Helton to Red Sox is far from a done deal

Rockies insisting elite prospect be included in trade

Tracy Ringolsby, Rocky Mountain News

Published January 29, 2007 at midnight

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Renewed talks about a trade in which the Rockies would send first baseman Todd Helton to the Red Sox hit another snag Sunday as the Rockies remained firm in their demand that one of the elite prospects in the Boston system be included if a deal is made.

The two teams have scheduled a conference call this morning to see if they can find common ground, according to a source close to the situation.

Helton, meanwhile, said he had no complaints if the deal falls through. He has indicated he would approve a trade to Boston, but he said his preference is to retire with the Rockies, the team that signed him as a No. 1 draft choice out of the University of Tennessee in 1995.

"Why would I want to leave?" he said. "I live here year-round. I finally have my life the way I want it; that's not when you want to leave."

While Helton has been an All- Star and has won Gold Gloves for his defense in Colorado, one thing he hasn't enjoyed is the postseason. The Rockies have been to the postseason only once in franchise history, as the National League wild card in 1995, and haven't even been a late-season contender since Helton came to the big leagues in August 1997.

But he has not given up hope and has been one of the biggest public supporters of the quality of players the Rockies have brought up from their farm system the past three seasons.

"I want to win, but I want to win in Colorado, which is what I have said all along," Helton said. "I also don't want to be in a place where they feel I'm an impediment to the team winning."

And that is where the willingness to consider waiving his no- trade rights to Boston has surfaced. There also has been talk about Helton, who will make $16.6 million this season and has $91.1 million guaranteed over the next five years, being too large a chunk of the Rockies' annual payroll, which, this year, is projected at $54 million. Owner Charlie Monfort was instrumental in igniting the current talks.

General manager Dan O'Dowd originally spoke to the Red Sox in November about a possible deal of Helton for outfielder Manny Ramirez. At the winter meetings in December, the Red Sox pulled out of the conversations but did not rule out revisiting the subject of acquiring Helton.

The talks were resurrected when Monfort was approached by Red Sox president Larry Lucchino earlier this month.

The sides have a general understanding on the Rockies picking up $40 million of what remains of the contract, but there have been problems finalizing the details. The real hang-up, though, has been about the players the Rockies will receive, and if an agreement isn't reached this week, it most likely will die.

There is reluctance among people on the baseball side with both teams to make the deal.

Boston has offered right-handed pitcher Julian Tavarez, who is guaranteed $3.1 million in 2007, and third baseman Mike Lowell, who is guaranteed $9 million, money to help make up the difference between those two salaries and the $16.6 million that Helton will make this season.

In addition, the Rockies gave the Red Sox a list that includes five prime prospects - center fielder Jacob Ellsbury, and right-handed pitchers Daniel Bard, Manny Delcarmen, Craig Hansen and Clay Buchholz - and said one would have to be in the deal. They did indicate they would consider substituting Jon Lester, who underwent chemotherapy for a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma last year, pending medical approval. Boston general manager Theo Epstein has refused to expand his offer past Lowell and Tavarez.

There were indications in Boston that the trade possibility is developing into another power battle between Lucchino and Epstein, who is reluctant to give up young players after trades in the past year in which he sent shortstop Hanley Ramirez and right- handed pitcher Anibal San- chez in a package to Florida, and right-handed pitcher Cla Meredith to San Diego.

The Rockies shouldn't be totally surprised to have a deal with Boston blow up because of front-office politics. It was in July 2005 that the Rockies thought they had a deal in place to acquire catcher Kelly Shoppach and center fielder Adam Stern in exchange for outfielder Larry Bigbie, who was with Baltimore at the time. To make the deal, the Rockies traded outfielder Eric Byrnes to the Orioles for Bigbie, but the Red Sox backed out on the deal.

Initially, the Red Sox said owner John Henry vetoed the deal, but it later turned out that it came down to a difference of opinion in the front office and was cited as one of the reasons that Epstein briefly resigned as GM after the 2005 season.

ringolsbyt@RockyMountainNews.com

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