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Rafael Betancourt

Rockies Negotiating With Betancourt, Won’t Retain Fogg

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The Colorado Rockies are attempting to bring back setup man Rafael Betancourt, but will not re-sign righty Josh Fogg, according to Troy Renck of the Denver Post.

Renck doesn't have any specific details on the talks with Betancourt, but writes that the Rockies has approached the reliever about a multi-year deal. Betancourt has a $5.4MM option for 2010. However, we heard previously that the club would like to sign him to a restructured deal that pays him less in 2010, but locks him up past next season.

Fogg, meanwhile, signed a minor-league deal with the Rockies before the season, and earned a mop-up spot in the team's bullpen. He compiled a 3.74 ERA in 24 appearances. According to Renck though, the team told the right-hander that they're "moving in a different direction."

Rockies Rumors: Giambi, Betancourt, Peralta

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It sounds like the Rockies will bring back manager Jim Tracy and GM Dan O'Dowd. Here are some more rumors regarding the club's offseason plans:

  • Tracy Ringolsby of Inside the Rockies says the team's coaching staff will return in 2010. Jim Tracy works well with his coaches, though he did not hand-pick them.
  • Ringolsby expects the Rockies to decline the options for Jason Giambi ($6.5MM), Rafael Betancourt ($5.4MM), Yorvit Torrealba ($4MM, $500K buyout) and Alan Embree ($3MM, $250K buyout).
  • Instead of picking up Betancourt's option, the club will try to sign him to a two-year deal that guaranatees less money in 2010.
  • If Torrealba returns, it would likely be for about $1MM.
  • It seems unlikely that Embree will return and Ringolsby says Giambi doesn't fit the Rockies' needs.
  • Troy Renck of the Denver Post reports that reliever Joel Peralta has chosen free agency after being outrighted off the team's 40-man roster.

Odds & Ends: Mariners, Orioles, Indians

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If you're up reading, we're up writing!

  • MLB.com's Jim Street takes questions about the Mariners. Among other things, he believes the Mariners will find a veteran catcher to at least split time with prospect Adam Moore.
  • Street's Baltimore counterpart, MLB.com's Spencer Fordin, believes the Orioles will move Koji Uehara to short relief and look to acquire another veteran starter.
  • The Cleveland Plain-Dealer's Paul Hoynes has very positive things to say about Manny Acta, the new Indians' manager.
  • Manny Corpas looks strong in Instructional League play, according to Thomas Harding of MLB.com, and Corpas will play winter ball as well. A Corpas revival gives the Rockies some alternatives if they don't want to face a big arbitration number from Huston Street, or pick up the $5.4MM option of Rafael Betancourt.

Rockies Notes: Marquis, Betancourt, Giambi

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Tracy Ringolsby of Inside The Rockies examines Colorado's commitments for 2010, and the decisions they'll face regarding potential free agents and arbitration cases. Here are a few of his thoughts:

  • Jason Marquis has said he wants to sign with the Mets and likely won't be back in Colorado.
  • There's a good chance that lefty Alan Embree will retire.
  • Jose Contreras is interested in returning in a middle relief capacity, but Matt Belisle is a younger option for the team in that role.
  • The club would like to retain Rafael Betancourt, but his contract would have to be reworked. Betancourt has a $5.4MM club option for 2010.
  • Behind the plate, Chris Iannetta will be back as the starter. Yorvit Torrealba could return as Ianetta's backup, but probably not for more than $1MM.
  • The team may not have room for Jason Giambi, instead opting to use his roster spot on a right-handed hitter who can play both infield corners.
  • Righty relievers Juan Rincon and Matt Herges could receive minor-league invites.

Rockies Rumors: Betancourt, Marquis, Hawpe

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With the Rockies' 2009 season over, Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post is already discussing 2010.  Here's the latest:

  • Look for GM Dan O'Dowd to receive a new contract soon.  O'Dowd will then attempt to re-sign manager Jim Tracy.
  • Rafael Betancourt has a steep $5.4MM club option for 2010.  The reliever wants to return, and Renck finds it possible.  He says catcher Yorvit Torrealba, who has a $4MM mutual option, is less certain to remain with the team.
  • The Rockies are expected to let free agent starter Jason Marquis leave and replace him with Jeff Francis.  Presumably the Rockies will not offer arbitration to Marquis, a probable Type B free agent.  Jason Giambi, Jose Contreras, and Joe Beimel are possibilities to re-sign.
  • Renck sees Garrett Atkins as a trade or non-tender candidate.  It wouldn't make much sense for a team to acquire Atkins prior to the non-tender deadline in mid-December.
  • Renck considers right fielder Brad Hawpe a trade candidate given the Rockies' outfield depth.  Hawpe will earn $7.5MM in 2010, but he can void his $10MM option for 2011 if traded.  During the last four seasons, Hawpe has posted OBPs of .381 or better and SLGs of .498 or better.  The knock is that he can't hit lefties, but he did a tolerable job against them in 2008-09.  The other knock against Hawpe is his subpar defense.  He still might fit with the Cubs or Mets, in my opinion.

