Rockies' Field opts to be a free agent

Tracy Ringolsby, Rocky Mountain News

Published October 13, 2006 at midnight

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The Rockies are hoping right-handed pitcher Nate Field returns to the organization in 2007.

They took a gamble with Field on Thursday, though, so they could open spots on their 40-player roster for prospects they don't want to risk losing for $50,000 in the winter draft.

While they lost left-handed reliever Justin Hampson on waivers to the San Diego Padres, Field and left-handed reliever Mike Venafro cleared waivers and were placed on the Triple-A Colorado Springs roster. Both opted for free agency.

Now comes the waiting game.

"We would like to keep him, but he wants to look around to see what opportunities are available, and I understand that," Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd said.

Field led the Pacific Coast League with 25 saves this season, going 3-3 with a 4.74 ERA.

He was called up in September and was 1-1 with a 4.00 ERA in 14 appearances, striking out 14 and walking five in nine innings.

When he earned a Sept. 8 victory against Washington, Field became the first Denver-born pitcher to win a major league game in Denver.

The Rockies are going to have to create as many as six more spots on the 40-player roster to accommodate prospects they need to protect. The fact they made the move with Field indicates their interest in retaining him.

Any player taken off the 40-player roster after Monday has to be released and cannot be re-signed at that time.

The Rockies had hoped to get Hampson through waivers, but the Padres have 40-player roster space and are expected to add only one prospect to the list this winter.

Hampson went 8-4 with a 3.33 ERA in 33 appearances (13 starts) with Colorado Springs before spending September with the Rockies.

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