2007 Rockies Offseason Thread | Rumors/Transactions/Discussion

[CSM]

Since the scout.com forum has apparently been abandoned….

List of players the Rockies are rumored to be interested in: (updated 2/16/07)

Outfielders:
Rocco Baldelli
Brady Clark
Steve Finley
Todd Hollandsworth

Starting Pitchers:
Carl Pavano
Mark Redman

Players the Rockies are interested in retaining:
Mike DeJean

Transactions:
2/12: Signed RHP Matt Herges and RHP Jorge DePaula to minor league contracts.
2/9: Signed OF Alexis Gomez to a 1-year contract; Signed 3B Russ Johnson and 2B Frank Menechino to minor league contracts.
2/2: Signed RHP Josh Fogg to a 1-year contract; Released OF Choo Freeman.
2/1: Signed SS Eric Riggs, 3B Erick Almonte, LHP Matt Ford and RHP Sheng-An Kuo to minor league contracts; Released RHP George Delgado, RHP Sandy Espinosa, 2B Anthony Granato and OF Jesse Brownell; IF Michael Milliron retired.
1/22: Signed RHP Brian Lawrence to a 1-year contract with a team option for 2008; Re-signed C Tino Sanchez to a minor league contract.
1/16: Signed LHP Jeremy Affeldt, OF Matt Holliday, RHP Rodrigo Lopez and OF Cory Sullivan to 1-year contracts.
1/15: Signed OF John Mabry to a minor league contract.
1/12: Traded RHP Jim Miller and RHP Jason Burch to BAL in exchange for RHP Rodrigo Lopez.
1/9: Signed C Javy Lopez to a 1-year contract.
1/3: Signed 2B Jamey Carroll to a 2-year contract with a team option for 2009; Signed RHP Dave Veres to a minor league contract.
12/21: Signed RHP Danny Graves, RHP Jon Huizinga, C Tommy Duenas, C Bryan Opdyke and C Alex Trezza to minor league contracts.
12/13: Signed C Yorvit Torrealba to a 1-year contract; Signed LHP Mike Gallo to a minor league contract.
12/12: Traded RHP Jason Jennings and RHP Miguel Asencio to HOU in exchange for RHP Taylor Buchholz, RHP Jason Hirsh and OF Willy Taveras; Non-tendered RHP Chin Hui Tsao.
12/8: Signed LHP Tom Martin to a 1-year contract with a team option for 2008.
12/7: Selected C Salomon Manriquez in the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 Draft and traded him to Texas for cash considerations.
12/6: Signed RHP LaTroy Hawkins to a 1-year contract with a team option for 2008; Signed C Edwin Bellorin to a minor league contract.
11/30: Signed LHP Jeff Francis to a 4-year contract extension with a team option for 2011; Signed LHP Oscar Rivera and C Geronimo Gil to minor league contracts.
11/29: Signed LHP Eric DuBose to a minor league contract.
11/22: Signed RHP Bobby Keppel and Zach McClellan to minor league contracts.
11/20: Purchased the contracts of RHP Darren Clarke, SS Jonathan Herrera and RHP Ryan Speier.
11/15: Traded SS Gabe Suarez to the Cincinnati Reds for future considerations.
11/13: Re-signed IF Kazuo Matsui to a one year contract.
11/7: Exercised the 2007 option on RHP Jason Jennings.
11/2: Exercised the 2007 option on RHP Byung-Hyun Kim.
10/27: Re-signed RHP Alberto Arias to a minor league contract.
10/13: C JD Closser was claimed off waivers by the Milwaukee Brewers.
10/12: LHP Justin Hampson was claimed off waivers by the San Diego Padres; Outrighted RHP Nate Field, RHP David Cortes and LHP Mike Venafro to Triple-A Colorado Springs.

40-man roster:
Colorado Rockies : Roster : 40-Man Roster

Contractual Obligations:
Cot's Baseball Contracts: Colorado Rockies

[GerryInCS]

Am I correct in seeing that there are only 36 players on the 40 man roster?

[CSM]

Originally Posted by GerryInCS

Am I correct in seeing that there are only 36 players on the 40 man roster?

Yeah, that’s right.

Four spots were left open for possible trades, waiver claims and free agent signings.

[GoldGlove]

This isn't a Rockies rumor, but it definitely pertains to the National League West. Apparently the annual "Manny Will Be Traded!" rumors are starting this year, and just like every year before, ESPN is acting like this is actually the year. However, if the Red Sox sign J.D. Drew, as they are rumored to be close to doing, it adds a little credence to the theory...

According to an ESPN article, the Padres, Dodgers, and Giants are the three main front runners:

The San Francisco Giants, who might have to involve a third team to become a serious player in this market, or perhaps swallow some of Boston's worst contracts, like that of pitcher Matt Clement.

• The San Diego Padres, who can build a deal around reliever Scott Linebrink.

• The Dodgers, who are starved for power hitters, loaded with prospects and could probably offer the best possible package of youngsters, from third baseman Andy LaRoche to pitcher Chad Billingsley to outfielder Matt Kemp. Before the August 31 trade deadline, the Red Sox tried to pry first baseman James Loney from L.A. in return for pitcher David Wells, but the Dodgers refused. The Red Sox may resume their pursuit of Loney and perhaps relief pitcher Jonathan Broxton.

I don't see how a deal built around Scott Linebrink would be enough to get Manny. I really don't want to see Man Ram in the NL West (unless we acquire him..........right) unless it costs a major package of prospects.

