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O'Dowd not looking for major team fixes

Any transactions likely to be focused, limited

By Tracy Ringolsby, Rocky Mountain News

Published December 3, 2007 at 12:45 a.m.

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Pitcher Brian Fuentes has expressed interest in moving to another club for the opportunity to be its closer. He lost the Rockies' closer role when Manny Corpas performed so well.

Pitcher Brian Fuentes has expressed interest in moving to another club for the opportunity to be its closer. He lost the Rockies' closer role when Manny Corpas performed so well.

Photo by Jeff Gross / Getty Images

Photo by Getty Images / 2006

Photo by Evan Semon / The Rocky

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Five years removed from undertaking a major makeover of the Rockies, general manager Dan O'Dowd is not looking for ways to fine-tune a team coming off the franchise's first National League championship.

With second baseman Kazuo Matsui the only regular who won't be back - he signed a three-year deal with Houston - O'Dowd arrived at the annual winter meetings Sunday afternoon with the ability to make a major deal.

But he's not willing to do something simply for the sake of doing something.

Right-hander Manny Corpas took advantage of a midseason opportunity to close, leaving three-time All-Star closer Brian Fuentes in the eighth-inning role down the stretch. Fuentes has said he wants to be somewhere that will allow him to close, but O'Dowd isn't feeling any pressure to make a deal.

Unless O'Dowd can find a team in need of a closer that wants

Fuentes enough to give up a younger reliever who can step into the setup role, in addition to another young arm that either can step into the back end of the rotation or the bullpen, O'Dowd has no reason to make a deal.

Ownership has given him a payroll that will accommodate Fuen- tes, who is the only proven left- hander in the Rockies bullpen plans.

"We feel we have growth potential for every player on our roster," O'Dowd said.

"As successful as our season was (in 2007), we don't feel anybody did anything above what they are capable of doing. We feel what we have will get better."

That doesn't mean the Rockies won't try to improve, but there's no sense indulging in panic, even when it comes to replacing Matsui.

Rookie Jayson Nix is emerging as the favorite for that job, but the Rockies also have in-house candidates with Jamey Carroll, Clint Barmes and Omar Quintanilla, plus the possibility of creating more offense by giving Jeff Baker and/or Ian Stewart the chance to move to second in spring training.

The bulk of O'Dowd's activity figures to come in January, once the free-agent market shakes down and teams make the Dec. 12 decisions on which players will not be offered 2008 contracts.

"The market has to flush out and we'll see what's there," O'Dowd said. "Just because other clubs jump off bridges (in the free-agent market) doesn't mean we have to."

Rockies talk

General manager Dan O'Dowd isn't expecting to make a deal this week, but he has some available players who will attract interest:

LHP Brian Fuentes: Veteran closer has been moved into setup role because of the emergence of Manny Corpas. The problem is, teams that need closers don't match up well with the Rockies - Detroit, Florida, Houston, Milwaukee.

* INF Jamey Carroll: Attitude and versatility are bonuses. He is guaranteed $2.3 million, including $150,000 buyout on option for 2009.

* SS Clint Barmes: Lost starting job to Troy Tulowitzki. Doesn't figure to be comfortable in utility role.

* CF Cory Sullivan: Backup outfielder who has arbitration leverage.

* 1B Joe Koshansky: Big-time power, but Todd Helton is not going anywhere.

* INF Jeff Baker: Has versatility but is too young to sit on the bench and never has earned the needed opportunity to play with the Rockies.

Of interest

The Rockies have their eyes on: '

* 2B Chris Burke, Houston: Was Rockies target in Jason Jennings trade a year ago, but they took Willy Taveras instead. Expendable now that Astros signed Kazuo Matsui.

* LHP Mark Redman: Made impact in final weeks of 2007 season with Rockies. Would give team a veteran left-handed long reliever, spot starter if he re-signs.

* RHP Steve Trachsel: Free agent has expressed interest in coming to Rockies, aware that he could be a right-handed complement to Redman.

* LHP Will Ohman, Cubs: Ponderosa High School graduate could fill a left-handed middle reliever void in Rockies bullpen.

* LHP Chris Capuano, Brewers: Struggled the last two seasons but is durable and is left-handed.

