2:54pm: The Rockies had feelers out a week ago on names ranging from Adam Dunn to Dan Haren, reports Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Sherman says the Rockies are now "quietly shopping" Aaron Cook and are willing to help make the financial aspect work. Cook is still owed $3.75MM this year if traded, plus $10.25MM for 2011, a $500K buyout for '12, and $125K per year if he reaches 200 innings.
7:51am: The Rockies are preparing for the possibility of becoming sellers, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. They've not yet committed to that course, but they're eight games back in the NL West. But at 4.5 games out of the wild card, the Rockies still appear to have a legitimate playoff shot. Baseball Prospectus' postseason odds report puts their chances at a healthy 23.4% despite a recent losing streak.
Rosenthal says the Rockies are still eyeing Jorge Cantu and could move Melvin Mora, Ryan Spilborghs, and/or Brad Hawpe regardless of their direction. If the team's rough week continues and they start thinking about 2011, Jorge de la Rosa would be an interesting addition to the trade block. Rosenthal names Aaron Cook, Rafael Betancourt, and Joe Beimel as other possibilities.
De La Rosa has made three starts since returning from the DL for a finger injury. His last effort was solid, and he takes on the Pirates tonight. He'll be a free agent after the season and currently profiles as a Type B.
If i were the rockies i would not become sellers yet. However if selling players can improve your team (Hawpe, mora etc.) then i would. There is no reason to mortgage the system. The Angels are 7.5 out and just acquired Dan Haren. right now the Rockies need a big bat and there’s no way around it anymore. Billy Butler from KC would take a lot to get, but he is still very young and would not ruin this team’s future, similarly acquiring Evan Meek could solidify our bullpen for the stretch run and still help us in years to come add in a infielder like Peralta or Cantu and this team is really good all of a sudden. This could probably be done with: (prospects gotten for Hawpe and Mora) Franklin Morales, Chris Ianetta, Eric Young Jr. and Esmil Rogers.
Never count KC out of making bonehead trades, but Billy Butler should be about as close to untouchable as you can get. He’s only 23, and the Royals are only a few pitchers and shedding of Ankiel and Guillen away from not being the joke of the AL central
Acquiring Evan Meek would not be easy. Neal would be asking for a boatload for him.
The good news is the Rockies don’t really have players (outside of Hawpe and Helton) that earn much more than they are worth. The bad news is I don’t think they have many players anyone would want. I’m trying to figure out whether this team overachieved in 09 or underachieving in 10. If players like Stewart and Iannetta can ever get their act together they could be in a good place going forward, then again, maybe Stewart and Iannetta will always be what they have been this year.
I agree with jlbroxfan3 that the team needs to look at a player or 2 that can help now and in 2011.
And Peralta has a very team friendly option already in place for 2011 so for any team trading for him it’s there to exercise the team trading for him opt to go that direction.
Guys the Indians would have a lot of interest in are as follows Joseph Sanders – Thomas Fields – They fit the type of players that they are looking for Infielder at the lower levels with hi upside that are right handed hitters that are showing some type of pop.
The NL West never has a guaranteed winner, I’d never sell (important pieces) if I’m the Rockies.
I would love it if the Twins went after de la Rosa
I would love to move Cook somehow, just to free up his salary (or whatever the Rockies don’t end up covering). But, I have a hard time seeing anyone actually wanting Cook. AS for Hawpe, the only value he has right now is his type A free agent status (assuming it doesn’t slip to tybe B).
I disagree that HAwpe has no value, i think that if we make him available teams like the chisox will want him after they miss out on Fielder and Dunn, and they’ll give s some value (as they were willing to pay for the others, and will be relieved that the rockies don’t ask for Beckham) and we can ship these off to improve our team. I wouldn’t call us buyers or sellers however we definitely need some fresh blood
The reson that the White Sox missed out on Dunn and Fielder is because they refuse to trade Hudson or Beckham.
Their offers or the group of players that were made availavle for either or those guys were pretty good, in the end the Nationals or the Brewers may have to go back to the White Sox if they want to move these guys and get value back, to me a package of Tyler Flowers, Brent Morel, Dayan Viciedo, Santos Rodriguez was a awesome offer for Fielder or Dunn and I’m a Indians fan and hope the White Sox don’t get any of these guys.
The White Sox could have had Haren if they were willing to deal Hudson, Rodriguez and Beckham also according to Peter Gammons they were the 3 guys the D-Backs asked for.
and now for the inevitable assumption that Jimenez has now become available….
and tulo and seth smith and cargo…all to the red sox for jed lowrie and a bag of chips right? hahahaha
Ship Jiminez while people still think he’s a good pitcher.
It’s too bad that the Padres are in the same division as the Rockies. The Padres are still looking for pitching and de la Rosa would seem to be just what the Doctor ordered. As well as he has pitched in Colorado, I would love to see what he could do in Petco. Any idea what the Rockies would want for him? I know the price would go up for a team within there division, but Rockies fans any idea.
i like your way of thinking.
no way he stays like this from much longer. atleast past this season.
