Four-year deal locks up Rockies' Jimenez
Colorado guarantees right-hander $10 million
By Jack Etkin, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published January 27, 2009 at 10:32 a.m.
Photo by Mark J. Terrill © AP
The Rockies have agreed to a four-year contract with pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez that includes club options for 2013 and 2014.
Does the Rockies' ability to sign Ubaldo Jimenez and other young core players offset the loss of Matt Holliday?
Pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez made the passage last season from a young major leaguer with unlimited potential to one the Rockies identified as part of their core group of players going forward.
Tangible financial proof of that journey unfolded Tuesday when Jimenez and the club agreed on a four-year contract that will guarantee him $10 million. The deal contains club options for $5.75 million in 2013 and $8 million for 2014, meaning Jimenez could earn $22.75 million in salary over the life of the deal.
"That's something that's going to make me work harder every day to try to be better," said Jimenez from his home in San Cristobal, Dominican Republic. "To be there for my team, because they trust me."
If the Rockies exercise their options, they can buy Jimenez out of his final season of arbitration eligibility and first year of free agency.
The contract continues the Rockies' trend to attempt to lock up core players with multiyear contracts. Deals with players such as Troy Tulowitzki, Brad Hawpe, Aaron Cook, Jeff Francis and Manuel Corpas have enabled the Rockies to avoid being at the mercy of the arbitration process and to extend the club's cost certainty into the beginning of each player's free agency. The player, in return, receives the security of a guaranteed income, even in the event of injury.
Jimenez's deal includes an additional $250,000 in performance bonuses each year for innings pitched, beginning at 200 and topping out at 240. Last year, his first full season in the majors, he overcame a poor start - he was 1-6 with a 5.37 ERA on June 1 after his 12th start and averaged 51/3 innings per outing - to finish 12-12 with a 3.99 ERA in 1982/3 innings and a team-
leading 34 starts.
While Jimenez made notable progress last year, general manager Dan O'Dowd said Tuesday that Jimenez has plenty of room for improvement. This multiyear contract likely ensures Jimenez, who turned 25 Thursday, an opportunity to do so with the Rockies.
"We understand what our gambles and risks are," O'Dowd said. "He understands what they are. We love the kid. We know the kid. We know his character and integrity. We've seen how much he's matured into a man."
The Rockies will be counting heavily on Jimenez this year in a rotation that likely will include Cook, newcomer Jason Marquis and Jorge De La Rosa to start the season but not Francis.
Still bothered by inflammation in his left shoulder, Francis is throwing from a distance of 90 feet but has yet to get on a mound and seems destined to be on the disabled list when the regular season begins April 6.
"He's a month behind in his throwing program right now," O'Dowd said. "So logically, there's almost no way he'll be ready for Opening Day because he's a month behind. . . . So if everything goes great right now and he takes off, come April 1, he's still going to be a month behind and if he's any less than that, it's still going to be two, three weeks."
The contracts
How the Rockies have contractually tied up core players.
