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RINGOLSBY: Rockies cautious on trading Atkins

By Tracy Ringolsby, Rocky Mountain News

Published December 18, 2008 at 1:48 p.m.
Updated December 18, 2008 at 7:43 p.m.

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The Rockies' Garrett Atkins backs up Todd Helton at first base.

Photo by Doug Pensinger © Getty Images

The Rockies' Garrett Atkins backs up Todd Helton at first base.

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With Ian Stewart ready for his big-league opportunity, the Rockies have what could be a key bargaining chip for a major offseason deal with incumbent third baseman Garrett Atkins.

The Rockies have put Atkins trade talks on hold in part because the message they got from him this offseason has been positive. He wants to stay in Colorado, and past indications that he was ready to leave were attempts at gallows humor that were given too much credibility.

More than anything, though, the Rockies have to be realistic. It is difficult to deal Atkins because they don't know what their major 2009 need will be, and they likely won't start to get an answer to that question until they are deep into spring training.

There are two wild cards in the Rockies' plans for next year - left-hander Jeff Francis, who ended 2008 sidelined with left shoulder problems, and first baseman Todd Helton, who began the offseason with back surgery in hopes of alleviating numbness in his left leg.

The Rockies are working on adding pitching depth. They have eight experienced rotation candidates coming to spring training - left-handers Francis, Jorge De La Rosa, Franklin Morales and Greg Smith, and right-handers Aaron Cook, Ubaldo Jimenez, Greg Reynolds and Jason Hirsh - and have been kicking the tires on nontendered Tim Redding.

If Francis were to have a setback in spring training, the Rockies would have to turn their attention to a more proven middle-of-the-rotation pitcher.

Atkins, however, also is the protection for Helton. It won't be until late spring, after Helton is exposed to the daily grinds of game competition, that the Rockies will be able to start to evaluate his comeback. Even if Helton is healthy, as expected, the Rockies are going to have to be more vigilant in making sure he gets regular rest.

Atkins moved back to first base, the position he played when he first signed with the Rockies, in the second half last year when Helton was sidelined, opening up third for Stewart.

Stewart's athleticism is a bonus, the Rockies feeling that if all goes well with Francis and Helton, Atkins provides depth because Stewart would be the replacement at third when Atkins plays first or gets a day off and can play second and left field.

Infield chatter

* The proposed trade of outfielder Mike Cameron to the Yankees for outfielder Melky Cabrera appears to be off because of the Yankees' desire for the Brewers to absorb a chunk of Cameron's $10 million salary.

* The Mets' need for starting pitching has them focusing on re-signing left-hander Oliver Perez.

* The Cardinals, put on hold by closer Brian Fuentes, have begun to check out former Dodgers closer Takashi Saito.

The rotation

Bidding for free agent Mark Teixeira - the Angels, Red Sox and Nationals have eight-year bids on the table and the Orioles are at seven years - has put the rest of the free-agent market on hold. Some players in limbo:

* Fuentes has a two-year offer from St. Louis but would prefer the Angels, who would have interest if they lose out on Teixeira.

* Designated hitter/outfielder Milton Bradley, who is being pursued by the Cubs and Rays, will find added bidders once Teixeira decides.

* Designated hitter/outfielder Manny Ramirez wants more than the two years the Dodgers offered, and it could come from the Angels and/or Yankees if Teixeira goes elsewhere.

* Designated hitter Jason Giambi is on the Rays' wish list if they can't sign a DH who also can play in the field, such as Bradley.

* Right-hander Derek Lowe could return to Boston, but the Red Sox payroll wouldn't hold Lowe and Teixeira.

Out in left field

Former big-league pitcher Nick Willhite, a graduate of Denver South High, died of cancer at his son's home last weekend in Alpine, Utah.

Willhite had been able to salvage the final 20 years of his life with the help of another Denver product and former Dodgers pitcher, Stan Williams.

Faced with alcohol and drug problems, living on the streets in Salt Lake City and having been divorced three times and out of touch with his six children, Willhite reached out to Williams in 1989, and Williams helped Willhite overcome his addictions and reunite with family members.

Willhite and Williams were recommended to the Dodgers by the late Manny Boody, the longtime high school writer for the Rocky, who also was a bird-dog scout for the Dodgers.

Closing statement

The late Bus Campbell has to be smiling.

It's been a good week for his proteges.

Toronto right-hander Roy Halladay, who began working with Campbell when he was 12, was selected as the Toronto Sun Sportsman of the Year, which goes to the athlete who had the most impact on Toronto and includes a $1,000 donation to the charity of Halladay's choice.

Other nominees were Mats Sundin of the Maple Leafs, Chris Bosh of the Raptors, Wimbledon doubles champion Daniel Nestor, Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston and Don Cherry of Hockey Night in Canada.

And 48-year-old Jamie Moyer, who was ready to retire until Campbell provided him some offseason tips 18 years ago, signed a two-year contract to remain with Philadelphia.

Moyer led the Phillies with 16 wins while compiling a 3.71 ERA despite pitching in hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Park during the Phillies' title season.

