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Odds & Ends: Jenks, Polanco, Tate, Marquis

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Some links for Thursday…

Brewers, Rockies, Rays Interested In Zaun

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The Brewers, Rockies, and Rays are showing the most interest in free agent catcher Gregg Zaun, according to Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.  Zaun still has an arbitration offer from the Rays, on which he must decide by Monday.  However, Zaun has said he expects to sign with a team by week's end.  As the FOX writers note, he'd get the most playing time with the Brewers.  Earlier this offseason it seemed that they planned to spend all of their money on starting pitching, but maybe they'll peel off a few million for Zaun.

Rosenthal and Morosi wrote yesterday that the Mariners were pursuing Zaun, but they don't mention the team in tonight's update.

Rockies Rumors: Crosby, Betancourt, Street

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The Rockies' interest in Bobby Crosby might not amount to anything if there are teams interested in him a starter, according to MLB.com's Thomas Harding. The Rockies would like to sign Crosby as a utilityman, but the Red Sox and other clubs that have been linked to the shortstop might be willing to give him a chance to start, which Crosby would prefer. Here are a few of Harding's other Rockies-related rumors….

  • The team will likely have "internal discussions" about signing Chad Tracy as a bench player.
  • The Rockies won't pursue any free-agent relievers until they see what happens with Rafael Betancourt, who has been offered arbitration and is their top bullpen priority.
  • If they can't retain Betancourt, LaTroy Hawkins could be a target.
  • The club would like to re-sign Yorvit Torrealba, but will have to wait for him to test the market.
  • Long-term contracts for Huston Street and Clint Barmes are another priority. One Rockies official says that it's too early in talks with Street to see how far apart the two sides might be.

Rockies, Street Far Apart In Extension Discussions

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The Rockies and closer Huston Street are far apart in discussions for a contract extension, according to ESPN's Buster Olney.  Olney says the Rockies will consider trading Street at the July deadline if an agreement can't be reached beforehand.  Street is eligible for free agency after the 2010 season; he'll be just 27 in August.

Back in early October, Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post speculated "it would take a three-year deal in the range of $25 million to get discussions going" with Street.  In a September article, Renck suggested Street is in line for "at least $7MM in 2010," as he's arbitration-eligible for the last time.  If that's accurate, the Rockies would be paying $9MM per free agent year if they sign him at 3/25.  Would Street be in line for a two-year, $18MM deal if he was a free agent this winter?

Rockies Notes: Crosby, Lowry, Hawkins

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The Denver Post's Troy Renck recaps Colorado's arbitration moves and also fills us in on some of the club's possible free agent moves this winter….

  • The Rockies have some interest in Bobby Crosby as a utilityman and as a right-handed option at third base if starter Ian Stewart continues to struggle against lefties (.178/.278/.386 against LHP in 2009).
  • Noah Lowry, who became a free agent in October, may be brought to spring training on a minor-league contract.  Lowry hasn't thrown a major league pitch since 2007 due to injuries, but was a solid starter (4.03 ERA) in four seasons in San Francisco.  He has a 9.10 ERA in six career starts at Coors Field.
  • Colorado is "expected to call" free agent reliever LaTroy Hawkins, who was a major part of the Rockies' bullpen during their run to the 2007 National League pennant.  The club's interest in Hawkins will only increase if Rafael Betancourt turns down Colorado's arbitration offer and signs elsewhere.  Hawkins should be more appealing also because he did not receive an arbitration offer from the Astros and therefore will not cost a draft pick.

Rockies Offer Arb To Betancourt, Marquis, Not Torrealba, Beimel

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The Rockies offered arbitration to reliever Rafael Betancourt (Type A) and starter Jason Marquis (Type B), according to Tracy Ringolsby of Inside The Rockies.  They did not offer to Yorvit Torrealba (B) or Joe Beimel (B).

The Marquis decision comes as a mild surprise.  Ringolsby says there are indications he will reject the offer in search of a multiyear deal, which would net the Rockies a supplemental pick. 