Overpaid, unwanted

The Giants signed veterans to overpriced contracts, hoping to parlay the final days of Barry Bonds' career into one last division title. It didn't work. The Giants are stuck with contracts - OF Dave Roberts (two years, $13 million), OF Randy Winn (two years, $16 million), C Bengie Molina (two years, $12 million) and 2B Ray Durham (one year, $7.5 million). Those aren't the only overpriced deals teams want to eliminate:

* RHP Matt Morris, Pittsburgh: Picking up Morris and his $10 million guarantee for 2008 was the final straw in the decision to fire GM Dave Littlefield.

* 3B Scott Rolen, St. Louis: He is coming off left shoulder surgery, doesn't get along with manager Tony La Russa and has three years and $38 million left on his contract.

* CF Gary Matthews, Los Angeles Angels: One year into a five-year, $50 million deal, and the Angels signed Torii Hunter. There's not room for two in center field.

* 1B Richie Sexson, Seattle: He's been excess baggage since signing his four-year, $50 million deal that still has one year and $14 million remaining.

Flashy models

There are players on the market that can steal front-page attention:

* LHP Johan Santana, Minnesota: He's a legit No. 1 at the age of 28, but a year removed from free agency. Translation: The Twins want overpayment to give him up, and the team that gets him is going to have to pay to get him locked up long term. The Mets (OF Lastings Milledge) and Yankees (choice of Phillip Hughes or Ian Kennedy) feel they could have the start of a package. The Twins also could shop closer Joe Nathan.

* 3B Miguel Cabrera, Florida: The Marlins believe they can fill voids at catcher, center fielder and starting pitcher in a package of young players for the Manny Ramirez-type hitter. Ramirez scares many because of his weight problems at such a young age.

* RHP Matt Cain or Tim Lincecum, San Francisco: The Giants need a young impact bat, and to get that they must give up one of their promising young arms. Cain would require a deal of a lifetime. Lincecum is a bit more available, but it's going to take a big bat, not a journeyman.

* RHP Dan Haren, Oakland: If A's GM Billy Beane is serious about rebuilding, his work will start with trying to get a package of legit prospects for a proven starter.

* SS Miguel Tejada, Baltimore: New O's boss Andy MacPhail wants to blow up the product and start over. Tejada is a good place to start. He has value, though teams don't feel he needs to move to third.

Who's available

* NL EAST

BRAVES: OF Willie Harris.

MARLINS: 3B Miguel Cabrera, LHP Dontrelle Willis.

METS: OF Lastings Milledge already dealt to Washington.

PHILLIES: No one of consequence.

NATIONALS: RHPs Chad Cordero, Jon Rauch.

* NL CENTRAL

CUBS: RHP Ryan Dempster, now that Kerry Wood has re-signed, OF Matt Murton, LHP Will Ohman, SS Ronny Cedeno.

REDS: OFs Josh Hamilton, Ryan Freel, Norris Hopper, 3B Edwin Encarnacion.

BREWERS: LHP Chris Capuano, RHPs Dave Bush, Claudio Vargas.

PIRATES: LHPs Damaso Marte, John Grabow, RHPs Salomon Torres, Matt Morris, LF Jason Bay.

CARDINALS: 3B Scott Rolen, RHPs Anthony Reyes, Brad Thompson, LF Chris Duncan.

* NL WEST

DIAMONDBACKS: OFs Carlos Quentin, Carlos Gonzalez, 1B Conor Jackson, 3B Mark Reynolds, 1B/3B Chad Tracy.

ROCKIES: LHP Brian Fuentes, 2B Jamey Carroll, INF/OF Jeff Baker.

DODGERS: RHP Chad Billingsley, 1B James Loney, 3B Andy LaRoche, OF Matt Kemp.

PADRES: 3B Chase Headley or Kevin Kouzmanoff.

GIANTS: RHPs Matt Cain or Tim Lincecum, OFs Dave Roberts, Randy Winn, 2B Ray Durham, C Bengie Molina.

* AL EAST

ORIOLES: SS Miguel Tejada, LHP Erik Bedard, C Ramon Hernandez, INF Aubrey Huff, OFs Jay Payton, Jay Gibbons.

RED SOX: OF Coco Crisp, RHP Clay Buchholz.

YANKEES: RHPs Phil Hughes or Ian Kennedy.

RAYS: OF Elijah Dukes.

BLUE JAYS: RHP A.J. Burnett, OFs Reed Johnson, Alex Rios.

