The Rockies revamped their catching situation by signing Ramon Hernandez and trading Chris Iannetta, but now let's see what else is cooking in Colorado…
- The Rockies are out of the running for Roy Oswalt, reports Troy Renck of The Denver Post. They remain aggressive in their pursuit of a starting pitcher though, and have interest in Kevin Millwood and former Rockie Jeff Francis. The Twins are in on Francis as well.
- Japanese second baseman Kensuke Tanaka will remain in Japan, reports Jon Paul Morosi of Fox Sports (on Twitter). The Rockies had expressed initial interest in the free agent according to Morosi.
- The Braves want good prospects along with Seth Smith in return for Martin Prado, reports SI.com's Jon Heyman (on Twitter), so the two clubs have some work to do if they're going to make a trade.
JacksTigers
Prado isn’t worth what the Braves are asking. He is coming off of a down a year and they want MLB power and a top five prospects? Crazy.
rundmc1981
I guess you’re forgetting Prado as the All-Star 2B for the NL 2 years ago. If you can’t see past the nagging injuries and position change, then you really don’t deserve Prado. Even if he doesn’t fit the mold as a corner OF, I really hope ATL doesn’t give him up for anyone less than what we might need in the next 2 years.
You guys keep occupying your time with trying to go after mediocre utility men like Blake DeWitt.
Brv Rocks
Then the Braves will just keep him if they don’t get their asking price. He can play almost any position on the field and is a key back-up for 3B. If the Braves don’t get a right-handed Of who can play all 3 OF positions or a top tier prospect then they won’t trade him.
bobrewer
I don’t see Colorado ponying up the prospects Atlanta wants.Â
Prado is too valuable to the Braves, as he’s a RHH, plus Chipper’s insurance policy for when he inevitably misses 80 games with a bum hip or stiff pinky finger or something.
bravesdude
The only way they trade him is if they get their young RH LFer that Wren has been stated that he is looking for . It could happen with a trade with Prado , Jurrjens , Venters(who has been mentioned) , or with with a package of several of those guys or someone not mentioned yet . Colorado NEEDS a second baseman . Atlanta doesn’t necasarily need a platoon player and a prospect not named Blackmon/Wheeler/Arenado .
HTF
Wren will get what he wants. He won’t fold.Â
I don’t believe the Seth Smith crap one bit. Maybe as a side piece but not as the main trade chip. We have no use for him. Hinske is basically the same player.Â
I expect to see MLBTR blow up with Braves rumors next week.
JacksTigers
Wren only gets what he wants if people are stupid enough to give him the extreme overpay. Which they won’t.
rundmc1981
Then COL won’t get Prado. Simple as that. You’re the ugly chick that keeps wanting our goods. You have nothing we want that you’re offering to give up. We need an OF upgrade, and if you can’t provide that, move on.
I don’t understand why a third team – like SEA who has shown interest in Smith – hasn’t entered the fray. Smith is the left-handed stepchild to us and the only use we have for him is helping move Nolan Arenado from Denver to Atlanta.Â
JacksTigers
My username is JacksTIGERS. My avatar is of Miguel Cabrera. How does that come off as me being a Rockies fan?
SwingtimeInTheRockies
Well, in his defense, he doesn’t seem too bright.
Adam
Someone’s still bitter over Wren raping DD in the Jurrjens/Renteria trade I see.
JacksTigers
Not at all. I don’t get bitter over trades unless they seemed stupid at the time, which it didn’t. I only get mad about draft picks in hindsight. So, you see wrong.
JacksTigers
Smith also had a higher OPS+ than Hinske in 2011. Smith actually plays, too. I don’t like that comparison.Â
bravesdude
I’m agreeing with you . Everyone (Rockies fans) seems to think that Prado isn’t worth what we are asking for . I don’t believe Seth Smith is really worth it either as like a lot of us Braves fans believe . But it’s not what we both think , it’s what both of the GM’s believe . Obviously they are gonna say thats too much and not enough . It’s all part of bargaining to get the most for each sides players . I’d still like to see the Braves try a package with a different team . Prado and Jurrjens are not the only trade pieces we can use according to Wren . The guy did an interview a few weeks ago about possible trades and decisions going into the Winter Meetings and brought up the fact that we have some young arms at our disposal to add to a package if needed .
With that being said , Venters has been mentioned a few times as well as Delgado and JJ Hoover . I just don’t think we do anything with the Rockies unless they add Blackmon/Wheeler/Arenado . And as much as O’Dowd is unwilling to come off of them , I don’t think at this point that there will be a deal done .
rundmc1981
Venters? Where have you seen that rumor? Frankly, they’d be insane to get rid of Venters or Delgado for anyone in COL’s system, Arenado included. I don’t care how highly-rated he is, we don’t have an immediate need for him and Joe Terdoslavich is looking great at 3B, not including Edward Salcedo. With that kind of potential why would you trade an All-Star lefty setup man with some closing experience and cost-controlled?Â
bravesdude
Because of his value and the fact that you have EOF who could take over his role , plus Medlen looked good last year when he came back from the DL and pitches well against Lefties with his change up . Then you also have Viz and Christian Martinez who is long relief . We have players who can take over his spot in the bullpen .
