Rockies Rumors: Vazquez, Catching
Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post has the latest Rockies buzz…
- The Rockies are interested in Javier Vazquez. Vazquez joins Jake Westbrook, Jon Garland, and Hiroki Kuroda as pitchers of interest for the team in case they are unable to re-sign Jorge de la Rosa.
- GM Dan O'Dowd described the team's plans at catcher as "a fluid situation," but added, "We are absolutely prepared to give Chris [Iannetta] every opportunity to get over the hump." Re-signing Miguel Olivo hasn't been ruled out, but it sounds like the Rockies will be giving less playing time to Iannetta's catching partner in 2011.
- Notable minor league free agents, from Baseball America's Matt Eddy: Luis Ayala, Brad Eldred, and Kaz Matsui.
Rockies Interested In Westbrook, Garland, Kuroda
The Rockies are interested in Jake Westbrook, Jon Garland and Hiroki Kuroda and will be in touch with the representatives for all three starters, according to Troy Renck of the Denver Post (on Twitter). Free agent left-handers Jeff Francis and Jorge de la Rosa may not return to Colorado, so the Rockies are exploring the open market in case they have to look elsewhere to solidify their rotation.
The Dodgers may also have interest in Westbrook, Garland and Kuroda, according to the LA Times. The pitchers figure to be looking for multi-year deals. Last week Garland turned down his side of a $6.75MM option with the Padres, which suggests he'll look for a longer term contract. The Cardinals were discussing an extension with Westbrook last month, but the sides didn't reach a deal.
None of the Rockies' three potential targets will cost a compensation pick; Garland and Kuroda are Type B free agents and Westbrook is not ranked. They are among the more attractive free agent starters other than Cliff Lee, De La Rosa and Carl Pavano. Click here for details on the free agent market for righty and lefty starters.
Odds & Ends: Mets, Webb, Galarraga, Ring, Rasner
Some links to check out on the 11th anniversary of the Indians signing Danys Baez to the largest amateur signing bonus in team history…
- Jon Heyman of SI.com tweets that Terry Collins' name has popped up in connection with the Mets' managerial search. Collins spent the 2010 season as minor league field coordinator with the organization.
- The Rockies have not expressed interest in Brandon Webb, tweets Troy Renck of the Denver Post.
- Armando Galarraga qualified as a Super Two, which puts him in a unique spot according to MLB.com's Jason Beck.
- Anthony McCarron of The New York Daily News reports that Royce Ring has elected free agency after being outrighted off the 40-man roster by the Yankees (Twitter link).
- Former Yankee right-hander Darrell Rasner has signed a one-year deal with an option for 2012 with the Rakuten Golden Eagles, reports Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker. Rasner has played in Japan since 2008.
- Heyman spoke to Adrian Gonzalez's agent, who mentioned Joe Mauer, Mark Teixeira, and Ryan Howard are contract comparables (Twitter link). It's pretty clear that they're seeking upwards of $22MM annually.
- Meanwhile, Padres GM Jed Hoyer has spoken to Jerry Hairston Jr.'s agent about bringing the utility player back to San Diego next season according to MLB.com's Corey Brock. Hairston has indicated that he'd like to return to the team.
- Ken Davidoff of Newsday tweets that a competing executive sees the Nationals signing Carlos Pena. The team is emphasizing defense, which Pena excels at, and GM Mike Rizzo has a strong relationship with his agent Scott Boras.
- Adam Kilgore of The Washington Post hears from a source close to the team that the Nats will in fact pursue Brandon Webb this offseason. We heard rumblings about potential mutual interest between the two sides last month.
- Boras indicated that he's received "a lot of early calls" about Magglio Ordonez according to MLB.com's Jason Beck. If the outfielder is going to return to Detroit, it won't happen quickly; he and Boras are going to see what the market has to offer.
O’Dowd On Payroll, De La Rosa, Gonzalez
Rockies GM Dan O’Dowd told readers of the Denver Post that he’d like to trade for top players, but is not willing to sacrifice significant organizational depth to make an acquisition. Fans wanted to know whether Zack Greinke could be pitching in Colorado, but O’Dowd chose not to comment specifically on the Royals ace. Here are some more noteworthy comments from the GM:
- The Rockies are likely to have a similar payroll next year, but they could go a little higher than $85MM.
- The team is “actively engaged” in talks with Jorge de la Rosa’s representatives. It won’t be long before the lefty can negotiate with all 30 teams.
- The Rockies would like to lock Carlos Gonzalez up long-term, but O’Dowd pointed out that it’s a “two-way street.” Scott Boras represents Gonzalez, so it probably won't be easy for the Rockies to sign him to an extension. There's no rush though – Gonzalez is under team control through 2014.
Blue Jays Acquire Miguel Olivo, Decline Option
10:48pm: The Blue Jays have declined the option on Olivo, according to a team press release. Toronto will be responsible for paying Olivo's $500K buyout and the catcher is now a Type B free agent.
9:15pm: The Rockies have traded catcher Miguel Olivo to the Blue Jays in exchange for cash considerations or a player to be named later, according to a press release from Toronto.
The Blue Jays have until midnight to decide whether to exercise Olivo's $2.5MM option for 2011. The veteran is a Type B free agent, meaning that he could potentially net the Blue Jays a compensatory draft pick if they decline the option, offer arbitration, and see him decline to sign elsewhere. Shi Davidi of The Canadian Press tweets that the Blue Jays could potentially wind up with eight picks inside of the top 50 selections in this year's draft. Toronto may get two picks for Scott Downs, two for Jason Frasor, and one each for John Buck, Kevin Gregg, and Olivo in addition to their own.