UBALDO JIMENEZ, RHP
* Age: 25
* Service time: 1 year, 87 days
* Owed: $10 million
* Details: Four-year contract runs through 2012, with club options for 2013, Jimenez's final year of arbitration eligibility, and 2014, his first year of free agency
* Salary breakdown
2009: $750,000
2010: $1.25 million
2011: $2.8 million
2012: $4.2 million
2013: $5.75 million club option with $1 million buyout
2014: $8 million club option with $1 million buyout
TROY TULOWITZKI, SS
* Age: 24
* Service time: 2 years, 33 days
* Owed: $30.25 million
* Details: Six-year contract runs through 2013, first year Tulowitzki is eligible for free agency, with club option for 2014
* Salary breakdown
2009: $750,000
2010: $3.5 million
2011: $5.5 million
2012: $8.5 million
2013: $10 million
2014: $15 million club option with $2 million buyout
AARON COOK, RHP
* Age: 30 on Feb. 8
* Service time: 6 years, 20 days
* Owed: $27.5 million
* Details: Contract runs through 2011, Cook's third year of free agency, with mutual option for 2012
* Salary breakdown
2009: $8.75 million
2009: $9 million
2011: $9.25 million
2012: $11 million mutual option with $500,000 buyout
BRAD HAWPE, OF
* Age: 29
* Service time: 4 years, 58 days
* Owed: $13.5 million
* Details: Contract runs through 2010, Hawpe's final year of arbitration eligibility, with club option for 2011, his first year of free agency
* Salary breakdown
2009: $5.5 million
2010: $7.5 million
2011: $10 million club option with $500,000 buyout
JEFF FRANCIS, LHP
* Age: 28
* Service time: 4 years, 40 days
* Owed: $9.5 million
* Details: Contract runs through 2010, Francis' final year of arbitration eligibility, with club option for 2011, his first year of free agency
* Salary breakdown
2009: $3.75 million
2010: $5.75 million
2011: $7 million club option
MANUEL CORPAS, RHP
* Age: 26
* Service time: 2 years, 76 days
* Owed: $7.25 million
* Details: Contract runs through 2011, with club options for 2012, Corpas' final year of arbitration eligibility, and 2013, his first year of free agency
* Salary breakdown
2009: $750,000
2010: $2.75 million
2011: $3.5 million
2012: $6 million club option with $250,000 buyout
2013: $8 million club option with $500,000 buyout
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January 27, 2009
11:07 a.m.
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reporter29 writes:
Good move. Watching him pitch at Coors Field is always fun.
January 27, 2009
11:27 a.m.
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DeimosJB writes:
Just when I get to the point where I absolutely can't stand the Rockies and their ownership, they show just enough committment to keep me interested.
"How I wish you were either hot or cold..."
January 27, 2009
12:20 p.m.
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arvada_mark writes:
It's certianly good to keep this guy around. This isn't saying much, but now that B-Fuent is gone, he's probably our best pitcher. It's a good move, but it's not enough to end my financial boycott of the Rox ownership. We already had him. And we still haven't found a right handed power bat to replace Holliday. And, to top it of, he is still unproven. We resign the unproven players (Corpas, Tulo, & now Ubaldo), but let the All*Star go for a pouch of Big League Chew. Too bad Ubaldo doesn't have any coaching here to help take him to the next level.
They didn't disclose the terms of the deal. $10 says it is very back heavy. I'd say over half of the contract's worth lies in the last 2 years of the deal. $24mil of Tulo's $31mil deal is set to be paid out over the last 3 years of the contract. $13mil of Hawper's $17mil deal is paid out over the last 2 years. $9.5mil of Francis' $13mil deal is set to be given to him over his last 2 years. And over $6mil of Manny's $8mil deal is, yes, paid over the last 2 years. How does Manny Corpas get an $8mil deal anyway? It's that kind of irresponsible spending that drives me away from going to games or even purchasing merchandise anymore. Don't be fooled by Ubaldo's contract as it is a mere smoke screen for the lack of success this club annually sees (averaging 72 wins a year is not success). Now, the Brothers Monfort & Happy O'Dowd can spew that they do indeed sign players to long terms deals. 4 years is not long term, by the way. They also have ample time to unload any of these guys before they actually have to pay them the bulk of the contract's worth. Most of the other players are on single year deals.
Also, did anybody else see Holliday rip the Rox yesterday? It really wasn't that bad, but he was asked how he liked wearing an A's jersey. He told the truth...there's a lot of tradition that goes with wearing the yellow & green & it's different because there's no tradition here in Colorado. I thought it was funny...and true.
January 27, 2009
12:35 p.m.
