Rockies Rumors

Odds and Ends: Sisco, Murton, Thigpen

By Tim Dierkes | February 5, 2009 at 12:31pm CDT

Links for Thursday…

Lot of people tossing around the number of unsigned free agents…I have it at about 80, at least if we draw the line at players that are remotely useful. Here’s my list.
Joe Pawlikowski of River Ave. Blues would like to see the Yankees sign Mark Grudzielanek.
Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle says the A’s will attend Andy Sisco’s Friday workout.
Scott Miller of CBSSports.com takes a stab at the All-Free Agent team.
The Rockies did not acquire Matt Murton as a precursor to another deal, Troy Renck learned.
The Blue Jays designated catcher Curtis Thigpen for assignment to make room for Brian Burres.
Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star shows that MLB has done a nice job of keeping player salaries at 40-45% of the game’s revenue in recent years (as opposed to 62% in the NFL).
RotoAuthority looks at how you can combine a Rich Harden type with a Randy Wolf type to create a top ten fantasy baseball starting pitcher.

Rockies Out On Beimel, Looper?

By | February 5, 2009 at 10:06am CDT

THURSDAY, 10:06am: Despite O’Dowd’s comments, Renck says Beimel remains interested in joining the Rockies. However, Beimel doesn’t think much of the Rockies’ offer.

WEDNESDAY, 7:47pm: According to Troy Renck of the Denver Post, the Rockies are no longer pursuing free agent left-hander Joe Beimel.

"We maintained contact with his agent, and our desire was there, but I believe he’s going in a different direction so there’s no reason to keep calling," said GM Dan O’Dowd. Beimel has drawn interest recently from the Diamondbacks, Tigers and Phillies.

O’Dowd also told Renck that the club has not reopened talks with free agent starter Braden Looper. He has recieved interest from the Orioles, but would reportedly prefer to stay in the National League.

Rockies Acquire Matt Murton

By Tim Dierkes | February 4, 2009 at 12:10pm CDT

According to a press release, the Rockies acquired outfielder Matt Murton from the A’s for infielder Corey Wimberly.

Murton, 27, has a career line of .288/.354/.438 in 1002 plate appearances. He’s been involved in two big trades – the Nomar Garciaparra deal in ’04 and the Rich Harden trade last year. Murton spent most of ’08 in the minors and did not show much power.

Wimberly, 25, ranked as the Rockies’ 26th-best prospect in the ’09 Baseball America Handbook. He went unclaimed in the Rule 5 draft in December after hitting .291/.370/.345 in Double A. The speedster is said to be in the Bip Roberts mold, according to BA.

Rockies, Atkins Avoid Arbitration

By Tim Dierkes | February 3, 2009 at 4:07pm CDT

According to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post, the Rockies avoided arbitration with infielder Garrett Atkins by signing him at $7.05MM for ’09. He can earn another $125K if he makes 700 plate appearances (something he’s yet to do). Atkins had submitted $7.95MM, with the Rox countering at $6.65MM.

Atkins, 29, hit .286/.328/.452 in 664 plate appearances last year. He’ll be eligible for free agency after the 2010 season.

Odds and Ends: Hearings, Anderson, Selig

By Tim Dierkes | February 2, 2009 at 2:23pm CDT

Links for Monday…

MLB.com’s Tom Singer looks at the effects of arbitration hearings on players. He found that most players don’t experience a post-hearing performance decline, but they do change teams at the first opportunity.
MLB.com’s Lyle Spencer says the Angels and Ervin Santana are $725K apart with a hearing scheduled for later this month and "no progress" according to GM Tony Reagins.
The Tigers are hopeful about bridging the $950K gap with Justin Verlander.
Athletics Nation’s conversation with MLB.com’s Mychael Urban, Part 2.
Scot Gregor of the Daily Herald wouldn’t be surprised to see the White Sox trade Brian Anderson.
Murray Chass reflects on the Homestead camp for unsigned players heading into the 1995 season.
Commissioner Bud Selig earned $18.35MM in the last fiscal year, according to Eric Fisher of Sports Business Journal.
The latest minor league transactions from Baseball America, including the Nationals’ signing of Alex Cintron and the Rockies’ addition of Scott Munter.
Even with a new stadium, the Marlins will continue to prefer going year-to-year with most players.

