The Rockies made a valiant late season charge at a playoff spot, but they ultimately fell short and will miss the postseason for the second time in four years. We've already heard that GM Dan O'Dowd wants to acquire an impact bat this offseason, but he now tells Troy Renck of The Denver Post that re-signing Jorge de la Rosa is a priority.
"He is a priority. I don't know how to gauge that yet," O'Dowd said. "Adding a middle-of-the-rotation starter is a priority. And we would certainly like that to be Jorge."
De La Rosa missed close to three months with a torn flexor band on his left middle finger, but he was rock solid in the 20 starts he was able to make: 121.2 innings, 4.22 ERA, 8.4 K/9, 4.1 BB/9. Aside from a drop in strikeout rate (9.4 K/9 in 2009), the southpaw was able to repeat his 2009 breakout performance.
The Rockies tried to lock De La Rosa up last winter to a two-year, $8.75MM contract with an option for a third year, but he instead opted for a one-year deal that paid him $5.6MM in 2010 and allows him to hit the open market after the season. The 29-year-old could be in line for an annual salary of $7MM or more on a multi-year deal, so he likely made himself some extra money by passing on Colorado's offer.
Tim looked at De La Rosa's free agent stock back in April, but more recently one unnamed GM cautioned that he could be "the next Oliver Perez."
I say De La Rosa ends up with the Astros and Jeff Francis ends up with the Mets. But I think the Rockies will get someone maybe James Shields through a trade.
Dear god I hope that’s not the Mets plan to fortify the rotation.
Astros are starved with pitching, so I see where that idea comes from, but I don’t think they’re going to be willing to shell out that kind of money for what is essentially Wandy Rodriguez v2.
Francis to Mets and the availability of James Shields seems much more likely, IMO
I’d really like for the Pirates to sign him. McDonald’s really the only solid looking option going into next year.
Well maybe it’s smart to wait a year until Locke, Owens, Wilson, Morris, Taillon are ready.
I really do not see any of those guys coming up until 2012, especially Taillon, who probably won’t be up until 2013. And the Pirates need an established pitcher in their rotation anyways, so getting DLR would not be a bad thing.
Taillon will be 20 on opening day 2012.
Most of those guys are far from being ready in a year, especially Locke and Taillon. Still, a solid group of young arms for Pirates fans to look forward to, including the #1 overall pick in 2011.
Never understood why people are so enamored with this guy. Sure he has good stuff, but has never put it together, just like another person by the name of Ollie Perez that has managed to put up pretty much fair to horrible seasons throughout his career, yet people act like he is something of a staff ace.
Compare the 2007 season of Ollie Perez and the 2009 season of JDLR….IP, K’s, BB’s, WHIP are all very similar…the only major difference is ERA (3.56 Perez, 4.38 JDLR) and JDLR was backed by the second best offense in the NL. None the less ’09 was a very good year for JDLR but look at the rest of his seasons…he hasnt posted anywhere close to those numbers in any other season.
I still feel he is a much needed player on the Rox for the next few seasons as a middle of the rotation but most importantly a LHP, but my biggest question is why does he demand some much?? What has he done other than have one pretty good season and i wouldn’t label it as anything more than that due to that pretty high ERA. In my eyes he deserves what they offered him last year… 2 yrs at around 9/10 mil max. If he thinks he can find more on the open market then please become the Polanco of 2011 and trick some high payroll powerhouse to over pay for your middle of the rotation stuff.