It would seem that the Blue Jays now have a glut of catchers as Olivo will join fellow backstops J.P. Arencibia and Jose Molina in Toronto. On the surface it doesn't seem as though there is a spot left for Buck, whom GM Alex Anthopoulos told could still have a place in Toronto.
Just short of the deadline, Colorado informed Olivo that they would not pick up his option for 2011, writes Troy Renck of The Denver Post. Renck reported yesterday that the Rockies were likely to wait until the eleventh hour to make a decision on Olivo to give themselves time to make a trade. Even if they had decided to exercise the catcher's option, he reportedly wouldn't have returned to Colorado as they planned to trade him either way.
The move clears the way for Chris Iannetta behind the plate though Renck writes that the Rockies will bring in competition. By trading Olivo, the Rockies avoid having to pay the veteran a $500K buyout.
Odds & Ends: Mets, Giants, Gregg, Pujols, Webb
Links for tonight as we remember Hall of Fame manager Sparky Anderson, who passed away today at the age of 76. MLB.com's Marty Noble penned a great article today looking back at the life and career of the universally beloved skipper.
- The Mets announced that GM Sandy Alderson will interview in-house candidates Wally Backman, Terry Collins, and Chip Hale in California this weekend, writes Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com. Earlier today the Mets sat down with Bob Melvin and Dave Jauss in New York.
- Giants GM Brian Sabean says that the club will soon make an offer to Aubrey Huff and will "certainly be in discussions" with Juan Uribe, writes Andrew Baggarly of the Mercury News.
- Expect the Rockies to call Kevin Gregg's agent, tweets Troy Renck of The Denver Post.
- Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols said that he hopes to work out an extension with the club before Opening Day, according to the Associated Press.
- Jonathan Maurer, the agent for Brandon Webb, says that several teams have already contacted him with interest in his client, according to the Associated Press. We learned yesterday that Webb would like to return to Arizona but that seems unlikely.
- After turning down his end of a mutual option today, Scott Podsednik is still in talks with the Dodgers, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
- The Denver Post's Troy Renck says that Jorge de la Rosa hasn't been presented with an offer from the Rockies since last winter when he instead opted to take a one-year deal in arbitration.
- The Mets dropped five players from the 40-man roster today including Jesus Feliciano and Omir Santos, tweets Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com.
Renck On Buck, Lopez, Giambi, Mora
It's already been a busy day for the Rockies what with their declined options on Jeff Francis, Octavio Dotel and (possibly) Miguel Olivo, but the Denver Post's Troy Renck has even more news from the Mile High City. All of Renck's links are from Twitter…
- John Buck is not a candidate to play for Colorado next season, but Renck "knows for a fact" the Rockies like the Angels' Mike Napoli.
- The Rockies are interested in Jose Lopez, among several other right-handed hitters. Lopez had his 2011 option declined today by Seattle and could be non-tendered next month.
- Lopez could be a right-handed option at first base to platoon with Todd Helton, which would make Jason Giambi "unlikely to return." Then again, Renck notes Giambi "really didn't fit last year" in terms of a platoon situation and he was very popular in the clubhouse.
- Melvin Mora wants to come back next season, but there might not be enough playing time available to satisfy him.
- Renck says there's about a "60%" chance that Francis returns to Colorado. He notes that Pittsburgh could be interested in Francis if former Rockies manager Clint Hurdle is hired to manage the Bucs and if Zach Duke is non-tendered.
- It's "uncertain" if Joe Beimel will be pitching for the Rockies next year.
Rockies Decline Option For Miguel Olivo?
7:49 pm: Dan O'Dowd tells MLB.com's Thomas Harding that a decision hasn't yet been made about Olivo's option. "We're allowed to take our time and make a decision tomorrow," O'Dowd said. The Denver Post's Troy Renck tweets Olivo won't be a Rockie in 2011 either way since the option will either be declined or the option will be picked up and then Olivo will be traded. Renck also tweets that the Rockies may be going right down to the deadline for their decision as part of their efforts to explore all possible trade partners for Olivo.
5:38 pm: The Rockies will not pick up their end of catcher Miguel Olivo's mutual option for 2011, reports Tracy Ringolsby of FOXSports.com (Twitter link). Olivo's option was worth $2.7MM (up $200K from $2.5MM due to reaching a games-played incentive) but instead Colorado will pay him a $500K buyout.
With Chris Iannetta in the fold and under contract through 2012, Olivo was expendable to the Rockies even though Olivo had a better season last year and usurped much of the playing time behind the plate. Olivo is likely to seek out a starting job elsewhere, meaning he could be worth a supplementary draft pick to Colorado as a Type B free agent. Olivo hit .269/.315/.449 in 427 plate appearances in 2010.
Rockies Decline Jeff Francis’ Option
The Rockies have declined their $7MM option on Jeff Francis for 2011, tweets Troy Renck of the Denver Post. The move comes as no surprise given Francis' injury-plagued recent history, but as we heard last month, Francis wishes to remain a Rockie and the team has an interest in re-signing him at a reduced price.
Rockies Decline Option For Octavio Dotel
The Rockies declined their 2011 option for Octavio Dotel, according to the AP (via the Miami Herald). The club will pay the righty a $250K buyout instead of a $4.5MM salary.
Dotel split the 2010 season between the Pirates, Dodgers and Rockies. He posted an overall ERA of 4.08 with 10.5 K/9 and 4.5 BB/9 in 68 appearances. Dotel is a Type B free agent, so the Rockies could technically obtain a compensation pick if they offer arbitration and the 36-year-old turns it down to sign elsewhere.