THEO! Betancourt! Make it happen! Ram-ram, delcarmen, atchison, oki, et.al. is not getting it done.
Ridiculous. Sellers @ 8 GB in the NL West in July? Get serious, this is the most fluid division in the game.
Fluid…like the Padres practically leading wire to wire?
Hey that’s a possibility, but if you’re going to take that assumption to the bank, I’d suggest you consult with somebody other than Lehman Bros.
Rockies as sellers? Oh yeah.
Hawpe and Cook the Chicago White Sox for 2 Giordano Pizzas, and the Rockies actually are a better team right now with Chacin replacing Cook and Smith/Spillbourghs replacing Hawpe (w/ CarGo playing RF)
avbsolutely, say goodbye to mora too, pilly and Francis/ De La Rosa too, we are now in the position of trying to cut salary while not eliminating us from the race
No reason to trade Spilly. Its not like he’s making a lot of money, and its not like the Rox can get any decent prospects in return. The guy is better than 50%+ of the other 4th outfielders in the league, why would you trade that away?
Spilly is pretty easily replaced with Matt Miller as they both are the same guy in many ways. So if some one wanted Spilly…it’s no real loss to the Rockies
is there a dislike option? lol. i have to disagree completely here. if Matt Miller is the same guy, then go ahead and trade Matt Miller. Spilborghs is the proven player. Proven players at cheap contracts are better than unproven players at cheap contracts.
no I hear you, I’m wary of any numbers put up by guys in the Springs. The big difference is spilly is signed for only one more year, and Miller would be controllable for several more as his clock hasn’t started yet.
There is that gamble of course that Miller can’t keep it up in the majors. (that and I personally like Spilly)
If the Yankees are keen on adding another starter on the cheap, I could see a Cook+Reliever or a Cook+Mora or something in a low cost package.
cheap as far as prospects back..yeah..but Cook will get $10 million next year plus a buyout. That contract is why the Rockies would and will give him away.
Phillies ought to make a run at Mora. He can play 3rd and Polanco can play 2nd until Utley heals. Then you have a decent bat on the bench for the last 25 games of the season.
if the rockies really want meek, i’d probably give him up for chacin.
yeah…no
if there is anyone on the team that’s not toucable for the Rockies, it’s Jimenez and Chacin. Chacin is young, and cost controlled and was the Rockies 2nd best starting pitcher this year. Also there is a gap in the Rockies organization to the next real starting prospect
Plus the Rockies have Meek in their organization..he’s called Esmil Rogers
Oh word, you’d be willing to give up Even ****** Meek for a pitcher who was on several Top 20 prospect lists a year ago?
LOL @ “probably”…..
the pirates have no need to trade meek. that’s why the price can be so high. if a team really wants him, they’re going to have to pay. i don’t expect to get chacin. i don’t expect meek to get traded. he’s under team control for a couple of years, makes little money and could be the closer if dotel gets traded. he’s not untouchable; but he’s close to it.
theres word huston street was rushed to the hospital…maybe they really need to push for kevin gregg now
I agree 100%….Also, how many times have I seen the Rockies down by 1 run late in the game with 1 out or less and a runner on 3rd…and they do nothing with it…Teach these guys how to pull off a squeeze..or atleast try…dammit…how are you losing to the pirates?!?!?! And by the way front office…why not try watering the flowers instead of standing idle and watching them wither..and all the while saying your approach for bettering your team will be determined on how well they’re doing when you do nothing to help them improve their chances.
My suggestion, if you’re going to try to unload Cook, talk to the Phillies and try to get Werth for a couple months..I know the outfield is overloaded right now..maybe add the Jays and throw in an outfielder for kevin gregg…I don’t care what you do just make some kind of move help your investment win some games..it may not matter to you sitting there raking in the cash…but it matters to the fans.do you remember those people who still come out and support the team even in fairly tough economic times….Anyway..if you’ve decided to pack it in for the season already, say so..we’re a week and a half removed from being 1 game out of 1st place..but if you’re going to have a fire sale and look forward to 2011, say so..that way the fans know what to expect from the front office and ownership. I guess we’ll know what the plan is by Sunday morning.
Again, maybe making some sort of move would be a boost to the team that is struggling right now..perhaps if the front office steps up and show the team they’re willing to shake things up and I mean a significant move to improve the team, it may transition to the performance on the field. I don’t think the guys get too excited about playing when they are worried about if they’re going to be with the team next week or not…make the moves you want to make..just do it..pull the trigger..and show these guys you got their back…this is something you should have done about a month ago and a bunch of us little nobodies out in bloggerland can just about say I told you so for not moving on players sooner…Now, it seems that, you (the front office) look at the way the team was playing before the all-star break and use it to compare to the current slide in order to determine the future of this team based on a 2-3 week span… That’s a pretty unreliable assessment… Baseball has a very long season full of many slumps & streaks..this is just 1 of them…if the Rockies front office gets even a whiff of this post…Don’t make a move unless you plan on making one to help the team contend this year.