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Rockies' promising talent Strop lost to Rangers

Strop claimed after he loses spot on roster

By Jack Etkin, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published November 7, 2008 at 10:49 p.m.

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Colorado's Pedro Strop underwent surgery for a fracture at the tip of his elbow and lost his spot on the Rockies' 40-man roster. The Rockies projected him in a big-league setup role.

Photo by Barry Gutierrez / Rock Mountain News

Colorado's Pedro Strop underwent surgery for a fracture at the tip of his elbow and lost his spot on the Rockies' 40-man roster. The Rockies projected him in a big-league setup role.

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If reliever Pedro Strop finds a place in a major league bullpen, chances are, it won't be with the Rockies. They lost the promising right-hander to the Texas Rangers, who snared Strop after he was injured and lost his spot on the Rockies' 40-man roster.

When Todd Helton tried to return from a back injury, the Rockies made room for him on the roster by designating Strop for assignment Sept. 12. One week later, Strop, 23, was released from the roster. He cleared waivers Sept. 23 and immediately was signed by the Rangers.

"They were relentless," said Greg Maroni, who was Strop's agent until about a week ago, when he said Strop changed representatives. "They wanted him right away. He signed a minor league deal for $90,000."

Texas' pursuit was led by Thad Levine, assistant general manager of the Rangers, who have yet to announce the signing of Strop. Levine formerly held that position with the Rockies and knew of Strop and how highly the Rockies regarded the converted shortstop who began pitching in 2006.

Strop began the 2008 season at Double-A Tulsa and likely would have been called up to the Rockies in September had he pitched well. Strop went 0-0 with a 2.57 ERA while working seven innings in seven games for the Drillers, the last time April 18.

He initially was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his right elbow, a rare baseball injury. Ultimately, Strop underwent surgery June 13, during which a fracture at the tip of his elbow was discovered. At that time, the prognosis was that it would be at least six months before Strop started playing catch.

Moroni said Strop told him he is healing fine and the Rangers don't want him on the mound until at least two weeks into spring training.

Before the Rangers corralled Strop, the Rockies were hoping to take him to the instructional league in Tucson, where they could monitor his rehabilitation, then sign him to a minor league contract for next season.

The Rockies projected Strop as a setup man in the big leagues. Before his injury, his whippy arm action resulted in swing-and-miss stuff with a 92- to 96-mph fastball and a sharp- breaking 82- to 86-mph slider.

Helton's return was short- lived. After not playing since July 2 because of a lower back problem, Helton pinch-hit Sept. 12 and Sept. 14. He ultimately underwent surgery Sept. 30 to remove pressure a bulging disk in his lower back had put on a nerve, creating pain and numbness in his left leg.

Comments

  • November 8, 2008

    7:44 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    ColoradoSportsFaninTexas writes:

    Helton really needs to come through this season, or else it will only increase the pain the Rockies must be feeling from losing this guy...

    Talented young prospect whom the Rockies were looking to develop...this loss could come back to haunt the Rox, should this guy develop and make an impact with the Rangers....

  • November 8, 2008

    10:23 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    1somelikeithot writes:

    I think Helton tried too hard to come back too soon. He should have just stayed on the DL. Because of that it cost them a potentially good pitcher. Just another bone-headed decision by Rockies management.

  • November 9, 2008

    4:28 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    warrengfunk7 writes:

    No, he should have just retired...

    That way the Rockies coudl afford to re-sign Holliday, keep Atkins at 1B, start Ian Stewart at 3B and still have budget flexibility to go after t top starting pitcher from free agency, such as CC Sabathia.

  • November 9, 2008

    4:42 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    sll writes:

    Todd needs to "take one for the team" and renegotiate, in good faith, his salary. It has to be broached by Todd, management is too afraid of pi$$ing off a Denver icon. Spread the numbers over multiple seasons, similar to what Randy Johnson did, to allow overall flexibility in the Rockies salary structure. Not cool that we can't make moves due to money tied up in a guy who can't stay healthy and, when he is healthy, only his OBP is a worthy number. (notwithstanding defense and leadership intangibles, of course, which we are WAY overpaying for...)

  • November 10, 2008

    11:27 a.m.

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    arvada_mark writes:

    Why should Helton renegotiate? It's the Brothers Monfort who are punishing us by not filling this team with Major League talent. He is the greatest player in franchise history. He is the best 1st baseman in the world since he joined us (check the stats). Yes, Pujols is better now, but he has been hurt too much over the past 5-6 years & he's also a few years younger than H. Helton has played more games at 1st than anybody has over the past 10 years. He also leads in hitting & fielding percentage. Anyway, Helton should squeeze every last dollar out of his contract as I feel he has been betrayed by the organization. They have failed to field a competitive roster on any sort of regular basis. When you sign a guy to a contract like the one Helton got, I think he has every right to assume the team is going to at least try to win. And they haven't. Yes, last year we were good for about 2 months...we were real good in fact. But then, it did all start with Helton's homer off of Saito. You know, the guy our franchise as a whole had only gotten 1 previous hit off of, ever. It's time for Helton to be selfish & keep his money they promised to him as he was probalby underpaid for several of those years. Can you really put a price on hitting .370 with 50 doubles & 150 RBIs (give or take a few)? Who puts up numbers like those? Helton does: 2000...he also had 215+ hits & 40+ HRs.

    They could have traded him last year, but they wanted too much...so I blame the front office, not Helton. He's only doing what he origianlly agreed to do. He's fulfilling his end of the deal, the Rockies should & will do the same.

  • November 10, 2008

    12:37 p.m.

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    ElwayGod7 writes:

    sII wrote: "Todd needs to "take one for the team" and renegotiate, in good faith, his salary". .. And "Not cool that we can't make moves due to money tied up in a guy who can't stay healthy"

    sII, those are two of the most retarded statements I've ever heard a "fan" make, nobody forced the Rockies to come up with those numbers in Todd's contract, The Rockies Organization came up with those numbers and it was the Rockies Organization who came up with all this back loaded money ...nobody said anything about Helton not making what he was worth when he was hitting 40+ HR and 120+ RBI's....he's playing out a contract that he was OFFERED by the franchise, if the Rockies don't want him around they can cut him, but you cant deny that Helton earned that contract when he signed it (everyone felt like it was a valid contract back then) and The Rockies offered it. Its the Rockies fault for thinking he'd still be effective at 35+ years old and giving him 20+ million dollar salaries in the final few years of the contract....but you saying he should give back money because he hasn't earned it in "good faith" is a joke, maybe you should give back some of your salary to your bosses since you're blogging instead of working? In good faith obviously. C'mon, that’s ridiculous.

    Helton is and always will be the franchise, the money he's making now is for everything he's done over all of the years he's been here and it's unfortunate and sad to see him playing this way, but that's what happens when you give you're entire body and soul to an organization for your entire career.

  • November 10, 2008

    1:53 p.m.

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    sll writes:

    Hi elwaygod and arvadamark. Sorry to touch a nerve, but I never said Helton should give back cash, he should DEFER cash. This means he spreads the payments owed over multiple years, giving the Rockies flexibility now. Like Randy Johnson did.
    I'm living in today's world and yet loving Helton's contributions to the Rockies past. Where in my comments did I denigrate Todd Helton or demand that he take a discount? Perhaps "take one for the team" was misconstrued by you guys, but I meant it that instead of taking everything now, Todd spreads things out to give the team wiggle room. Go easy guys...