NUMBERS GAME

8 teams out of nine in the NL and AL West divisions finished with fewer than 85 victories in 2008. The only exception was the AL West champion Angels, who were eliminated in the first round of the postseason by wild card Boston.

ALOHA, HAWAII

The Hawaii Winter League has closed up shop for a second time. The HWL, which ran from 1993 to 1997 and from 2006 to 2008, folded after major league officials voted to create a second fall league in Arizona.

While the current AFL is geared for players at the Double-A and Triple-A levels, a new league will be created that will be designed for Single-A players.

It will use spring training parks and by having both leagues in the Phoenix area, it will make it easier and less expensive for teams to monitor players' progress.

HE SAID IT

"I try easier."

Greg Maddux, right-hander, in explaining how he dealt with pressure situations during a career that should result in his Hall of Fame enshrinement.

MILE HIGH WATCH

* Left-hander Franklin Morales finished strong in Venezuela this winter, working six shutout innings and striking out 12 in Caracas' 5-1 victory against Lara last weekend. The Rockies shut down Morales after making nine starts so he will be rested for spring training.

Morales was 3-3 with a 3.11 ERA, and most important, he issued only 12 walks in 46 1/3 innings.

* The Rockies are facing competition in efforts to bolster their pitching staff.

Right-handed starter Tim Redding, nontendered by Washington on Dec. 12, has 10 teams showing interest, agent Tom O'Connell said. Along with the Rockies, the Nationals, Orioles and Mets are interested.

Add Cleveland and the Mets to the teams competing with the Rockies for left-handed reliever Will Ohman, a free agent and graduate of Ponderosa High School. Left-handed starter Chris Capuano, whom the Rockies inquired about, was nontendered by Milwaukee but opted to stay with the Brewers, taking a minor-league contract and an invitation to spring training.

* Right-hander Scott Dohmann, the Rockies' sixth-round draft choice in 2000, has signed a one-year contract with the Hiroshima Carp that guarantees him $650,000 and has incentives that could increase the value to $1 million. Dohmann made his major league debut with the Rockies in 2004 and also pitched with Kansas City and Tampa Bay.

* Left-handed reliever Ray King, who spent a year with the Rockies, is trying to revive his career at age 34.

King is pitching for Escogido in the Dominican Republic this winter, giving teams a chance to scout him. King, who is listed at 6-foot, 250 pounds on the Escogido roster, worked 42/3 shutout innings in his first four appearances.

Comments

  • December 18, 2008

    4:49 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    arvada_mark writes:

    "...It is difficult for them to deal Atkins because they don't know what their major need for 2009 will be." Ummmm, pitching.

    And I still think we should be trying to move Stewy instead of GA. We could get sooooo much more for Stewy. While he proved last year that 2nd base is not his friend (defensively), he also proved he has a big league bat. I know they don't want to pay the kind of salary GA has earned over the past few years, but the same will hold true for Stewy when his time comes. I still think they aren't shopping GA in large part due to the fact that they were forced into trading Holliday (forced by their own hand) for less than market value. So, with every club seeing how the Rox were so easily lowballed, nobody is willing to give the Rox what their players are worth because it is known they will settle for less, much less if you just wait them out. In legal terms, it's called setting a precedent.

    And I do also want to point out the lack of a #1 starter in the list of our potential starters. Cooker & Ubaldo could probably earn a spot in just about every rotation, but neither guy is a #1 starter. If Cook was slotted in the middle of the rotation, where he belongs, he could have gotten to 20 wins last year...hard to say though, after Hurdle overextended (in my opinion) him at the All*Star game, Cook was never the same.

  • December 19, 2008

    11:24 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    dgocoman writes:

    Arvada_Mark: Good point about Cook and the all-star game. Hadn't thought about it and you could be right. I really believe Jiminez could be a #1 starter with another year of seasoning. Anybody who can throw 95-97 with the breaking ball he has is a stud; can he take the next step?

  • December 19, 2008

    1:06 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    arvada_mark writes:

    I sure hope so. Hurdle & Apodaca do not have the best track record when it comes to young arms, however. With the exception of B-Fuent, I do not recall a single pitcher they have developed into a consistent winner...here or anywhere for that matter. Injuries play a big part in that as well, I know, but those too could be blamed on Hurlde & Apodaca. All I know is this is going to be a weird season for me. My financial boycott of the club really leaves me with at least 20 open dates this summer & about $2k in my pocket. The Rox were my summer time hobby. That's what I did. It's like losing a friend. I'm hoping it'll equate to a lowered handicap on my part.

  • December 19, 2008

    5:05 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    AKuser writes:

    Come on Roxs, keep Atkins and trade Helton his gimpy back and lagging numbers and pay whatever portion of his salary it takes to find someone who will take him off your hands. Then at least the Ros will be able to score with their opponents every once in a while.

  • December 20, 2008

    7:54 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    erniedog writes:

    still have a difficult time believing how little the rockies had gotten for matt holiday. billy beane will get a premium from one of the losers in the texeira sweepstakes at some point. what are the chances the rocks get value for atkins? slim to none, the fellow who mentioned 'setting a precedent' hit it on the nose. more likely than not the rockies get a sack of potatoes and a bunch of radishes for atkins and a player to be named later.