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Cook deal is finalized

Wells pursued; Iguchi reaches deal with Padres

By Tracy Ringolsby, Rocky Mountain News

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

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Aaron Cook agreed to a three-year extension.

Aaron Cook agreed to a three-year extension.

Kip Wells is 17-40 with a 5.51 ERA the past three years.

Kip Wells is 17-40 with a 5.51 ERA the past three years.

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The Rockies made a statement about their long-range plans Tuesday, finalizing a four-year deal with right-hander Aaron Cook, then turned their attention to filling immediate holes, including working toward finalizing a deal with free-agent pitcher Kip Wells.

Cook, second in terms of tenure in the organization to first baseman Todd Helton, was given medical clearance and signed a deal that added three years to the contract he already had in place for 2008. The Rockies bought out Cook's first three years of free agency and have an option for 2012.

Terms were not announced, but sources said the package is worth $34.5 million, including the $4.5 million set for 2008 and a $2.5 million signing bonus that will be paid up front.

“This is the important thing we have done,” general manager Dan O'Dowd said. “Our focus is to try to do this with our own players. And Aaron showed that being a Rockie is very important to him, too.”

With Cook taken care of, O'Dowd turned to working out final details on a one-year contract with the right-handed Wells; agreed to a minor-league deal with left-hander John Koronka; and waited to hear from the agent for right-handed reliever Luis Vizcaino.

Wells, 30, is looking to follow in a long line of pitchers who have come to Colorado and resurrected their careers, including Darren Oliver, Shawn Estes and Wells' former teammate with the White Sox and Pirates, Josh Fogg.

Wells is 64-91 with a 4.63 ERA in his major league career but has gone 17-40 with a 5.51 ERA the past three years, in which he has pitched for Pittsburgh, Texas and St. Louis.

A 1998 first-round pick of the White Sox, Wells turns 31 on April 21 and showed arm strength despite a lack of results with the Cardinals last season.

The Rockies seem set with four starters - Cook, Jeff Francis, Ubaldo Jimenez and Jason Hirsh - with 21-year-old left-hander Franklin Morales the leading candidate for the fifth spot for now.

Wells would give the Rockies depth in determining what to do with Morales. If Morales were to pitch well enough to claim a rotation spot in spring training, Wells could be used out of the bullpen.

If not, the Rockies could break in Morales as a left-handed reliever or return him to Triple-A Colorado Springs for seasoning.

Koronka, 27, has spent parts of the past three seasons in the majors, going 8-11 with a 6.02 ERA. He figures to provide rotation depth at Colorado Springs and also could be a factor in the search for additional left-handed relievers.

Vizcaino is a primary target for the Rockies and could prompt them to give a two-year guarantee, which they have been hesitant to offer relief pitchers. Vizcaino could give the Rockies a strikeout reliever, which they currently don't have.

“The Rockies are one of several teams we are working with, but I don't think anything is imminent,” agent Bean Stringfellow said. “We're definitely looking for a multiyear deal.”

The Rockies also were in pursuit of second baseman Tadahito Iguchi, but The Associated Press reported late Tuesday night he has reached agreement with the San Diego Padres, pending a physical.

The Rockies were believed to be talking with Iguchi's agent, Rocky Hall, in terms of a one-year contract similar to the $2.3 million deal that was freed up by the weekend trade of Jamey Carroll to Cleveland.

The AP did not report terms of Iguchi's contract with the Padres.

“His No. 1 desire was to play in San Diego and at second base,” Hall told the AP.