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bmenezes writes:
Well, he's right. What passes for tradition at Coors Field is a few years of scoring a lot of runs and hitting a lot of dingers in the pre-humidor era. Two playoff appearances and one lucky World Series run. We'll get there some day (especially if ownership and the front office ever change over), but with four championships, a ton of playoff years and a number of Hall of Famers, the Green & Gold are light years ahead of the Rox at this point.
January 27, 2009
12:43 p.m.
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Mtnsportsfan writes:
I like what arvada mike said!!! So who are the Rocks going to get rid of to pay for him??? It is sad that the owners of the team cant get it. Worst owners in the Denver sports market!!!!!
January 27, 2009
12:50 p.m.
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dgocoman writes:
C'mon Arvada_Mark, loosen up a little bit. There is no way the Rockies could or should pay Holliday $25 million per year for more than 4 years. He isn't great defensively, he isn't a great clutch hitter in my opinion, and he tailed off in 2008. Could have been an anomoly, but could be the start of a trend. He's a good player, but not a $150mm player. The A's didn't really want Holliday for them, they wanted to be able to trade him in July to the Yankees or Red Sox. I think the Rockies locking up some of the younger players, ie. Tulo, Hawpe, Corpas, etc, are good moves, although you are correct when you say backloaded contracts could force the Rockies hands in 2-3 years. And, Jiminez will be a Cy Young candidate by 2010 if he stays healthy. By the way, in professional sports, 4 years is a long time.
January 27, 2009
12:52 p.m.
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discer writes:
Blame the Rockies for getting everyone's expectations up by going to a World Series that no one thought they could except them. They are also not the first team to have a down year following a WS appearance. Their collective (players and coaches) inexperience was on full display last year as well as a lot of players having a"down" year. Without a salary cap small market teams have to be creative to really compete. They made Holiday a very fair offer but since the day he signed with Scott 'Mr Greed" Boras the writing was on the wall and he was gone! I think that the Rockies have a chance to be better than last year and I believe their record will show it. By the way the A's have a few more decades of tradition to draw on but I can't remember the last time they were in the World Series. I for one am willing to give the Rockies a few more years to build their own, hopefully with players who want to be in Denver.
January 27, 2009
1:08 p.m.
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wharfratg writes:
Nice post, discer. I believe the A's were swept in the '90 series by the Reds, so perhaps that puts them in the same recent WS history as the Rox. You are spot on with your analysis of the problems attendant with no salary cap.
arvada_mark, I am really enjoying watching you hold onto this over-the-top criticism regardless of what happens. Every time a free agent is signed or a young player is locked up for a few years, somehow you spin that into how ownership is cheap and has no interest in winning. Have you ever hear the term "don't let the facts get in the way of a good story?"
Your Holliday redux is starting to take on comic book qualities--you would have us believe that the Rockies let him get away when it was clear Holliday had absolutely no desire to stay here long term. Why is it that you give him a pass and try to make him out to be the wronged hero? You do understand that when a top-level player FIRES his agent and REPLACES him with Boras that there is a specific reason for that. It's called "max contract". The list of free agent suitors is narrowed to about a half dozen. Don't delude yourself. If Holliday signs next year with a small or mid-market team, I'll happily eat my words. But you and I know that won't happen. So if you criticize the Rockies for not opening the vault for Holliday, you are also criticizing 20+ other teams for being cheap.
January 27, 2009
2:01 p.m.
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buffsblg writes:
Wharfratg
While I agree on the one issue of not resigning Holliday, I still firmly believe that the Monforts and their employees lack the money or the skill to compete. Certainly Baseball is an unfair system and the Rockies are on the losing end of it. However, I do believe that they could at least be better at building a roster and developing talent. For example, you rip the A's, another small market team but ignore the fact that the A's have been in the post season 5 times this decade to the Rockies 1. While a small market team may not be able to compete every year, there are more than a few who do it more often than the Rockies. They do it by making better decisions. Our brain trust has simply not shown they can do that.
January 27, 2009
2:07 p.m.
