By Tim Dierkes | at
It’s a day later than expected, but the Rockies have signed catcher Javy Lopez. He gets $750K, non-guaranteed. The total possible value is $1.6MM. I kind of understand the signing – teams are always reluctant to turn a pitching staff completely over to a rookie catcher (Chris Iannetta) while Yorvit Torrealba finished ’06 on the 60-day DL with a strained shoulder.
Lopez has caught just 38 games over the past two seasons, so the 36 year-old will have to get into shape if he wants playing time.
By Tim Dierkes | at
Javy Lopez is expected to sign with the Rockies on Monday, according to the Denver Post. Lopez will be in the catching mix with Chris Iannetta and Yorvit Torrealba.
I hate to see young Iannetta blocked, but Lopez only caught 38 games last year and 28 the year before. Torrealba, meanwhile, needs to prove his health after ending ’06 on the 60-day DL for a strained shoulder. He’s played in the Venezuelan Winter League recently.
By Tim Dierkes | at
Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post runs down the reasons the Rockies are the favorite for free agent pitcher Brian Lawrence: he wants to pitch in the NL West, and he grew up in Colorado. Conversations are ongoing between Colorado and the soft-tossing righty. The Giants and D’Backs could be interested as well. While Lawrence is a year older and right-handed, is he otherwise much different than Mark Mulder right now?
Additionally, Rodrigo Lopez is a possibility for the Rockies’ rotation. It’s also been revealed that the Rockies are one of the six teams in on Chris Reitsma, along with the Reds. And talks with Javy Lopez will be reignited this week.
By Tim Dierkes | at
Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports that Dan O’Dowd and Bill Stoneman have renewed the Todd Helton trade talks that died at the winter meetings.
Even if Helton’s contract was pared down to $45MM over the next five seasons, the Angels are concerned about the first baseman’s health. It seems that the Rockies could still snag Casey Kotchman and Erick Aybar in the deal – a sweet bounty in itself. Kotchman is healthy again and Aybar would give the Rox a shortstop surplus. Perhaps Aybar, a genius with the leather, could convert to center field.
Helton would have to approve a trade to L.A. Meanwhile, the Denver Post has basically the same info, but is careful to label a trade a "longshot."
By Tim Dierkes | at
Ken Rosenthal reports that the Astros have acquired Jason Jennings and Miguel Asencio from the Rockies. In return, the Rockies will get Willy Tavares, Jason Hirsh, and Taylor Buchholz.
Apparently Kenny Williams wasn’t lying when he said there was nothing to the rumor that the White Sox were going to acquire Hirsh and company for Jon Garland.
Clearly, the Rockies made out like bandits on this deal. I liken it to the trade that sent Adam Eaton to Texas last year. The main difference is that the Astros did not a get an Otsuka-like player back in the deal.
By Tim Dierkes | at
One way or another, Tim Purpura is going to acquire a decent starting pitcher.
The Houston Chronicle reports that Purpura is still in touch with the White Sox, but has a host of other active scenarios as well. In the article, Purpura goes to great lengths to confirm that starter Taylor Buchholz is healthy without actually confirming that he could be involved in a trade. It remains possible that the Astros trade for Jon Garland.
They won’t, however, acquire both Garland and Andy Pettitte. The Astros still have a one-year, $12MM offer out there. The Yankees have already blown that away, even offering to add a second year. It seems clear that Pettitte will only stay in Houston for geographical reasons. Richard Justice
Check out Jose de Jesus Ortiz’s take on the whole Garland thing yesterday. He initially reported the deal was close, based on info from Astros President Tal Smith.
Troy Renck of the Denver Post suggests that the Astros could take another run at Jason Jennings, perhaps offering Jason Hirsh, Willy Taveras, and Dan Wheeler. As I said earlier, that far outweighs Freddy Garcia’s price and they are comparable pitchers.
By Tim Dierkes | at
According to the LA Times, the Angels have declined an offer from the Colorado Rockies for Todd Helton. The deal may have sent Chone Figgins, Casey Kotchman, and Erik Aybar to Coors.
Apparently the Angels had concerns about Helton’s age and health, and perhaps his $141-million contract had a bit to do with it. The Rockies were apparently willing to pick up some of the tab, but it didn’t seem to be enough for the Angels to "risk" it on Helton.
I’m not sure when the Angels will ever trade away their young prospects. They have held onto all of them for a while now, even when the Tejada, Manny, and other big bat rumors were swirling around the MLB. I wonder what it’s going to take for them to part with any of them.
By Adam Howe
By Tim Dierkes | at
Calm down, this is a family trade rumor site. I am referring to Steve Phillip’s latest, found via RotoWorld.
The idea: Jason Jennings to the Cubs; Jacque Jones, Carlos Marmol, Paul Maholm to the Rockies; Brad Hawpe to the Pirates.
If this one is legit, Dan O’Dowd lied to Brad Hawpe’s agent.
By Tim Dierkes | at
Charley Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer-Press writes that the Astros and Rockies are talking to the Twins about righty reliever Juan Rincon. The Venezuelan will be 28 this January. Rincon has always shown good command and kept the ball in the park; he’s seemingly a lock for 75 innings and an ERA around 3.
Struggling with a groin injury, Rincon posted a 1.60 WHIP in the second half and lost his job as the eighth inning setup man in September. Also, he had surgery to remove bone chips in his pitching elbow in October of 2005 and soreness lingered into the start of the season. Back in May of ’05, Rincon earned a 10 game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs. He lost an appeal of the suspension.
Rincon made about $700,000 in 2006; he’ll be a free agent after the 2008 season. As RotoWorld mentioned, a fine fit would be third baseman Morgan Ensberg.
By Tim Dierkes | at
Ken Rosenthal reports that the Cubs have discussed a trade with the Rockies: Jacque Jones for Jason Jennings. The Rox would then spin off Jones in another deal.
While I am not a huge fan of Jennings (I project his ERA at 4.62 next year), this would be a fine move for the Cubs if complemented by a Julio Lugo signing. At the least Jennings would be likely to eat up 200 innings and go deep into games.
My guess is that Jim Hendry would need to include another player to make this work, given the scarcity of decent cheap pitching. It’s a good time to trade Jones, who has two years left on his deal for just $9MM total. He had his best season since 2002 last year.
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