Another youth movement expected next season for Rockies
By Tracy Ringolsby, Rocky Mountain News
Published November 4, 2008 at 9:40 p.m.
What should be the Rockies' top priority this offseason?
Drew on Baseball
Scores and statistics
When the Rockies embarked on their build-from-within plan six years ago, the idea was they would develop enough talent in the farm system that when tough decisions had to be made, they would have replacements to ease the challenge of remaining a contender.
So while in a perfect world the Rockies would be able to work out long-term extensions with left fielder Matt Holliday and third baseman Garrett Atkins, the reality, general manager Dan O'Dowd said Tuesday, is the Rockies could start 2009 with Ian Stewart at third base and Seth Smith in left field.
Plus, they could have Ryan Spilborghs taking over for Willy Taveras in center field and Manny Corpas returning to the closer's role in place of Brian Fuentes. And don't overlook a possible emergence of center fielder Dexter Fowler.
Fuentes is a free agent, and O'Dowd said he would offer arbitration, and would welcome Fuentes' return, but the early indications are the closer will be a high-dollar free agent.
"I'd love to have Brian back, but it is pretty clear he is going to do well (on the free-agent market)," O'Dowd said.
Holliday, Atkins and Taveras are expected to be dealt during the offseason, the Rockies unable to work out long-term deals with Holliday and Atkins, and hesitant of a potential $4 million arbitration price tag for Taveras.
"We will never be afraid to play our own players," O'Dowd said. "That is who we are. We are a midmarket club that needs to develop talent to be a winner. We are not (financially) a Boston or New York.
"We forget that there was a time where we had to give Matt and Garrett a chance to play. Nobody projected that Matty would develop into a star or Garrett would become a solid major league player. But they were given the opportunities and you see what happened."
Stewart was given regular playing time in the second half last season. Atkins moved to first base when Todd Helton was sidelined.
Smith was exposed to the majors, but as a bench player in September 2007 and the second half this year, he showed offensive potential. Spilborghs has been the fourth outfielder the past two years and has provided a spark when he played.
Corpas was the closer in the second half of 2007. Corpas signed a four-year, $8,025,000 deal in the spring, before losing the closer's job to Fuentes at the end of April.
PITCHING IN
The Rockies' focus in trade talks is adding a pitcher, but O'Dowd feels there could be a bonus with Greg Reynolds, Franklin Morales and Jason Hirsh.
"They all took a step back last year, which is not unusual, but for all three to do it at the same time hurt," O'Dowd said. "It would not be surprising if they all bounced back this year, and then we would have depth."
O'Dowd also said right-
hander Jhoulys Chacin could make the jump to the majors. He spent last season at Single-A, but O'Dowd said that was because the organization wanted to make sure he wasn't overworked.
O'Dowd said Chacin's mechanics and command of the fastball and changeup could allow him to expedite his majors arrival.
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November 4, 2008
11:13 p.m.
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RDenver writes:
Somebody is going to pay Holliday about $150 million for 7 years which is way out of the Rockies budget. It's idiotic to pay any player that much money. So...see ya Matt...enjoy New York and the media. And you can also thank Scott Boras for Matt leaving. Atkins was adequate at 3rd base but he made too many throwing errors and his average dropped around 30 points by the end of the year. Stewart will do just fine at 3rd. Fans get upset when the Rockies owners don't shell out insane money for players. but when they did it for helton everyone was okay...until his back went out.
November 5, 2008
12:13 a.m.
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RickyB215 writes:
Stewart will be a solid replacement (especially offensively) at 3rd... I'm not entirely sold on Smith in LF, but with Boras as Holiday's agent, you know they are going to be looking at a 7-8 year contract which the Rockies (prudently) will pass on... I'd love to see him stay, but if he must go, let's get some value from him while he's still under contract.
I won't miss Willy & I think Spilly can fill in nicely offensively... However, Spilly doesn't solve the leadoff hitter problem, and I'm not sure he has the range you need from an every day CF, but I'd like to see his bat in the lineup frequently.... perhaps Dexter (if he can become ready by opening day 2009) leading off and in CF and Spilly in LF.
The Rox really need some help in the 4-5 spots in the rotation (assuming no major injuries and an effective Ubaldo in the 3 slot)... they also need a reliable closer... no Corpas & no Fuentes... If Atkins & Matt must go, we need at least two quality starters and two-plus relievers (one of which must close 90%+ effectively). Sprinkle a couple of nice young prospects 2-3 years out & I think we can work with it.
Best case...