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byounk writes:
Arvada Mike is an idiot. Of course the contracts are heavy on the backend...people make more money over time. You don't take pay cuts every year, you get raises.
There's just no pleasing some people. They complain when the Rockies let players go and they complain when they sign players. Shut up and stop whining.
January 27, 2009
2:15 p.m.
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BringBackOrange writes:
I completely agree with the last 3 posts. Holliday wants a max contract that all but maybe 5 teams can pay. Let's get to the root of this problem. BUD SELIG!! He is an absolute disgrace to MLB. Baseball needs a salary cap. The offseason free agent period is EVERY year for the Yankees, Red Sox, Mets and Angels. Unlike the NFL where there is an even playing field and every team has a legitimate chance to turn it around, I would say about 20 teams really do not have a chance every year. Occasionally you get a surprise run out of nowhere like the Marlins or Rockies, but come on!! We fans should expect... DEMAND more from this sport!
This isn't Selig's only mistake. How about marketing more teams!? There's a reason all you ever see people wear is Yankees hats. And it's more than just money and tradition. There are 5 to 6 teams that take turns playing on national tv EVERY week! Is it just me or is every single Yankees/Red Sox game on FOX on ESPN. How about the ridiculous idea of Bud's to determine home field advantage through an exhibition game??? Whatever team has the better record has earned the right to have the home field advantage.
I will stop now before I blow a gasket. But seriously guys we need a REAL commissioner. Not one that's senile and afraid to take on baseball's real issues. Someone who's not afraid to step up to the bully Steinbrenner family and give every fan excitement and hope every spring. Not just the Yankees.
January 27, 2009
2:17 p.m.
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SDcat writes:
Wow, to say arvada_mark is an idiot...is well, idiotic. You might not agree with his opionions, but I've never read anything that smacked of idiocy....
January 27, 2009
3:27 p.m.
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BoostHard writes:
Bring back Orange is right about Selig,
I dont like where MLB is headed with how much money these guys are making. But I will be a fan for life, because of teams that make surprising runs like the Rox in '07. the Rays in '08.
And also look back over the last few World Series.
'08: Phillies & Rays
'07: Rockies & Red Sox
'06: Cardinals & Tigers
'05: Astros & White Sox
all different teams.....
Ya of course the Yanks, Red Sox, Mets, etc have a better chance than others. but......what can you do
Arvada Mark: I always get a good laugh from reading what you have to say........
financial boycott of Rox??? you dont invest any $$ but you invest a hell of a lot of time on this site.....
Anyway back to the topic:
I love Jimenez, I would be surprised if this kid doesn't make an All Star appearance this year or next. Great move for the Rockies!!!
January 27, 2009
4:19 p.m.
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wharfratg writes:
buffsblg, I'm not sure what you mean when you say ownership doesn't have the money to compete. If you are suggesting that they should operate the Rockies at a loss just to compete, that is a problem with the system not ownership. Now the skill of their employees is a different matter and that sounds like it would be a good argument to have in this forum. I'd say scouting and farm system are well above average and trades and free agent signings are all over the map. Pretty good reasons to retain or fire IMO.
BringBackOrange, you are right on the money. If arvada_mark would boycott MLB instead of the Rockies he'd get my support. I'd also add that the players' union shares in the blame with Selig. Fehr makes the most ridiculous arguments as to why there should be no salary cap.
If MLB had a cap, you'd get 5-6 good stories per year instead of one, and every team would have legitimate hope in the spring. Just take a look at the NFL--every team that has a competent organization can compete and make the playoffs in a given year (well, Lions excepted of course).
January 27, 2009
4:29 p.m.
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bagwan writes:
When the Broncos slipped into mediocrity every discussion included a lot of hammering on the coach. Mediocrity would be a step up for the Rockies yet Hurdle always seems to get a pass. The Rockies won 74 games last year which is exactly Hurdle's average since he started managing.