Olney On Rockies, Brewers, Harden, Santana

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Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd tells ESPN.com's Buster Olney that team ownership has never prevented him from acquiring the players he needs. The team had to take on salary to acquire Joe Beimel and Rafael Betancourt, but the relievers have solidified the Rockies bullpen. Olney also suggests the Rockies might not have finished upgrading their pitching staff. Here are a few more rumors:

  • The Brewers haven't put their players on waivers and, even though they've fallen out of contention, they may decide to hold onto everybody and win as many games as possible before the end of the season.
  • Olney guesses that Rich Harden won't make more than $20MM as a free agent. Even after pitching well for nearly a full season last year, Ben Sheets wasn't seeing offers in the Oliver Perez range, so I wonder how many teams would offer Harden a multi-year deal given his injury history.
  • The Yankees and Red Sox wondered about Johan Santana's elbow when they considered dealing for him after the 2007 season. In a separate report, Olney says Santana won't likely need serious surgery, but Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post says the Mets haven't ruled surgery out.

Angels Rumors: Betancourt, Abreu, ‘Pen

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A few Angels rumors, from Bill Shaikin of the LA Times:

  • The Angels tried to acquire Rafael Betancourt before the Indians dealt him to Colorado yesterday.
  • Manager Mike Scioscia says he wants Bobby Abreu to return next year. The 35-year-old outfielder will become a free agent after the season.
  • The Angels could add an ace pitcher, but adding a reliever seems more likely. 

Rockies Acquire Rafael Betancourt

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2:52pm: Troy Renck of the Denver Post says the Rockies traded Single A pitcher Connor Graham to the Indians for Betancourt.

2:32pm: Ed Price of AOL FanHouse says the Rockies acquired Rafael Betancourt from the Indians.

1:01pm: MLB.com reports that the Rockies will trade for right-handed bullpen help today. We'll update you as information becomes available.

Rosenthal Roundup: Rays Could Make Big Move, Red Sox Out On V-Mart

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Ken Rosenthal's latest is seemingly at odds with the report we noted earlier from Bill Chastain that the Rays will not be major players at the deadline.

"The Rays are engaged in a whirlwind of activity, investigating [Cliff] Lee, [Roy] Halladay and numerous other options — 'major, major stuff,' according to one source," Rosenthal writes.

Other notes from Rosenthal:

  • The Red Sox deals "should eliminate any chance of them trading for Victor Martinez."
  • "The Phillies, Rays, Brewers and Dodgers are on Lee, and the Rangers have expressed continued interest" as well.
  • The Angels are targeting Baltimore's George Sherrill and Cleveland's Rafael Betancourt.
  • The Rockies are after Baltimore's Danys Baez.
  • The Giants want to hold onto Jonathan Sanchez, given Randy Johnson's fragility.

Rosenthal On Lee, Reds, D’Backs, Buchholz

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Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports suggests the Phillies may find Cliff Lee nearly as appealing as Roy Halladay because the Indians lefty makes just $11.5MM through 2010 and Halladay makes over $20MM before the end of next year. Rosenthal says the Phils could package rookie standout J.A. Happ with Carlos Carrasco and Dominic Brown to get the Indians' attention. Here are the rest of his rumors:

  • Though some say the Jays need to acquire Brown or Kyle Drabek in any deal for Halladay, Rosenthal points out that some scouts like Jason Knapp and Michael Taylor just as much.
  • The Reds would like to move some of their expensive starters and relievers to make room for younger pitchers, Rosenthal says. 
  • Bronson Arroyo, Aaron Harang and Francisco Cordero make enough to scare some suitors away, and while a salary swap is possible, Rosenthal says the Reds are more likely to make offseason deals. 
  • Jon Garland, Doug Davis and Carl Pavano are drawing little attention. Teams' unwillingness to take on salary limits interest in the two D'Backs starters.
  • Michael Wuertz and Rafael Betancourt are drawing "heavy attention," but the A's seem likely to keep Wuertz.  
  • It would be tough for the Angels to give Brandon Wood up for George Sherrill, especially since Wood could start at third next year if the team doesn't re-sign Chone Figgins. 
  • It seems unlikely that the Red Sox would trade Clay Buchholz for Victor Martinez. If he's moved at all, Buchholz would likely be dealt for a premium young hitter.  
  • Orlando Cabrera's hitting better and he could interest the Mariners, Cardinals, Twins, Reds and Mets.  
  • The Mariners are one of many teams interested in Josh Willingham. 
  • The Rockies are reluctant to deal Ryan Spilborghs, and refused a Phillies offer that included two quality prospects. 

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