CF Fowler (Speed & OBP... fingers crossed)
2B Helton (bat control & OBP... no more reliable power)
3B Stewart
RF Hawpe
LF Spilly
C Iannetta
SS Tulo
2B Barmes
P Cook / Francis / Ubaldo / Trade 1 / Trade 2
November 5, 2008
4:21 a.m.
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sharkcub writes:
"The Rockies' focus in trade talks is adding a pitcher, but O'Dowd feels there could be a bonus with Greg Reynolds, Franklin Morales and Jason Hirsh.
'They all took a step back last year, which is not unusual, but for all three to do it at the same time hurt," O'Dowd said. "It would not be surprising if they all bounced back this year, and then we would have depth.'"
We've heard this garbage from O'Dowd before. If Atkins and/or Holliday are traded the Rox HAVE to get some starting pitching in return. This team is long overdue for a real major-league rotation.
November 5, 2008
6:09 a.m.
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LockeRobster writes:
Garret Atkins to the Angels (he's a SoCal guy anyway) for either Ervin Santana or Joe Saunders plus Howie Kendrick (or a prospect if they won't deal Kendrick).
The Angels are going to need a bat, and BADLY, when Teixeira leaves, and Atkins can play either 3B (where the Angels have zilch) or 1B (his preferred position).
Atkins at 3B is the 3rd or 4th most-productive offensive player at his position in MLB (A-Rod, David Wright, then either Atkins or Aramis Ramirez). That's got a LOT of value to it. And the Angels have starting pitching depth to trade, as well as middle infield.
November 5, 2008
7:21 a.m.
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The_KIMN_Chicken writes:
Roberta Mejia is a can't miss prospect in double A, when are they calling him up???
November 5, 2008
9:38 a.m.
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avsfan71085 writes:
I hate Scott Boras he is the true enemy of american sports problems. Turning all his players into money grubbing idiots who forget what the game is about. All they want after they meet him is ridiculous amounts of money. Let's not pay our doctors, teachers, cops, fire fighters, scientists and true heroes lots of money, let's pay people who can hit a ball with a wooden bat! Yay, their is my HERO!
November 5, 2008
11:01 a.m.
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1somelikeithot writes:
It does boggle my mind that people want more money than they could ever spend in a lifetime. I think big money contracts are nothing but a status thing. I guess the more you get it's suppose to mean you are "The Best". Sports are full of millionaires, that's the appeal. Always about the money. But, hey, now with a new administraton in the White House, these guys will be spreading their wealth around!?! lol
November 5, 2008
11:42 a.m.
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Cwillyrun1 writes:
Holliday said he'd forego some money to have the years in his contract. Let's see..... the Rockies pay losers like Hampton and Neagle yet they won't pay for a guy who's MVP caliber! And knowing the Rockies, they'll trade Holliday for some pitching prospects that never pan out, just like in the past. They'll say they can go with homegrown players, yet when those homegrown players start showing value, they're traded or they go as free agents. That's the Pittsburgh Pirates formula for success (lack of).
November 5, 2008
11:48 a.m.
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arvada_mark writes:
This is sad. O'Dowd is already trying to prepare us for another season of mediocraty. Another season of wishing we had an ownership group that had winning as it's main goal. The Brewers put a fair offer for CC on the table. Aren't they a "mid-level" market as well, Mr. O'Dowd? We're not keeping our stars because they don't want to keep them. We're not even trying. How about offering B-Fuent something in the neighborhood of what he's worth. He's only the best pitcher to ever walk through the Rox clubhouse. And since when is Helton a 2-hole hitter? And Spilly hitting 5th? We would set records for futility. You need speed at the top & power in the middle, son. It's always been done that way. Also, when O'Dowd says that our current pitching staff will be fine this year, he's subliminally telling us that they are only going to get prospects in return for GA & Holliday. So, we are all very welcome for our support, but we might as well move to Modesto, or Tulsa because that's where this club's real talent will be. We are embarking on our 3rd 6-year plan. A couple more & I'll be collecting my pension.
They should ask themselves why their young pitchers all took a step backwards at the same time. Because they were all doing fine until they got to the big club. Coaching? Maybe? An overall lack of winning attitude around the clubhouse? You tell me Mr. O'Dowd, why do they always underperform once they are called up? Lincicum didn't seem to struggle very much with his ability to eat innings & win several games for a club that was actually worse than we were this last year. Why did we pass on him again?
November 5, 2008
1:58 p.m.