January 27, 2009
6:22 p.m.
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robo5555 writes:
Best deal of the year!!!!!! Ubaldo will be an A player!!!
January 27, 2009
8:15 p.m.
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broncosfanatic3 writes:
the rockies are one of the most furstrating teams to watch. Matt Holliday leads his team to a world series and pretty much gets nothing in return. No big contract extension nothing.. They trade him for pretty much nothing. a has been closer, a 12 game loser and a minor leaguer at best outfielder??? Helton has 3 or 4 good seasons gets one of biggest contracts in MLB history while leading a team to no playoff games(not including the rocktober run). the rockies need to be sold to owners that actually care about winning and not the $$$$. i guessing that the rockies will be trading atkins or hawpe in the next two years. you can post all the bad things you want about me if you disagree but i just want to make my point clear. Im tired of seeing my team getting blown out and getting 70 win seasons
January 28, 2009
8:50 a.m.
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Longshanks writes:
"Matt Holliday leads his team to a world series and pretty much gets nothing in return."
They offered him $108M in return, actually. And $72M of that was coming over a four year period, which is $18M a year and would have represented the richest contract in franchise history. If that's what you mean by "pretty much nothing" then you are 100% correct.
"Helton has 3 or 4 good seasons gets one of biggest contracts in MLB history while leading a team to no playoff games(not including the rocktober run)."
Did you like the Helton signing at the time? I'll bet you did. Yeah, you're the guy who would be ripping ownership in 2014 for signing Holliday to a ridiculous, long-term contract. Only a moron would attempt to make the argument you are making in favor of signing Holliday to an 8 year deal while simultaneously ripping the team for the Helton contract. You're not a moron, are you?
January 28, 2009
11:34 a.m.
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discer writes:
It all starts with pitching and it has been proven that the Rockies have had better luck with their own home grown pitchers than they have had in signing big names. With Don Baylor on staff the Rockies will hit better in every situation. Baylor will demand it and his presence is as formidable as the respect he will receive. I hope that they can reach an agreement with Atkins and that will keep him in Colorado for the foreseeable future. I wish Holiday all the luck in the world but if he becomes a rent a player or if his stats are not up to par with what he did in Denver then he may end up regretting turning down the Rockies more than fair offer. Don't look now but Franklin Morales could be this year's version of Ubaldo!
January 28, 2009
1:49 p.m.
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arvada_mark writes:
I think it's funny how I can spout a few lines & make some of you have a coronary. Too funny. I type, you get mad. I love it. Hey, Superman can fly; I can get under people's skin. Call it a gift. Besides, you may seriously need some help if mere words get you all worked up like this. And as far as me following the Rox...of coarse. What, you think I'm some sort of Uncle Tom? The Rox are my team. I spend a couple G on them every year. Not this year, though. I've been going to pro baseball games in Denver ever since I can remember. Ever hear of the Denver Bears Badge? I was a holder for several years of my youth. I remember when Terry Francona hit .354 for the Bears in '81 or '82. It was a long time ago. Print is the only way I see I can follow the Rox now without putting money into the pockets of the Brothers Monfort. So what? And since my "couple G" isn't very much in the grand scheme of things, this is one of my only forums. So tell me, anybody, why do you think the Rox will be competitive this year & every year from here on out? Why do you think not resigning Holliday will help us improve our annual average of 72 wins per year? Tell me, Grasshopper?
Also, who's this arvada mike character? Tell me again how I'm the idiot. "I know, let's have a spelling contest?"
January 28, 2009
3:39 p.m.
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Colorado4ever writes:
I like what the Rox are doing and hope they have the youngsters coming up to complement the affordable and solid core group moving forward. They are going to need a ton of breaks to win the West this year but who else in the division looks like a lock?
Warm weather and baseball- sounds good right now...