* AL CENTRAL

WHITE SOX: SS Juan Uribe, RHP Jose Contreras, 3B Josh Fields.

INDIANS: 3B Andy Marte, LHP Cliff Lee, OF David Dellucci.

TIGERS: OFs Cameron Maybin, LHP Andrew Miller.

ROYALS: OFs Joey Gathright, David DeJesus, RHP Zack Greinke, LHP Jimmy Gobble.

TWINS: LHP Johan Santana, RHP Joe Nathan.

* AL WEST

ANGELS: RHP Ervin Santana or LHP Joe Saunders, C Mike Napoli or Jeff Mathis.

ATHLETICS: RHPs Dan Haren, Joe Blanton, Huston Street, 1B Dan Johnson.

MARINERS: 1Bs Richie Sexson, Ben Broussard, 2B Jose Lopez, OF Wladimir Balentien.

RANGERS: SS Joaquin Arias, C Gerald Laird.

What teams need

* NL EAST

BRAVES: Center fielder to replace Andruw Jones, left-handed reliever.

MARLINS: Catcher, center fielder, starting pitcher.

METS: Top-of-line starting pitcher.

PHILLIES: Starting and relief pitchers.

NATIONALS: Center fielder, shortstop.

* NL CENTRAL

CUBS: Left-handed-hitting right fielder or center fielder, No. 2 starting pitcher.

REDS: At least two starting pitchers and middle relievers.

BREWERS: Closer, left fielder.

PIRATES: Starting pitcher, third baseman with run-production potential.

CARDINALS: At least one starting pitcher.

* NL WEST

DIAMONDBACKS: Starting pitcher.

ROCKIES: Middle relievers, backup center fielder, preferably left-handed hitter.

DODGERS: Starting pitcher, third baseman and center fielder, which would allow move of Juan Pierre to left field.

PADRES: Center fielder, corner outfielder, fourth or fifth starter, second baseman.

GIANTS: Middle-of-lineup hitters, middle reliever.

* AL EAST

ORIOLES: Shortstop, power-hitting outfielder and pitching, but it has to be prospect status.

RED SOX: Top-of-rotation starting pitcher, backup catcher.

YANKEES: No. 1 starting pitcher, bullpen help.

RAYS: Bullpen help.

BLUE JAYS: Starting pitching, but it will be low-price variety.

* AL CENTRAL

WHITE SOX: Center fielder, left fielder.

INDIANS: Run-producing outfielder.

TIGERS: Late-inning bullpen help.

ROYALS: Impact outfielder bat such as Jose Guillen, back of rotation starting pitcher.

TWINS: Third baseman, center fielder, designated hitter.

* AL WEST

ANGELS: Third baseman.

ATHLETICS: Prospects, right-handed-hitting run producer.

MARINERS: One, possibly two, starting pitchers, setup reliever, outfielder.

RANGERS: Center fielder.

Comments

  • December 3, 2007

    8:20 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    croth writes:

    It seems like there is the perfect slot to make a three team trade between the Rockies, Brewers and Mariners.
    Rockies have Brian Fuentes who the Brewers should want. Brewers have Chris Capuano, Dave Bush, Claudio Vargas and Bill Hall(who could play 2nd) who both the Rockies and Mariners could want. And the Mariners have Jose Lopez that the Rockies should be gunning for, they also have LH relief pitchers and a extra outfielder the Brewers would love to get in Waldimir Balentien.
    Seems like a trade like Brian Fuentes and Waldimir Balentien to the Brewers, Chris Capuano & Zach Jackson from the Brewers and Alan Johnson AA/Rox to the Mariners and Jose Lopez & Eric O'Flaherty of the M's and Tony Gywnn Jr. of the Brewers to the Rockies would make everyone very happy.
    That would give the Rockies a 2nd baseman of the future, a backup LH CF'er in Gywnn Jr and a LH reliever in O'Flaherty.
    Brewers would get a closer and a LF. Leaving them Bill Hall to shop.
    Mariners would get 1 starter ready now and 2 more that should be with the club by the end of the year if not sooner.

  • December 4, 2007

    7:08 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    cj1030lee writes:

    The heck with all those young guys. I want Santana. Give up Fuentes, a young pitcher with hype, and mix in Holliday, and/or Atkins, and/or Stewart, and/or Baker, and/or Nix. We can't put all these guys on the field. Might as well get pitching for them.