Betancourt rejected the Rockies' two-year, $7MM offer earlier in the offseason, so this arbitration offer gives them a chance to either keep him on a one-year deal or receive two draft picks for their loss.  The Rox already rejected Betancourt's $5.4MM club option, so they might be thinking he'd get less than that in arbitration.  From Betancourt's point of view, he'll be a lot less attractive to other teams if he turns down the Rockies' offer.

Rockies Eyeing Justin Duchscherer, Miguel Batista

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It's just one line at the end of Troy E. Renck's Denver Post column, but here's a few fresh Rockies targets: righties Justin Duchscherer and Miguel Batista.  Renck says the Rockies are "trolling for pitching depth of all types" given the uncertainty with free agents Rafael Betancourt, Jose Contreras, and Joe Beimel.

Duchscherer is also known to be on the radar of the Pirates and Red Sox after missing the '09 season with hip and elbow surgeries and clinical depression.  We learned what Batista is up to in yesterday's Geoff Baker article for the Seattle Times.  Batista said he's heard from a few contending clubs.

Also of note: MLB.com's Thomas Harding talked to Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd, who indicated there's a slight chance the Rockies reach an agreement with Garrett Atkins in advance of the December 12th non-tender deadline.  Maybe the Rockies could release Atkins and then re-sign him without the restriction of the 80% rule?

Rockies Leaning Toward Keeping Spilborghs

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The Rockies "plan to keep [outfielder Ryan] Spilborghs unless they receive a substantial offer," according to Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.  Despite Spilborghs' first-time arbitration-eligibility and Scott Boras representation, and admirers in the Braves and White Sox, the Rockies do not expect to trade him.

Spilborghs, 30, makes for a solid fourth outfielder.  He slipped to .241/.310/.395 this year, dragged down by slumps in July and September.  He played all three outfield positions, with the most time spent in left field.

With Dexter Fowler, Carlos Gonzalez, and Seth Smith highly likely to stay put, the Rockies will probably have to trade one of Matt Murton, Brad Hawpe, or Spilborghs.  Non-tendering Murton is another possibility.

Davidoff On Lowe, Johnson, Torrealba

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In a blog post, Newsday's Ken Davidoff announces that he'll be voting for Mark McGwire on this year's Hall of Fame ballot, and recaps some other items of note:

  • The Atlanta Braves plan to shop Derek Lowe more aggressively after John Lackey signs somewhere. They're hoping that at that point Lowe looks more appealing than the remaining "risky commodities" on the free agent market.
  • Nick Johnson is searching for a two-year deal.
  • Yorvit Torrealba's suitors include the Blue Jays, Rockies, and Giants. The Rays, Marlins, and Royals could also be in the mix, though they're less likely landing spots for the catcher.
  • Davidoff also warns to take talk of Bud Selig's impending retirement with a grain of salt, since there's nothing to stop Selig from changing his mind by 2012.

Blue Jays Interested In Torrealba

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We learned last week that Yorvit Torrealba was being pursued by his former club, the Rockies, as well as unnamed teams in the National League West and in the American League.  Yesterday, the NL West team was confirmed to be San Francisco, and today Newsday's Ken Davidoff (via Twitter) revealed the American League team to be the Toronto Blue Jays.

MLB.com's Jordan Bastian tweets that the Jays have made "multiple" inquiries about the catcher and are preparing to make an offer.  Torrealba turned down a two-year/$4.5MM offer from Colorado earlier this month.  Since the Giants are interested in Torrealba largely as a stop-gap starting option or as a backup depending on the progress of top prospect Buster Posey , Torrealba might be more interested in Toronto's offer with the promise of regular playing time.

Torrealba became the Rockies' everyday catcher in the second half of last season and in the NLDS after posting a .324/.373/.394 line in 160 plate appearances after the All-Star break.  With Rod Barajas a free-agent, Toronto has a need at catcher with prospect J.P. Arencibia's progress stalled after a disappointing 2009 minor league campaign.  It's unlikely that the Jays' contract offer would greatly exceed Colorado's given the red flags of Torrealba's career .706 OPS and the fact that he only threw out 14 percent of base-stealers last season.

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