Rockies Rumors: Marquis, Barmes, De La Rosa
More Rockies hot stove info…
- Free agent starter Jason Marquis told MLB.com's Thomas Harding he'd love to return to the Rockies, but "the ball's in their court." Last month, Marquis downplayed an assertion from his friend Jeff Francoeur that the pitcher would love to come to New York. It was a different market, but Marquis' agent snagged his client a three-year, $21MM deal coming off a 6.02 ERA season back in December of '06. 2009 was a typical Marquis season aside from an increased groundball rate.
- We already knew the Rockies had designs on locking up closer Huston Street, who's under team control through 2010. Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post says the Rox also intend to approach Clint Barmes and Jorge de la Rosa about extensions. Barmes is under team control through 2011, de la Rosa through 2010.
- Renck believes the Rockies will offer Street "a three-year deal in the neighborhood of $25MM, which might not be enough to sign him but is a good start." Ah, overpaying for saves.
Rockies Looking For Pitching
Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd told Dave Krieger of the Denver Post something we've heard a lot of recently: there just aren't that many sellers right now. Here are the details from Krieger's column:
- Winners of 17 of their last 19, the Rockies are looking to improve their rotation and their 'pen.
- O'Dowd isn't sure anyone in the NL other than the Pirates, Nationals and Padres would engage in trade talks right now.
- The Rockies could move Jorge De La Rosa to the bullpen if they acquire a starter.
- Garrett Atkins and Yorvit Torrealba are available, but haven't drawn much interest.
Rockies Avoid Arb With De La Rosa
According to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post, the Rockies avoided arbitration with pitcher Jorge De La Rosa by signing him for $2MM for ’09. He can make another $100K based on innings pitched. This is De La Rosa’s second arb year.
Rockies Acquire Jason Grilli, Jorge de la Rosa
The Rockies and Tigers made a swap today. The Rockies get 31 year-old pitcher Jason Grilli, while the Tigers receive 22 year-old pitcher Zach Simons.
Grilli has served as a mop-up man for the Tigers the past two years, eating bullpen innings at a mediocre ERA. The Rox may have been drawn to his typically decent groundball rates.
Simons appears to be a long shot to reach the bigs; he wasn’t among the Rockies’ top 30 prospects.
The Rox also completed their long-rumored deal for lefty Jorge de la Rosa. He’ll jump right into the rotation. The 27 year-old is an interesting arm when healthy.
Odds and Ends: Morris, Moeller, de la Rosa
Let’s kick things off with an odds and ends post today. By the way did anyone watch Max Scherzer‘s debut last night? Damn.
- Dejan Kovacevic notes that even if Matt Morris considered retiring and abandoning his ’08 salary, the Players Association would’ve strongly objected.
- Rays Senior VP of Baseball Ops Gerry Hunsicker indicates that the team will spend money to improve the team if they’re still contending a few months from now.
- According to Jon Heyman, catcher Chad Moeller will remain with the Yankees.
- Another fine piece from Bob Nightengale of USA Today (hat tip to ShysterBall). The article discusses the pros and cons of young players leaving money on the table in exchange for security.
- The Rockies may complete their long-rumored Jorge de la Rosa acquisition. The Rox have question marks in the rotation after Aaron Cook and Jeff Francis.
- Good point from Ken Davidoff – the Phil Hughes/Johan Santana question can’t be answered yet.
Rockies Likely To Get de la Rosa
According to Tracy Ringolsby, the Rockies are likely to receive pitcher Jorge de la Rosa from the Royals as the player to be named later in the Ramon Ramirez deal. The Rox will have him start at Triple A now that he’s cleared waivers and accepted his minor league assignment. He went unclaimed partially because of his $1.025MM salary.
De la Rosa, a southpaw, turns 27 in a few days. He hit the DL in August with an elbow strain. He was also affected by a bruised thumb. His fastball averaged 92.3 mph in ’07, not bad for a lefty.
Rockies Want De La Rosa As PTBNL
Last Wednesday, the Royals acquired Ramon Ramirez from the Rockies for a player to be named later. Well, later appears to be now as the Rockies have expressed interest in Jorge De La Rosa assuming he clears waivers and accepts the assignment. For more clarity, Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star breaks down why it wasn’t just a straight trade of Ramirez for De La Rosa:
"Any club claiming De La Rosa on waivers would be on the hook for his $1.025 million salary. He can choose to become a free agent if he clears waivers but would forfeit his salary if he does so. If De La Rosa clears waivers and accepts the assignment, he can be traded as a minor-league player. A player to be determined later can’t be a player on a club’s 40-man roster."
De La Rosa started strong this spring but ended with an 8.03 ERA. After posting optimistic k/9 rates of 8.9 and 9.2 in ’05 and ’06 respectively, De La Rosa has struggled in his move from Milwaukee to the Royals. He throws hard and may find more success in the NL with some more work in minors.
By Nat Boyle
Royals Acquire Ramon Ramirez
According to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post, the Rockies traded reliever Ramon Ramirez to the Royals for a player to be named later. In an accompanying move, the Royals designated Jorge de la Rosa for assignment.
The 26 year-old righty reliever has posted some big-time strikeout rates at various stops. He’s a former outfielder who has bounced around in the Yankees, Reds, and Rockies organizations. He even did a stint in Japan. In 2005, Baseball America described Ramirez’s power repertoire as a 92-94 mph heater, a hard curveball, and a splitter.