[wolf213]

I'm sorta with you GG, but I think the team that lands him (if they do) will end up overpaying which would be good for us in the long run. Giants won't compete, even with Manny they have to many other holes. Dodgers could be scary but will probably trade their whole AAA team for Manny. About the only team I'm worried about is the Padres, but they to might have to part with a Peavy or Young in order to make it happen.

[GoldGlove]

Just when you thought this offseason was proceeding nicely, rumors of giving Jamey Carroll a three year deal surface...

According to Rotoworld:

In addition to trying to lock up Jason Jennings and Garrett Atkins, the Rockies are exploring multiyear deals with Jamey Carroll and Brian Fuentes.

As one might expect, Carroll is going to prove to be the easiest to sign. The soon-to-be 33-year-old would love to capitalize on his fluky season and get a two- or a three-year deal. Although the Rockies are also bringing back Kaz Matsui, Carroll was told he would still start about 120 games next year. Of course, that's going to depend entirely on whether he hits again. Both Carroll and Fuentes are two years away from free agency. Jennings will be a free agent next winter.

Why you would give a utility man a two or three year deal is beyond me. Also, where are these supposed 120 starts going to come from? Is Rockies management assuming that either Matsui or Tulowitzki will fail? Just sign Carroll on a year-by-year basis, and should he either revert back to the real Jamey Carroll form or want more money or a longer deal, just sign some other utility player - there are plenty available every year.

[wolf213]

I really don't have to much of an issue with signing Carroll. In previous years 2b was always viewed as a hole, and this year he seemed to fill that hole rather nicely. Is he a long term solution? No. But for 2 or 3 years at the same price as say Kaz? I think he's fine.

[CSM]

New Article:
http://www.denverpost.com/rockies/ci_4736722

Points:
-Hawpe will not be traded.
-Fogg will most likely be tendered a contract before 12/13.
-Left-hander Eric DuBose was signed to a minor league contract (AAA depth move).

Eric DuBose Info:
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/playe...c-DuBose.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_DuBose

I love this quote:

Dubose was responsible for one of the sporting world's more memorable quotes in 2005. When pulled over for erratic driving by Florida police in March, Dubose was naturally asked to recite the alphabet. "I'm from Alabama," Dubose reportedly quipped, "and they have a different alphabet."

[CSM]

http://www.denverpost.com/rockies/ci_4744440

Just say NO to Jose Mesa.

Please....

[CSM]

The Rockies formally announced today that left-handed pitcher Jeff Francis has agreed to a four-year contract through 2010 with a club option for 2011.

From Purplerow.com:
The Rockies have signed LHP Oscar Rivera (who had previously pitched for Yucatan of the Mexican League) and former Orioles catcher Geronimo Gil to minor league contracts with invitations to Spring Training.

[wolf213]

As mentioned at Purple Row, Rivera has an outside shot of making it as our number 5 starter

[Heltonfan]

I like Rivera quite a bit. 24 years old, 4.74 ERC projection. Older pitchers with ERCs only a quarter of a run lower are getting $8 million a year, and we get this guy on a minor league deal? Beautiful. I'd like to see Fogg brought back for depth, but Rivera should be a nice asset at the back of the rotation.

Here's the story on Rivera from Diario de Yucatán, for the Spanish speakers among us. This caught my eye:

Ricalde, quien confirmó que las Rocas se interesaron por Óscar gracias a las recomendaciones de Vinicio Castilla, dijo que ya comunicó la decisión a Mike Brito, el buscador de los Dodgers de Los Angeles que pretendía llevarse al zurdo a esa organización.

Thanks, Vinny.

[Roxpert]

Here are the complete stats for Rivera's Yucatan team. Notice a familiar name there? Yes, Cherry Creek's Donzell McDonald had a fine year with them. Is he also going to get a minor league invite as a CF possibility?

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today...=desc&pord=asc

[CSM]

The Rockies have reportedly agreed to terms with setup man LaTroy Hawkins on a 1 year contract worth $3.5 million.

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drm...182239,00.html

[BigRapidsJackass]

I like Rivera quite a bit. 24 years old, 4.74 ERC projection. Older pitchers with ERCs only a quarter of a run lower are getting $8 million a year, and we get this guy on a minor league deal? Beautiful.

HF, I can't argue with the conclusion. In today's market it makes a great deal of sense to avoid the proven/expensive mediocrities and take a chance on guys like this.

But c'mon, do we really have anything close to a sufficient sample to calculate MLEs and make projections for Mexican League players? Baseball cube has this guy pitching in the Pioneer League in 1995, so I'm assuming he's at least in his late 20s by now ... he's remained remarkably well hidden from MLB scouts if he's really that good.

By the way, what's the story on David Cortes? Roxpert had mentioned that the Rockies let him go in light of some kind of Hurdle hissy fit, but I've seen him noted lately as a guy still in the Rockies fold. I hope so, since nondescript middle relievers like him seem to be quite popular acquisitions now.

I've said before that LaTroy Hawkins worries me ... the strikeouts seem to be going down fast, and he's at that vulnerable age. Even in today's wild market I'd avoid spending $3.5 million on a guy like him. Kind of reminds me of Jose Mesa. In fact, if you can get Jose Mesa back for a million bucks I'd actually prefer that to Hawkins at 3.5 times more money.

And I'd definitely prefer saving up all the money these guys are getting and signing one starter instead ...