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Rockies Rumors: Helton, Holliday, Matsui

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Troy E. Renck is at it again, with another column updating us on the Rockies’ hot stove situation.

  • Todd Helton isn’t going anywhere, for multiple reasons.  His current $16.6MM salary is less frightening due to playoff revenue, and he’d be unlikely to approve a trade since his current team is already a winner.
  • As Renck reported earlier this week, the Rox will offer Matt Holliday a four-year, $60MM deal to buy out two years of free agency.  Holliday, a Scott Boras client, seems unlikely to accept anything like that.
  • Why would the Cubs be willing to overpay for Kaz Matsui with a three-year deal?  Surely the Cubs know Matsui has hit .256/.305/.370 away from Coors since joining the Rockies?  I don’t buy the speed angle – promote Eric Patterson, then.  I don’t buy the "make Fukudome comfortable angle" – sign a Japanese reliever, then.  The Rockies are fine moving on from Matsui and Yorvit Torrealba if their offers are beat.
  • Renck says Michael Barrett has drawn interest from six clubs so far, the Rockies one of them perhaps.  The Marlins could be another.
  • The Phillies won’t be going after Brian Fuentes now that they have Brad Lidge, but they weren’t pursuing him before Lidge anyway.  After the dust settles on Francisco Cordero and Mariano Rivera, the Tigers, Red Sox, Mets, and Yankees are expected to look at Fuentes.  The Rockies’ demand is aggressive for one year of the closer – a #3 starter and a decent reliever.
  • Matt Herges will look for a two-year deal; otherwise he’ll accept the Rockies one-year offer.
  • Javy Lopez is attempting a comeback!

Latest Rockies Rumors: Matsui, Torrealba, Holliday

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As usual, the Denver Post’s Troy E. Renck has the scoop on all things Rockies.

  • The Rockies have made a two year offer to Kaz Matsui in the neighborhood of $6MM total.  That’s fair; we all know his home/road splits.  The Cubs and Padres were named as other interested parties yesterday, but the Padres have decided to go with internal options at second base.  Why the Cubs would add a second baseman is still beyond me.  They already have Ryan Theriot, Mark DeRosa, Mike Fontenot, and Eric Patterson.  The Cubs’ plan to add speed concerns me.
  • The Rox have also put in a two-year offer to Yorvit Torrealba, for roughly the same $6MM amount.  It sounds like Torrealba will wait to field offers from other teams, chiefly the Mets.  His agent says the Mets’ offer would have to dwarf the Rockies’ for him to consider it.  Renck names Jose Molina, Paul Lo Duca, Jason Kendall, and Ramon Castro as backup options at catcher.  I like the idea of Molina.
  • Scott Boras client Matt Holliday is under Colorado’s control for the 2008 and 2009 seasons, though he’ll start getting quite expensive in arbitration.  The Rockies will make an offer to lock him up for 2008-11 for roughly $60MM.  It’s fair, but with Boras talking in Holliday’s ear he’ll probably wait for free agency in the winter of 2009-10.  They’ll pay lip service to the idea that he wants to stay in Colorado but ultimately he’ll take a seven year, $150MM offer from some other club.  That’s how I see it unfolding, at least.
  • Brian Fuentes is indeed on the market; expect many teams in the mix for him.  While Garrett Atkins won’t be offered a multiyear contract, the Rockies won’t trade him this winter.
  • Finally, the Rockies have an eye on Brett Tomko to fill a swingman role.

Rockies Hope To Lock Up Holliday, Cook

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Their season over, Rockies fans are already worrying about Matt Holliday’s future.  Troy E. Renck notes that the Rockies owner insisted they’ll try to sign him long-term.  As it is, Holliday’s $4.4MM salary will jump to $9-10MM in ’08.  He reaches free agency after the 2009 season, but in 2008 I could see him earning $13-15MM.  Oh, and one more thing – Holliday is represented by Scott Boras.

Holliday has a .364/.425/.662 career line at home and a .273/.333/.448 career line on the road.  Todd Helton at least was a .900 OPS guy even on the road, but Holliday basically turns into Jacque Jones when he’s not at Coors.  Nonetheless Boras is going to be talking $20MM annually for eight years if Holliday reaches free agency at age 30.

Fortunately for the Rockies, Cook is not represented by Boras.  He has a certain $4.5MM option for ’08, and then he’ll be eligible for free agency.  Cook’s agent Joe Bick expects extension conversations within a few weeks.  I could see the two sides settling around the three-year, $33MM pact given to Jake Westbrook.   

Renck’s Latest Rockie Rumors

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Rockies beat reporter Troy E. Renck had the scoop on all kinds of Rockie rumors yesterday; I’m just now getting to it.  Let’s look at some highlights from his column.

  • Renck suggests the Rox take a look at Bob Wickman.  Meanwhile, the Phillies actually inquired but aren’t expected to work out a deal.  The Indians will take a pass.
  • Renck mentions that the Rockies have "long coveted" catcher Paul Lo Duca.  Lo Duca should be there for the signing this winter.
  • The Rockies will have around $45MM tied up in Todd Helton, Matt Holliday, Garrett Atkins, Brad Hawpe, Brian Fuentes, and Aaron Cook for 2008.  Even if the team raises its $55MM payroll, someone has to go.  By the way, locking up Holliday long-term will cost a king’s ransom.  He’s a Scott Boras client.
  • Given the burden of Todd Helton’s contract and his no-trade clause, he may be immovable.  But a .400 OBP is still valuable any way you slice it, so perhaps the Red Sox or Angels will get re-engaged.  Renck believes Atkins and Fuentes are the main trading chips to clear payroll though.  The Angels and Twins could still use Atkins while the Phils, Red Sox, and Yankees have inquired on Fuentes in the past.  Atkins for a Kevin Slowey or Scott Baker just makes too much sense.

Rockies Rumors: Kim, Holliday

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A few small Rockies tidbits from Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post:

  • Part of the reason the Rockies were unable to bring reliever Ron Villone aboard was that they didn’t have room in their budget.  To get some flexibility, they’d love to unload Byung-Hyun Kim’s $2.5MM and get a cheap reliever in return.  Renck mentions that the Rox have kicked the tires on Milwaukee’s recently demoted Jose Capellan. 
  • Scott Boras declared yesterday that there will be no in-season negotiations regarding a multiyear contract for Matt Holliday.  Holliday won’t reach free agency until after 2009, but if he keeps doing what he’s doing he’ll make the most money by going year-to-year.  Another Boras client, Joe Crede, has followed this model.  I believe Crede can compare himself to free agent peers in his final arbitration year after this season.  If you think he’s on par with Adrian Beltre, he might be in line for $10MM.  That might mean a midsummer trade.  But I digress.

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