Troy Renck Interview Part 2
Troy Renck is the Rockies/MLB beat reporter for the Denver Post. You see his name here often with exclusive rumors and info from his columns for that paper. Troy was kind enough to answer a bunch of my Rockies-related questions for MLBTradeRumors. Below is the second half of the interview; you can read the first half here.
Which pitcher is more likely to be traded this spring, Josh Fogg or Byung-Hyun Kim?
This will play out slowly, not unlike how the Rockies originally ended up with Kim two years ago just as camp broke. Kim is cheaper and his funky arm angle can neutralize a hitter’s park. He hasn’t shown consistency as a starter and is only comfortable in the bullpen as a closer. Fogg’s contract — $3.625 million — complicates any trade. The Rockies brought up his name when acquiring Lopez from the Orioles, but quickly pulled him back.
There was a lot of interest in Chin-Hui Tsao after the Rockies non-tendered him. What do you think of that decision?
From the outside looking in, Tsao’s departure is a headscratcher. He only got $100,000 guaranteed from the Dodgers. But having watched his rehab play out last season, it was clear that Tsao wanted a fresh start. He’s the most talented Rockies’ prospect I have ever seen. But it just didn’t seem like he was every going to escape the black cloud if he stayed in Denver. I’d like to see him have a career given his talent, hardly certain given his two serious surgeries on his shoulder and elbow. Anyway, he definitely wanted a fresh start somewhere else.
The Rockies have more young talent than ever. In your opinion, when does it all gel to create a playoff team?
The farm system, barren for years, is starting to churn out impact players, like Garrett Atkins and Matt Holliday. The key will be able to win and regenerate the young talent as the kids start to make money. If the payroll remains low and Todd Helton isn’t traded, the Rockies are going to face some difficult choices on which young players to keep this offseason. So, it’s difficult to answer when they will make the playoffs because of the roster issues looming. If they win, attendance theoretically increases, inflating the payroll. That would point to 2008 as a playoff year. But it’s too fluid right now for me to predict that with any certainty.
Troy Renck Interview Part 1
Troy Renck is the Rockies/MLB beat reporter for the Denver Post. You see his name here often with exclusive rumors and info from his columns for that paper. Troy was kind enough to answer a bunch of my Rockies-related questions for MLBTradeRumors. Below is the first half of the interview.
Will the Rockies be able to rekindle Todd Helton trade talks with Boston, Baltimore, or another team year? Do you take Todd at his word that he’d veto any deal at this point?
Troy: It’s possible they could revisit talks, specifically with Boston. But Helton’s promise not to accept a trade during the season places a statue of limitations on any new talks. My calculated guess is that trade discussions won’t resurface in earnest until the offseason.
How would you grade Dan O’Dowd’s offseason?
Troy: O’Dowd made a terrific, if not unpopular trade by acquiring Willy Taveras, Taylor Buchholz and Jason Hirsh for Jason Jennings. Hirsh is the key. If he realizes his potential, he could become Jennings at a much cheaper price for several years. Taveras helps in center field, though I am not sure he’s a longterm solution. The preference would be to have more power from that position. Getting Rodrigo Lopez provides a potential innings-eater to ease Jennings’ absence. Lopez struggled mightily last year. The Rockies think he can have success again because he’s not coming off an injury and will be paroled from the AL East.
His best under-the-radar move was adding Brian Lawrence, who, if healthy, could give the rotation a jolt in May.
Rockies Monitoring Pavano
Troy Renck of the Denver Post reports that the Rockies are keeping a close eye on Carl Pavano‘s situation in New York, prepared to swoop in if he’s pushed out. Colorado will be scouting the 31 year-old righthander this spring.
Renck believes the Rockies might only have to pay $10-12MM of Pavano’s remaining $22MM for the next two seasons. Dan O’Dowd could ship out Josh Fogg or Byung-Hyun Kim to further balance salaries as well as create some room for Pavano. As it stands, the Rockies have quite a bit of starting pitching depth. Several promising youngsters might not be able to crack the rotation this spring unless some trades are made.
