and Braves are among the teams waiting for the Rockies to put Barmes on waivers.

Flores, meanwhile, should draw interest. The 35-year-old has a 2.96 ERA with 5.9 K/9 and 4.3 BB/9 in 27.1 innings for the Rockies. He earns a total of $650K this year and hits free agency after the season.

Rockies Designate Brad Hawpe For Assignment

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THURSDAY, 7:54pm: Hawpe has been designated for assignment by the Rockies, rather than released outright, tweets Renck.  Colorado now has 10 days to trade him which makes Renck think there's "a chance" of a deal in the works, though Renck doesn't think the club would hurt Hawpe's chances of signing with another club by making him wait the full 10 days while they explore trades.  The DFA move is "a formality" and come Tuesday, Hawpe is free to sign with anyone (all Twitter links). 

Renck (also via Twitter) hears from a source that the Giants, Rangers, Rays, Red Sox, White Sox all have "potential interest" in Hawpe.

WEDNESDAY, 8:51pm: The Rockies will release Hawpe after tonight's game, making him a free agent, tweets Renck.

WEDNESDAY, 7:15pm: Hawpe appears likely to be either traded or released within the next 24 hours, according to Troy Renck of the Denver Post. If and when the Rockies make a roster move, the Rangers are one team that would have interest in acquiring Hawpe.

WEDNESDAY, 3:03pm: Brad Hawpe cleared waivers today, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports and Troy Renck of the Denver Post (Twitter links). The Rockies can now trade the 31-year-old to any team. Hawpe has spent most of his career in right field, where his UZR numbers have been below-average, and he has appeared in six games at first base this season. His home run total (7) has dipped for a third consecutive year, but his batting line is about average: .252/.341/.430.

Hawpe projects to be a Type A free agent, but draft pick compensation isn't necessarily a factor, since the Rockies would have to offer arbitration to get any picks. Just under $2MM of Hawpe's $7.5MM salary remains this year and there's a $500K buyout for the team's $10.15MM option for next season. 

The Rockies could take on salary in a potential deal and, as MLBTR's Tim Dierkes pointed out, Hawpe could draw interest from a number of teams because he has hit well in recent years. The Red Sox, White Sox and Rays are potential fits, but that's speculation at this point.

Here is MLBTR's complete list of players to clear waivers.

Odds & Ends: Aramis, Podsednik, Huff, Hawpe

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Links for Thursday, exactly two years after the Padres traded Greg Maddux to the Dodgers…

Draft Notes: Whitson, Indians, Harper

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The smoke has cleared and all but three of the first 50 picks signed deals. Barret Loux (Diamondbacks) and Dylan Covey (Brewers) did not sign, but both pitchers had medical issues that influenced the dialogue they had with the clubs that selected them. Here are the details on the third player who did not sign, plus Baseball America's winners and losers:

  • John Manuel of BA lists the Nationals, Pirates, Anthony Ranaudo and Bud Selig as winners. The losers? The Brewers, Padres and the process itself.
  • Padres GM Jed Hoyer told XX Sports Radio in San Diego that the Padres had a verbal agreement with Karsten Whitson for $1.953MM on draft day. The club boosted its offer as high as $2.1MM, but Whitson and his representatives were holding out for more, so the sides didn't reach a deal. You can listen in on Hoyer's comments here.
  • ESPN.com's Keith Law finds it "hard to see [Whitson] beating the Padres' offer … in the 2013 draft." 
  • In the same piece, Law explains that he believes Bryce Harper and the Nationals both did well with last night's deal.
  • The Indians spent $9.3MM on the draft, Indians scouting director Brad Grant told MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince (Twitter link).
  • The Rockies are allowing first-rounder Kyle Parker to play college football, but their $1.4MM bonus is protected if he gets injured, according to Tracy Ringolsby of FOX Sports (on Twitter).

Will Brad Hawpe Be Traded?

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Rockies outfielder Brad Hawpe was placed on waivers yesterday, reported Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.  That means the window to claim Hawpe will expire Wednesday afternoon at the latest.  The Rockies "want to move" Hawpe, writes Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post.

The first question is whether Hawpe will be claimed by one of the other 29 clubs.  His playing time has dwindled in recent months, and his .252/.341/.430 line is his worst since 2005.  Hawpe has consistently posted poor UZR defensive numbers in right field.  This year, for the first time, he's played a few games at first base.