Two words about Matty Holiday (who was awesome and should have taken the contract the Rox offered)-
$cott Bora$
Hopefully the extra $7M/yr or so that he MAY get from a big market team will buy him the respect and stuff he needs ($18M/yr just isn't what it used to be) in a baseball town that may or may not embrace him the way we did. How the chants of "MVP" must sound when guys in NY will be yelling "you stink" EVERYTIME he strikes out.
January 28, 2009
4:18 p.m.
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NorCalGuy writes:
His agent should taken out and flogged in public. This is a horrible deal for a starting pitcher with his profile. The Rockies are obviously not serious any longer about keeping all star caliber players. No one was ever going to confuse them with the Yankees but this incessant low balling is just brutal to behold. They had better become unbelievably good at scouting, drafting and hoping their young players make it to the majors so they can exploit them for a while before they have to trade them away, and perpetually anger and disappoint their fans. It's not like they're the only organization that has this strategy but they shouldn't be so obvious...
January 28, 2009
4:27 p.m.
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TheSlinger writes:
don't waste your energy guys. the rockies will be mediocre until they A) sell the team or B) forget about past mistakes (i.e nagel and hampton) and sign talent to stay put. why did they lock up Hawpe? he's never been better then an average hitter and seems to forget how to play for month stretches. and at 29 he's hardly a kid prospect anymore. whatever though. i quit wasting too many calories on the rockies after they proved they don't care about winning. DON'T GO TO ROCKIES GAMES. NO ATTENDANCE = NO PROFIT FOR THE MONFORT REGIME
January 28, 2009
5:34 p.m.
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robo5555 writes:
10 mil for 4 years.....and they just gave Marquis and the other has been from the A's 5 mil for one year deals. Rox should be ashamed....how embarrasing!!! Ubaldo was one of the reasons we made it to the world series!!!! I'm sure that deal sent a message to the baseball world. I'm ashamed to be a Rox fan. Seems like priority one is to rob our home grown talent to long deals for cheap dollars. The theory works financialy but stinks in principle and core values.
January 28, 2009
5:52 p.m.
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wharfratg writes:
I think you've got it backwards, NorCalGuy. "Incessant low balling" would be paying the major league minimum salary for as long as you can with a year and a half service time player. Like the article infers, Ubaldo could end up like Chin Hui Tsao with a ton of potential and a blown-out elbow and walk away with $10 million guaranteed. In bizzarro world (otherwise known as RMN Rockies forum), however, this is no doubt additional evidence that the Rockies' owners have "no desire to win".
January 29, 2009
2:31 p.m.
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NorCalGuy writes:
$10 million over 4 years for a starting pitcher is low ball, low whatever, pick a term. If he doesn't blow out his elbow and ends up being a decent starter he'll regret the day he put his name on that contract, and so will his agent. I'll grant you, to us common folk $10 million for 4 years is big bucks but to a starting MLB pitcher, it's peanuts. I'd be less irritated if the Rockies managment acted more like Billy Beane and less like they're trying to treat their "core" players right. At least it's understood that Beane is loyal to no one. All they have to do to keep someone like Atkins is offer him a deal similar to what the Red Sox gave Dustin Pedroia. While Pedroia has put together a couple of good seasons, Atkins has done it for four years and he probably has a good 5-7 peak seasons ahead of him. The Rockies are trying to win on the cheap, good luck with that.
January 30, 2009
2:12 p.m.
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wharfratg writes:
You are missing the point, NorCalGuy. MLB players are paid based on service time. That's why CC Sabathia will make $23 million a year while Joba Chamberlain made $390K last year. You have to look at what the Rockies could pay (major league minimum) vs. what they agreed to pay (higher salary when they control the player to achieve cost control during the arbitration years). It's not "low-balling" and Jimenez is obviously pretty happy to lock up some extra coin during his indentured servant years.
I still haven't heard a single good argument by the forum whiners as to why the Rockies ownership is "cheap". Apparently it is easy to say and difficult to back up factually.