By Tim Dierkes | at
According to Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News, the Rockies are "working toward finalizing a deal" with Kip Wells. Ringolsby says Wells could give the Rockies flexibility, acting as the fifth starter or a reliever as needed. I imagine he’s looking for $3MM or so one a one-year deal.
Ringolsby adds that the Rockies are targeting Luis Vizcaino and seem willing to go to two years on him. Vizcaino’s agent, Bean Stringfellow, indicated recently that the Viz was looking for three or four.
By Tim Dierkes | at
The long-rumored three-year extension for Aaron Cook is now complete, according to MLB.com’s Thomas Harding. The sinkerballer gets $30MM to cover the 2009-11 seasons. He’s also got a mutual option for 2012. Some of the money is a bonus going toward 2008, as Cook was set to earn only $4.5MM.
Cook turns 29 in February. He posted a 4.12 ERA in 25 starts in ’07, ranking fourth in the league with a 57.9% groundball rate. Cook and fellow rotation anchor Jeff Francis are both locked in through 2011 now. The Rockies are still trying to find someone to replace Josh Fogg, who is likely to land elsewhere this winter.
By Tim Dierkes | at
Aside from the aforementioned Fukudome stuff, Tom Krasovic has some trade rumors to discuss in today’s article.
By Tim Dierkes | at
With LaTroy Hawkins out of the picture, the Rockies have turned their attention to Shawn Chacon, Luis Vizcaino, and Kip Wells.
The Rockies could offer Chacon familiarity and a one-year deal. They wouldn’t offer him a chance to start, which he might get elsewhere. It’s been said he seeks three years. Matthew Cerrone says the Mets, Tigers, Astros, and Brewers have expressed interest in the 30 year-old.
Vizcaino is looking for Linebrink money, which doesn’t seem like something the Rox would do. Well is trying to reinvent himself as a setup man, and a one-year, $2.5MM deal could be an interesting bargain play.
By Tim Dierkes | at
UPDATE, 12-10-07 at 8:41am: It’s a done deal, pending a physical. Having watched LaTroy implode firsthand as the Cubs’ closer, I’m skeptical as to whether he can succeed in New York. But the risk is low.
FROM 12-9-07 at 3:27pm:
Ken Rosenthal reports that the Yankees are close with LaTroy Hawkins on a one-year deal worth $3.75 million. If this proves true, the Yankees will have beat out the Rockies and Rangers for Hawkins. The signing comes as rather strange, being a one-year deal for a soon-to-be 35-year-old.
After a couple of stellar years with the Twins and the Cubs, Hawkins has been average in terms of ERA. He had a decent season last year, posting a 3.42 ERA in 55.1 innings, though he struck out only a batter every other inning, give or take. He did keep his walks low.
Apparently, the Yankees liked the idea of Hawkins on a one-year deal, rather than Luis Vizcaino for three or four. Vizcaino had a solid three months for the Yankees in 2007, but also had three months where he got beat around pretty bad.
After missing out on Hawkins, the Rockies are reportedly looking at Vizcaino.
–Joe
By Tim Dierkes | at
Some hot news tonight…OK, not really. The Rockies improved their offer to LaTroy Hawkins tonight, proposing a slight raise.
Hawkins made $3.25MM in 2007, and the Rockies declined a $3.75MM option on him for 2008. Sounds like they’ll have to come in around the option price to keep him. Even worse, they already paid him a $250K buyout. So it was an effective $3.5MM that they passed on. That’s right around the amount the Yankees reportedly offered.
I might be missing something, but it seems like the Rockies didn’t handle this as well as they could have.
By Tim Dierkes | at
UPDATE, 12-7-07 at 8:19pm: Troy E. Renck says this deal is done, and right now it’s for a player to be named later. Dan O’Dowd said he wasn’t eating any of the $2.15MM owed to Carroll, so that’s some pocket change to put toward a free agent reliever. Yes, I just referred to two million dollars as pocket change.
FROM 12-7-07 at 9:46am:
Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News says the Rockies are set to trade utility infielder Jamey Carroll to the Indians. It was to be for minor league starter Sean Smith, but that part has changed. The teams will talk today and figure out the return. The Rockies will save a few million bucks by moving Carroll. The Rox previously offered Carroll to the Indians for Josh Barfield, by the way.
As for their second base vacancy, Tadahito Iguchi and David Eckstein remain on the radar. There are complications with both.
Iguchi is said to want three years, but could settle for two. He likes the idea of playing second base, and the Rox are the current suitor offering that (though the Orioles could enter the picture). However Iguchi’s agent told Ringolsby that replacing countryman Kaz Matsui concerns Iguchi.
As for Eckstein, he’s said to want four years. I could see him settling for three, but two would be a pretty big concession.
By Tim Dierkes | at
The execs may be on a plane home right now, but the writers are still filing all sorts of rumors. Here’s Ken Rosenthal’s latest piece.
By Tim Dierkes | at
UPDATE, 12-6-07 at 12:57pm: According to Thomas Harding of MLB.com, David Eckstein is now a Rockies’ target for second base. They talked to Mark Loretta today, also. Harding adds that the holdup on the Cook deal is the amount of a fourth-year option.
FROM 12-6-07 at 12:21pm:
The Denver Post’s Troy E. Renck has a lunchtime Rockies update.
By Tim Dierkes | at
UPDATE, 12-6-07 at 12:20am: Troy Renck says that if the Rox do acquire a second baseman, Dan O’Dowd is ready to trade both Clint Barmes and Jamey Carroll. The Cardinals, Marlins, and Indians would be suitors for those two.
FROM 12-5-07 at 10:09pm:
MLB.com’s Thomas Harding checks in with a slew of new Rockies rumors.
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