Helton Talks To Resume?
Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe talked to four baseball officials about the failed Todd Helton trade. The majority (three, I guess) agreed that the Rockies and Red Sox would rekindle talks in spring training.
Helton, however, has told the Rockies he is prepared to veto all future trades. Will he bend from that stance if the Red Sox and Rockies come to an agreement? I would expect Colorado to lessen their demands a bit if they can get this thing done before the seasons starts.
Helton Talks To Resume?
Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe talked to four baseball officials about the failed Todd Helton trade. The majority (three, I guess) agreed that the Rockies and Red Sox would rekindle talks in spring training.
Helton, however, has told the Rockies he is prepared to veto all future trades. Will he bend from that stance if the Red Sox and Rockies come to an agreement? I would expect Colorado to lessen their demands a bit if they can get this thing done before the seasons starts.
Pirates Sign Dan Kolb
UPDATE: And the Pirates won the Kolb derby. It’s a minor-league deal but he will make $1.25MM if he makes the 25 man roster out of spring training.
Did I just write that? A couple of clubs are bidding for the services of 32 year-old reliever Dan Kolb. Last year, Kolb rejoined the Brewers and continued his low-strikeout, high groundballing ways. It resulted in a 4.84 ERA. Kolb’s agent is talking up his durability and second half (2.75 ERA in 19 innings).
The Rockies, perhaps intrigued by Kolb’s home run prevention, have made an offer. Dan O’Dowd is trying to play it cool. The Pirates have an offer out as well, and Dejan Kovacevic says Kolb wants a Major League deal. Kolb hopes to be the setup man in Pittsburgh.
Pirates Sign Dan Kolb
UPDATE: And the Pirates won the Kolb derby. It’s a minor-league deal but he will make $1.25MM if he makes the 25 man roster out of spring training.
Did I just write that? A couple of clubs are bidding for the services of 32 year-old reliever Dan Kolb. Last year, Kolb rejoined the Brewers and continued his low-strikeout, high groundballing ways. It resulted in a 4.84 ERA. Kolb’s agent is talking up his durability and second half (2.75 ERA in 19 innings).
The Rockies, perhaps intrigued by Kolb’s home run prevention, have made an offer. Dan O’Dowd is trying to play it cool. The Pirates have an offer out as well, and Dejan Kovacevic says Kolb wants a Major League deal. Kolb hopes to be the setup man in Pittsburgh.
Rockies Approached O’s About Helton
Here’s a new one: the Rockies approached the Orioles several weeks ago to try to interest them in Todd Helton. The Orioles balked when the Rockies suggested they pay a significant portion of Helton’s insane contract.
Surely the Orioles realized they’d have to pay at least $30MM over the next five years.
Rockies Approached O’s About Helton
Here’s a new one: the Rockies approached the Orioles several weeks ago to try to interest them in Todd Helton. The Orioles balked when the Rockies suggested they pay a significant portion of Helton’s insane contract.
Surely the Orioles realized they’d have to pay at least $30MM over the next five years.
Hope Of Renewing Helton Talks?
According to Jeff Horrigan of the Boston Herald, the Red Sox and Rockies did not speak yesterday and Boston has no intention of restarting negotations regarding Todd Helton.
On the other hand, Buster Olney recalled yesterday the deals for Chuck Knoblauch, Roger Clemens, and Ken Griffey Jr. All of the trade talks were supposedly dead but renewed later in spring. It seems that the Red Sox and Rockies weren’t terribly far apart, so if one side decides to give a little they could still figure out a deal. The Red Sox appear to be in the catbird seat, so I think the Rox would have to make further concessions. Maybe after Theo settles down with his new wife he’ll get re-engaged.
Of course, Helton could squash the whole idea with his no-trade clause.