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Brad Hawpe

Odds & Ends: Parker, Hawpe, Loux, Giants, Orioles

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Saturday night links as Livan Hernandez takes the loss against the Marlins, his first team…

  • Troy Renck of The Denver Post spoke to Clemson reporters, who indicated that Rockies' first round pick Kyle Parker could decide on his future by Monday or Tuesday (four different Twitter links). Parker is choosing between baseball and football, and it's a matter of how much Colorado is willing to exceed MLB's recommended slot bonus of $1.5MM to sign him. The Rockies would be able to pay out his bonus over five years thanks to MLB's provision for two-spot athletes. 
  • Meanwhile, Brad Hawpe is making his first career start at first base tonight, and Renck says proving he can play the position would go a long way towards keeping him in Colorado beyond this season (Twitter links). The Rockies won't pick up his $10MM option for next season, but they do value his bat and his leadership.
  • Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic sees the Diamondbacks either signing Barret Loux at a discount or not signing him at all, and using the savings on some tough-to-sign players they drafted in the lower rounds. Loux, the sixth overall pick in last month's draft, recently failed his physical due to a shoulder issue.
  • Giants' manager Bruce Bochy indicated that he'd rather not sacrifice a starting pitcher in a trade for a bat, according to John Shea of The San Francisco Chronicle.
  • Peter Schmuck of The Baltimore Sun wonders when the trade deadline will be something more than a time when the Orioles just sell off veterans.
  • The Marlins have signed second round pick Rob Rasmussen, according to MLB.com's Joe Frisaro. Terms of the deal are unknown, but MLB's recommended slot bonus for the 73rd overall pick is estimated at $500K. Florida has now signed nine of their top 15 picks, though first rounder Christian Yelich remains unsigned.

The Rockies’ Approach To Trade Clauses

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The Rockies, known for producing their own talent, have taken an interesting approach to the no-trade clause in several recent contracts.  Four examples:

  • Aaron Cook's annual salaries increase by $1MM if traded.  Many players have one-time assignment bonuses if traded, usually less than a million bucks.  Mark Buehrle is one pitcher with a better trade inhibitor than Cook – he gets an extra $1MM per year and an additional year at $15MM is added to his contract.
  • Brad Hawpe has a $10MM club option for 2011 with a $500K buyout, but he can void the option if traded.  A GM may like the idea of controlling Hawpe through 2011, but only the Rockies have the privilege.
  • Chris Iannetta can void his 2013 club option if he's traded before that season.  Iannetta is only controlled through '13 if he remains a Rockie, something to keep in mind when tossing around trade scenarios.
  • Troy Tulowitzki can void the remainder of his contract if he's traded.  His team-friendly deal won't be transferred to another club without his permission.  It's probably a moot point, as GM Dan O'Dowd told Tyler Kepner of the New York Times in March he hopes Tulo retires a Rockie.

Top Trade Chips: NL West

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Let's take stock of each team's top trade chips, starting today with the NL West…

  • Diamondbacks: Arizona moved two of its best trade chips this winter in Max Scherzer and Daniel Schlereth, and there's obviously no way Justin Upton will be moved. The cupboard is a little bare right now, but Stephen Drew could be available for the right price. He has two more years of team control left after 2010. Conor Jackson, who won't be a free agent until after 2011, could be attractive as well. Top prospect Jarrod Parker is recovering from Tommy John surgery.
  • Dodgers: Matt Kemp and Clayton Kershaw are deal breakers, but Chad Billingsley could be dangled after popping up in rumors during the offseason. The 25-year-old posted a 5.21 ERA in his final 19 appearances last year, though his peripheral stats were in line with what they had been in previous seasons. He won't be eligible for free agency until after the 2012 season.
  • Giants: Tim Lincecum and Pablo Sandoval aren't going anywhere and Matt Cain just signed a new extension, so Brian Sabean's best trade chip is lefty Jonathan Sanchez. The 27-year-old owns a career 9.3 K/9 and won't be eligible for arbitration until after the 2012 season. Madison Bumgarner's stock is down while he battles with Missing Velocity Disease, and Buster Posey isn't going anywhere.
  • Padres: Adrian Gonzalez and Heath Bell aren't just San Diego's two best trade chips, they're among the best in the game. Gonzalez is one of the baseball's premier power hitters at age 27, and will make just $4.75MM in 2010 with a $5.5MM club option for 2011. Bell has emerged as one of the league's most dominant closers, and won't be eligible for free agency until after the 2011 season.
  • Rockies: Everyone wants to get their hands on Troy Tulowitzki, but it's just not happening. Brad Hawpe is the player most likely to be moved, and there should be interest given his annual .890 OPS's and 25+ homers. He has a $10MM option for the 2011 season with a cheap $500K buyout, and Colorado has a glut of young and productive outfielders to replace him.