Wren did an interview a couple of weeks ago (which I have posted about a few times lately) about how he was gonna handle the Winter Meetings this year and talked about the surplus of young pitching that the team had at their disposal . A lot of people on that site seem to think that he was reffering to Venters because of the way the market has been set this year for the value of the back end bullpen guys or closers . His value is as bout as high as its gonna get probably right now with his contract and his ability on the mound . Why not at least look into what he could bring back as a return when you know that you could put someone else in that role that could handle it .
bleedrockiepurple
That’s quite the sweeping statement. Its not every Rockies fan. That would be like me saying EVERY braves fan over values Prado, which is not true.
I understand Prado’s value and the Braves not needing to trade him.
These teams simply don’t match up. Wren won’t give in and O’Dowd is not going to give up Arenado.
Phillies_Aces35
I’m sick of picking the Rockies to win the NL West only to have a horrible, inconsistent year. Hope they do something because I’m picking them again. On paper, they’re still probably the best team in the division.
Hope they sign somebody to help alleviate the consistency issues in their rotation.
cards2WS
With Tulo and Cargo they have a great 3-4. They’re rotation probably won’t contribute enough to win this year though. Always liked the Rocks, but oh well.
bleedrockiepurple
Unless the young arms in the rotation (Chacin, Pomeranz, White and Chatwood) make huge strides your better off picking the giants/dbacks/dodgers. However, the division is very weak compared to others so it could be had.
Jack Dein
Prado is a quality player and as a Braves fan I really don’t want to see him go. That being said what the Braves want and what the Rockies are willing to pay or not really close. The Braves are asking to much and the Rockies are offering to little.
Prado is a serviceable defender at 2B, 3B, and LF. He hit .260/.302/.385 with 13 HR’s in 129 games last year. He’s better suited to play 2B full time which is where the Rockies would probably play him.
In my mind a fair offer would be Seth Smith and Rafael Ortega
or
Charlie Blackmon and Josh Rutledge for Prado and Carlos Perez
Brv Rocks
Neither offer is nearly enough for Prado. Both Smith and Blackmon are left handed. Smith is a platoon player and Blackmon is a 4th outfielder. If that’s all the Rockies are offering then the Braves will just keep Prado.
Austin Bowman
Thats the problem though, is the Rockies are refusing to include Blackmon with Smith lol
Jack Dein
Blackmon has very good potential. The guy has hit .316/.376/.475 in the minors and should be able to stay in CF. I agree that Smith is more of a platoon player but he would be a solid addition to the lineup on days we face a right handed pitcher.
bravesdude
We totally sucked last year with players getting injured , players moving to new positions , and some having career worse seasons . But we were REALLY BAD against some really average LHed starting pitching last year . Smith won’t help fix that problem
Adam
I’d rather grossly overpay for a new Bourn contract than have Blackmon man CF in Atlanta. I’ve said this before, if he came here and then becomes the best option in CF going into 2013 because Bourn goes elsewhere the Braves are in serious trouble.
Jack Dein
BTW did you look at the offers. I didn’t have Blackmon and Smith in the same offer.
Robert Johnson
 Well, that trade certainly isn’t going to happen. The Braves are EXTREMELY high on Carlos Perez. We wouldn’t trade Prado for Blackmon straight up, and we have no need for Rutledge. Besides, I don’t think him alone would get you Carlos Perez.
HTF
Prado for Arrenado straight up.Â
SwingtimeInTheRockies
 Comedy gold!
bleedrockiepurple
Keep dreaming.
progmatinee
I’ll play.
Prado and Heyward for Wheeler and Arenado.
bravesdude
You’re probably right . But this is one of those situations where the Braves don’t have to trade Prado because of the positions that he plays and being able to back up Chipper on his days off . Not to mention that he can really handle the bat when he is right . His 2010 and 2009 stats prove that . So I really don’t see Wren bending much if at all from what he is offering .
Paul_Zuvella
As a Blue Jays fan I don’t get why they have yet to be linked to Prado??? The Jays have a dearth of quality OF prospects (Snider/Thames/Sierra/Mastro) as well as a serious need to acquire a 2B….surely a match can be found here. Maybe it is AA’s silence on this one (as opposed to him being linked to everyone else this offseason) that signals to me that the deal is about to be done 😉
bravesdude
Snider and Thames are LH batters . Sniders splits aren’t very good against LH pitchers . I couldn’t find any splits on Thames .
Gmail User
You are all missing the point… the Rockies are only looking to “get” guys by giving away roughly equal players. That isn’t adding, it’s a lateral move.Â
The big news is that the Rockies are out on Oswalt… this says a LOT. The Rockies biggest need is a top of the rotation #2 or better arm. Beyond that they need to ADD (not swap for) either a high average bat, or a HR bat who doesn’t strikeout.
If they don’t address both these issues they will be 3rd or worse again IMHO.
BobbyJohn
Smith + Blackmon for Prado + low-level pitching prospect.
Done deal?
John Adams
Hell naw. Prado was 9th in NL MVP in 2010.Â
progmatinee
A lot of you Braves fans better be writing to your senator or at least Braves management. Its not the Rockies fault that Prado’s name is being thrown around. In reality the Braves have allowed Prado’s name to be out and that’s on the Braves not the Rockies, so stop aiming your hissy fits at Rockies fans that Seth Smith isn’t enough when you should be crying to Wren and co.
Gmail User
Colorado doesn’t want Prado anymore IMO. He’s not even a good fit.
bleedrockiepurple
Really? Because the Rox already have a solution at 2B or 3B right?
chee1rs
big time