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Eggleston writes:
The rockies managed to reach the postseason (barely) when every player on their roster had career years. Holliday, Francis, Tulo, Hawpe, Atkins (after April), Corpas, Spilborghs, Matsui, Torrealba; all had the best year of their careers. Now that we're trading our only reliable players, I see zero chance of having a team that can even break .500 next year. Our farm system is no better than any other team's; either that or our minor league coaches don't know what they're doing. We're due for some typical Rockies lousiness for a long time to come.
November 5, 2008
2:28 p.m.
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RickyB215 writes:
Arvada Mike asks since when is Helton a #2 hitter? Since he's become a primarily OBP hitter (walks & singles)... you'd probably want a speedier guy at #2, but Helton's not going to put up the power numbers you need in the 3, 4, 5 spots. You can't expect more than 12-15 HR's (assuming you can get 500AB's out of him, which is not a given.)
What Helton can give you at #2 is a good OBP guy, a table setter for the heart of the line-up... he's also going to give you bat control & productive outs to move runners along.
November 5, 2008
2:34 p.m.
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RickyB215 writes:
... And Spilly at #5? Don't like that? OK, swap him with Iannetta... Iannetta 5, Spilly 6... that's fine. Spilly hasn't had the chance to be an everyday player yet in his career, but has been an excellent 4th outfielder. Given the chance to get 500 AB's, I'm optimistic he can put up numbers like .290-.305/ 20-25 / 90-105.
In the humidifier era of Denver baseball, you need more than 2 quality starters... you're not going to be winning many games 15-12 as we did in the mid-90's. Assuming Matt, Garrett & Willy are all leaving town, we need to trade for quality pitching. We're not going to get any substantial help in terms of big bats, so the offense "is what it is" for a while.
November 5, 2008
2:41 p.m.
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GeeTee writes:
Helton is a good OBP player -- all he can do now that he is off the juice.
Hate to see Atkins go -- he is one of the most under-rated players in baseball. We'd damn well better get some value for him -- Santana or Saunders at least.
Why not keep Holliday for one more year and then take the provisional draft picks for him when he leaves -- we're not going to get anything for him anyway -- especially from the Nationals?! I'm sorry, didn't know the Nats had any real major league players ON the team!!
Spend some money and keep Fuentes -- and trade Taveras for anything we can get, even some bats and balls!!
November 5, 2008
2:49 p.m.
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RickyB215 writes:
The RMN seems to be spinning this story as if it's some sort of failure of the O'Dowd administration... I disagree.
The facts are that Denver is a mid-market team at best... we're going to need to build teams along the lines of the Twins, the Brewers, and the Rays... we're never going to be big spenders like Boston & the Yankees. And we need to pass on long-term monster contracts. (We all love Todd, but his contract is a major payroll constraint on the Rox right now.)
Matt and Garrett have been huge successes of this home-grown approach, and the cold reality is simply that their payroll demands have outgrown the Rox ability to pay them & also field a competitive team with the remaining 23 roster spots.
O'Dowd's approach has also yeilded the foundation of Cook, Francis, Tulo, Iannetta, Hawpe, Spilly and now Fowler. There may also be a time when many of these players need to move on as well... it's the nature of MLB economics... O'Dowd's challenge is now to consistently back-filll the farm system with quality prospects via draft & trade to fill the gaps when the moster payroll guys move on.
I bellieve the team under-performed in 2008 relative to the sum of their talents... that's not O'Dowd's fault. I'm still optimistic about a competitive team in 2009 (defined as playing meaningful baseball in September). In order for that to happen, we're going to need far better on-field execution than we saw in 2008.
November 5, 2008
7:59 p.m.
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puxico1 writes:
As long as the Monforts own the team, Rockies fans will continue in hopelessness. No stability with the roster, constant finishes out of contention by May. The Yankees have made the playoffs for 16 years, Atlanta made it for 14. The Rockies twice in 16 years, both times as the wild card. My point is good players want to have a chance to play in the post season, like Matt Holliday stated in the paper. With agents like Scott Borat, money will always be the number one priority not what is best for baseball. He could care less. What is the point of being a Rockies fan? I'am tired of unrealistic hope, the system is an outrage. The bottom line is our owners have a big hat but no cattle. Whats the point of being a baseball fan period. The integrity of the game is gone. Its all about money. Reminds me of Wall Street.
November 6, 2008
6:18 a.m.
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LockeRobster writes:
"Holliday said he'd forego some money to have the years in his contract."
Bald-faced lie. If they offered him 8 years with a no-trade clause but for "only" $100 million he'd turn them down flat.