Hawpe has shown enough offense over the past several seasons that he would still appeal to several contenders.  The problem is that a claim could compel the Rockies to dump his contract on another team.  That club would pay the prorated portion of his $7.5MM salary (currently $1.96MM) plus a potential $500K buyout of his $10.15MM club option for '11 (unless Hawpe voids it, which seems unlikely).

The White Sox were linked to Hawpe in July, and they came up empty looking for a bat last month.  The Padres and Braves made additions, so a National League claim seems unlikely.  The White Sox would have first crack in the AL, before the Twins, Red Sox, Yankees, or Rays.  The Red Sox and Rays may at least consider Hawpe, but I suspect he'll make it through waivers unclaimed.  That'd open up trade possibilties for the Rockies, who probably won't get draft pick compensation for the Type A free agent.  It'd only be possible if they declined Hawpe's option and then offered arbitration, an unlikely scenario.

Rockies Sign Kyle Parker

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The Rockies signed first-rounder Kyle Parker to a $1.4MM bonus, according to Jim Callis of Baseball America (on Twitter). Parker, who quarterbacks Clemson's football team, will be allowed to play football, according to Tracy Ringolsby of FOX Sports (Twitter link). However, he signed for less money than he would have obtained for agreeing to focus on baseball.

Rockies Sign Peter Tago

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The Rockies signed prep right-hander Peter Tago, according to the MLB draft's Twitter page. Tago, selected 47th overall in the supplementary first round, gets a $983K bonus, according to Jim Callis of Baseball America. MLB recommends a $740K bonus for Tago's slot, so the Rockies are paying a little more than the commissioner's office would like. Baseball America says Tago is "a near perfect model of a prep right-hander with a huge upside: projectable frame, easy arm action, calm demeanor and electric stuff." The 18-year-old had committed to playing at UCLA.

As Troy Renck of the Denver Post writes, negotiations between the Rockies and first-round selection Kyle Parker will likely continue until the deadline. Colorado has until 11 CDT tonight to reach an agreement with Parker, who plays quarterback for Clemson.

Here's the complete list of first rounders to sign.

Braves Considering Clint Barmes

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The Braves are considering Clint Barmes as one potential way of replacing Chipper Jones, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The Braves, who lost Chipper to season-ending knee surgery last week, cannot deal for Barmes yet, since the Rockies have yet to place him on waivers. Martin Prado, who should soon return from the disabled list, would play third and Barmes would play second if the Rockies and Braves were to complete a deal.

The Braves have a number of players in the organization who can play third. Troy Glaus will not return to the hot corner, but Prado, Omar Infante, Brooks Conrad and even Eric Hinske are options.

Aramis Ramirez, Pedro Feliz, Wes Helms, Adam Kennedy, Jose Lopez, Brandon Inge, Jhonny Peralta, Ty Wigginton, Edwin Encarnacion, Melvin Mora and Willie Bloomquist are among the infielders who could become targets for Atlanta should GM Frank Wren decide to make a trade. The Braves had not asked the Mariners about Chone Figgins as of last Friday.

Odds & Ends: Tigers, Harper, Rockies, Thomas

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Let's round up a few more leftover Saturday links….

  • Johnny Damon doesn't know whether he'll be back in Detroit next year, but he thinks the club might make a run at Carl Crawford, according to Steve Kornacki of MLive.com.
  • The Nationals are "working hard" to lock up Bryce Harper, writes MLB.com's Bill Ladson. Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com talked about Harper with several executives and scouting directors, all of whom expect the Nats to get a deal done with their first overall pick.
  • Troy Renck of the Denver Post fielded followers' questions on Twitter this evening, providing his opinion on a few Rockies-related subjects. Renck expects the Rox to pursue a first baseman and corner outfielder this winter, focusing on players with power. Renck also feels that failing to sign first-rounder Kyle Parker wouldn't be a disaster, given the strength of next year's draft (all Twitter links).
  • Michael Thomas, the player to be named later in the Jarrod Saltalamacchia trade, will be converted to a pitcher by the Rangers, writes T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com. Thomas has spent his minor league career to date as a catcher, but his primary strength is his throwing arm rather than his bat.
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