Odds And Ends: Hill, Dye, Hinske, Fogg

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | January 31, 2009 at 11:29am CDT

Links for Saturday…

Cameron Smith of the Washington Post thinks the Orioles should pull the trigger on a possible Rich Hill deal immediately.
MLB.com’s Scott Merkin reports that Jermaine Dye remains "unfazed" by all the trade rumors that have involved him this winter.
Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times suggests Dye doesn’t expect to return to the White Sox after 2009.
Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes that Eric Hinske attracted lots of interest. Hinske said eight teams showed "good interest" in him.
Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post likes the Josh Fogg signing because of his clubhouse presence and his price.
Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune heard that the Padres will not offer a contract to Brian Lawrence, Steve Trachsel or Scott Elarton (hat tip to Buster Olney).
Olney heard that the Blue Jays are looking for bargains to stock up their minor league system.

Rockies Ink Fogg To Minor League Deal

By | January 30, 2009 at 5:03pm CDT

According to Troy Renck of the Denver Post, the Rockies have signed Josh Fogg to a minor league contract.

Fogg, 32, went 2-7 with a 7.58 ERA in 14 starts for the Reds last season. The Rox will hope he can get back to his ’07 form, when he finished 10-9 with a 4.94 ERA for Colorado. He’ll first have to win his way onto the roster. Greg Smith, Jorge De La Rosa, Franklin Morales, Jason Hirsh, Greg Reynolds and Matt Belisle are all vying for spots in the starting rotation.

Fogg Leaning Toward Rockies

By Tim Dierkes | January 30, 2009 at 9:02am CDT

According to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post, free agent pitcher Josh Fogg is "leaning toward rejoining the Rockies and expects to make a decision this weekend." Many pitchers are battling for Jeff Francis’ rotation spot while he deals with a shoulder injury. Fogg would join them on a non-guaranteed minor league deal worth less than a million bucks, and he could also get an out clause.

The Rockies had targeted Braden Looper earlier this winter, but can’t afford him now.

Odds and Ends: Kotsay, Redding

By Tim Dierkes | January 29, 2009 at 3:30pm CDT

Links for Thursday…

RotoAuthority ranks the catchers for fantasy baseball.
Dave Cameron reminds us that talented minor leaguers often have delayed success in the bigs.
MLB.com’s Mychael Urban talked to Mark Kotsay, who did not enjoy the free agent experience.
MetsBlog’s Matthew Cerrone transcribes a Tim Redding MLB Network interview, where it was revealed that the Rockies, Pirates, and Orioles had interest before the pitcher signed with the Mets.

Rosenthal On Abreu, Garland, Glavine, Sisco

By Tim Dierkes | January 29, 2009 at 9:14am CDT

The latest from Ken Rosenthal…

The Mariners and Giants are interested in Bobby Abreu, if the price is right. Yesterday Buster Olney suggested that Abreu is willing to take a one-year deal. The A’s and Nationals have other targets, while the Mets, White Sox, and Braves are seen as long shots.
Rosenthal examines the nuances of Jon Garland’s December 7th decision to reject arbitration, saying that it wasn’t an obvious mistake at the time.
Tom Glavine’s agent Gregg Clifton did not attend yesterday’s meeting with Frank Wren; it was a health update and not a contract negotiation. Rosenthal says Glavine figures to seek a Freddy Garcia-like deal. The Braves need to save money to add an outfielder, with Nick Swisher atop their list. The Yankees’ goal in moving Swisher or Xavier Nady would be to recoup prospects.
The Brewers are not interested in projects such as Kris Benson, Jason Jennings, Mark Redman, and Victor Zambrano. They’re just lukewarm on Mark Mulder. Benson is drawing interest from the Dodgers, Rangers, and Cardinals; one exec reviewed his audition as "so-so."
Rosenthal doesn’t seem to buy the idea that Jason Varitek and Scott Boras feared the Red Sox could cut him if he accepted arbitration, noting that Boras client Travis Lee was advised to accept years ago.
The Braves have reservations about re-signing Andruw Jones, who could be a Spring Training cut.
The A’s deal for Russ Springer will be worth more than $3MM plus incentives. They’re also eyeing Brian Shouse and Andrew Sisco as possible pen additions. Sisco, recovering from Tommy John, has also auditioned for the Rockies and Giants.

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