Yankees Considering Helton?
For all the talk of how the Yankees have changed, the team went back to its old brute force spending approach to add the one available free agent difference-maker in Roger Clemens. Ten games behind the Red Sox and in third place, it seems they may be considering another expensive acquisition. According to Mark Healey of Gotham Baseball, the Yanks are considering acquiring Todd Helton to play first base. The Rockies might have to accept a contract in return, perhaps Kyle Farnsworth‘s. I would except a Helton deal to resemble the Bobby Abreu trade, where the Yankees mostly provide salary relief rather than players.
The Yankees’ offense has been kind of average in May. However, the .262/.347/.460 line they’ve gotten from Josh Phelps and Doug Mientkiewicz is about league average for the position. It’s far from a major need.
Aside from the Angels, there aren’t many teams that could take on Helton’s contract or even compete for his services. In contrast, one Rockie likely to be coveted by is closer Brian Fuentes. Healey says he’s on the Yanks’ radar as well. Fuentes is a 31 year-old lefty with 75 career saves. He’ll be a free agent after the 2008 season.
Helton Meets With Rockies’ Owner
Take it for what it’s worth – Rockies first baseman Todd Helton met with team owner Charlie Monfort on Thursday but declined to comment on the nature of the conversation. In the opinion of Buster Olney:
"If the Red Sox and Rockies rekindled trade talks, getting a deal done might take about 3.4 seconds, because there was already a structure in place and both sides would have great reason to be motivated to get this done."
And Ken Davidoff of Newsday mentioned today:
"The widespread industry belief is that the Red Sox and Rockies will re-ignite trade discussions involving Todd Helton. The two clubs remain stalled in a game of chicken. Boston doesn’t want to give up any young players with potential, with only expensive veterans Mike Lowell and Julian Tavarez on the table, and the Rockies don’t want to hand over Helton in a straight salary dump."
The Red Sox remain in the catbird seat with this potential deal, as Helton is not a strong need for them in any way. They can just sit back and see if the Rockies cave and pay $40-45MM of his contract to get Manny Delcarmen.
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.
Todd Helton Trade Update
UPDATE: An official statement has been released: the trade talks are dead. So many wasted words on papers and blogs. Oh well.
UPDATE: The Rockies don’t want to pitch in more than $36.6MM, so the Red Sox are reluctant to part with Delcarmen or Hansen in the deal. And the Red Sox aren’t happy with the Rockies’ leaking of Tavarez and Lowell’s names. Of course, the Red Sox were the ones who pulled the plug on the Larry Bigbie deal of ’05 at the last minute.
Let’s see what’s new in the Todd Helton saga.
First off, Josh Beckett admitted to watching Fever Pitch. Ouch. Michael Silverman indicates that the Red Sox still haven’t seen an offer they consider serious. Helton wants the deal done before spring training or not at all. He’d be happy to play in Boston.
The Denver Post tells us that Rockies GM Dan O’Dowd returns today from family matters to resume trade negotiations. The Post goes further than the before spring training thing, saying that Helton will veto any deal done after this week. The Rockies still want one or two of Hansen, Delcarmen, and Ellsbury. The Red Sox are more into the Tavarez/Lowell salary dump idea.
Buster Olney adds that the Rockies will make this trade if Delcarmen is included.
Latest On Todd Helton Trade
UPDATE: Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News says the Rockies are demanding an elite prospect from Boston, which might hold up the deal. The Rox have agreed to pick up $40MM, but want one of Daniel Bard, Manny Delcarmen, Craig Hansen, Clay Buchholz, or maybe Jon Lester. Fat chance on Buchholz or Bard.
Tons of Todd Helton stories in today’s papers; let’s see if there’s anything new.
Michael Silverman posted this info yesterday but I didn’t mention it: the Rockies are the driving force behind this deal. Makes sense, given that Boston has no strong need for Helton and shouldn’t give up a lot of young talent. The Rockies have made proposals, but the Red Sox have rejected all of them. Silverman mentions most of the names we heard yesterday: Craig Hansen, Manny Delcarmen, Julian Tavarez, Mike Lowell.
Nick Cafardo mentions that back in November, the talk was about a Helton for Manny Ramirez trade. Not sure how that would make sense for Boston. Cafardo says the current talks don’t include Manny. He says the Rockies want one or two young players who can help soon.
The Denver Post says Helton wants a deal made soon, if it happens. He may or may not have imposed a deadline on the Rockies. He confirmed his interest in Boston to the paper.
The New York Daily News says the Red Sox are insisting on the inclusion of Matt Clement and Lowell. Clement will pitch by the All-Star break in the best case scenario after September shoulder surgery. Bill Madden’s source says the essence of a deal is in place, and the Rockies have agreed to eat half of Helton’s contract.
Red Sox Discussing Helton Trade
UPDATE: Tracy Ringolsby says the Rox would absorb more than half of Helton’s contract, if they get the players they want. Helton would also consider trades to Atlanta or St. Louis, but those teams aren’t interested. Boston has proposed the inclusion of Mike Lowell and former Rockie Julian Tavarez.
Also, Colorado’s CEO acknowledged the talks that will continue into next week. He also called Helton’s contract fair, so it’s hard to take his words at face value.
Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post has the scoop: the Red Sox are discussing a Todd Helton trade with the Rockies. Helton has said in the past that he’d consider waiving his no-trade to play in Boston; he’s aware of the current negotiations.
Renck reports that the Rockies like Manny Delcarmen and Craig Hansen and are willing to eat some salary. Meanwhile, Buster Olney mentions that talks began last fall between the two clubs. Olney speculates that the Red Sox might need Matt Clement included. He also feels that Kevin Youkilis and/or Mike Lowell might be part of such a deal. However, third base is well-blocked in Colorado.
Ken Rosenthal chimes in, mentioning that money is the main holdup in a deal. The Rockies would receive Hansen, and hope to get Jacoby Ellsbury too. A couple of sources told Rosenthal that Lowell is not in the deal.
As I mentioned before, Helton is probably worth half of his remaining five year, $90MM contract at best. I would imagine the Rockies would have to throw down $20MM at least.
If the Red Sox could somehow keep Youkilis while adding Helton and Drew, their offense would become an unstoppable wall of OBP not unlike the Yankees.
Over at RotoAuthority, I have a look at Helton’s possible replacement in Colorado.
Rockies Remain Open To Helton Trade
When the Rockies spoke to the Angels about a possible Todd Helton trade in December and at the winter meetings, it represented a change in philosophy regarding their expensive first baseman.
Rockies owner Charlie Monfort publicly admitted yesterday that the Rockies are exploring trading Helton because allocating 30% of payroll to one player isn’t wise. Dan O’Dowd, the game’s second worst GM according to Dayn Perry, will have his work cut out for him. Helton is due $90 million over the next five seasons (an AAV of $18MM). PECOTA values him at just $31.7 million over that same time period. There seems to be no way the Rockies can unload Helton’s salary without eating $30MM or so.
Angels, Rockies Renew Todd Helton Discussion
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."