Discussion: Brad Hawpe

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At the beginning of baseball's offseason, Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd said that while he was willing to listen to trade offers for Brad Hawpe, the team had no desire to move its right fielder. With the Rockies looking like a strong playoff contender, there's a good chance they'll maintain that stance throughout the 2010 season. On a Colorado roster with a loaded outfield, however, Hawpe will be an interesting case going forward.

An underrated source of offensive production, the 30-year-old has been extremely consistent for the Rockies, compiling a .288/.384/.518 slash line and averaging 25 homers over his last four seasons. His play in the outfield is another story. Hawpe's -25.9 UZR/150 last season was a league-worst mark among qualifying fielders, but was actually an improvement over his -46.6 UZR/150 in 2008. Given his poor defense and his struggles against left-handers (.243/.337/.438 in 2009), Hawpe will likely cede some playing time to lefty killers Dexter Fowler and Ryan Spilborghs.

Hawpe will earn a reasonable $7.5MM salary this year. His club option for 2011, which he could void in the event of a trade, is a little pricier, at $10MM (with a $500K buyout). The Rockies could decide at year's end to decline Hawpe's option, turning instead to their younger, cheaper talent. The team has no shortage of outfield options, including Carlos Gonzalez, Seth Smith, Fowler, and Spilborghs.

If you were O'Dowd, how would you handle Hawpe in 2010? Is he a trade candidate this season? Is his offense strong enough to make up for his defense? Are his services worth the $9.5MM it would cost the Rockies to retain him for 2011?

Odds & Ends: Thames, Manzella, Royals, Marlins

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Links for Friday…

Rox Look To Strengthen Bullpen, Bench

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Rockies manager Jim Tracy doesn't "want to be the organization that pops up every three years or so," according to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post. Renck offers up a look at the needs the Rockies will need to address at this year's Winter Meetings in order to strengthen the club's chances to be perennial contenders:

  • General manager Dan O'Dowd will meet with Rafael Betancourt's representation today. We've heard that Betancourt may accept arbitration from the Rockies, but with the Red Sox and Phillies interested in his services, that may change. O'Dowd says he wants things to work out with Betancourt, but they've identified alternatives in the event that they don't.
  • Colorado would be interested in bringing LaTroy Hawkins back to Coors Field. Hawkins is coming off a strong year with the Astros in which he posted a 2.13 ERA through 63.1 innings, fanning 45 and walking 17. His FIP checked in at a much more pedestrian 3.97, however.
  • The Rockies have requested Justin Duchscherer's medical records and will meet with his agent today.
  • They've inquired on free agent Chad Tracy in an attempt to add a left-handed bat off the bench. Even without Tracy, however, they could still find a suitable backup to Todd Helton in their own clubhouse, as Brad Hawpe is open to spelling Helton from time to time.
  • O'Dowd will keep the team's struggles against left-handers in mind if teams inquire about names like Brad Hawpe and Jorge De La Rosa.
  • O'Dowd says he'll remain open to anything, but the difference between this year and last year is that he's not specifically looking to move some players.

Rockies Rumors: Hawpe, Tracy, Carroll

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Troy E. Renck of The Denver Post has some Rockies rumors for us…

  • GM Dan O'Dowd called Brad Hawpe a "legitimate alternative" that can spell Todd Helton at first base. The team had been looking for a bench player capable of playing both first and third.
  • The Rockies have expressed preliminary interest in free agents Chad Tracy and Jamey Carroll.
  • O'Dowd confirmed that he's not looking to move Ryan Spilborghs.
  • Contrary to reports, the Rockies are not interested in Gregg Zaun, though they still hope to bring Yorvit Torrealba back.
  • Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FoxSports.com say that reports about hard feelings between Jason Marquis and the Rockies about not getting a playoff start are untrue.

Rockies Rumors: Hawpe, Atkins, Barmes, Street

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Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post has the Rockies hot stove chatter; let's take a look.

  • GM Dan O'Dowd explained that, "There is a difference between listening and attempting to move a player."  Brad Hawpe falls squarely into the "listening" category.  Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports say the Rockies would probably seek a right-handed hitting outfielder and a reliever for Hawpe.
  • New contracts for O'Dowd and manager Jim Tracy are still pending a few small details.
  • The Rockies are trying to trade Garrett Atkins.  If and when they fail, they'll release him.  So rather than wait until the December 12th non-tender deadline, Atkins should join the free agent ranks by November 20th at the latest.  The Rangers have "moderate interest" in Atkins, according to Jeff Wilson of the Dallas Morning News.
  • The Rockies will attempt to sign arbitration-eligible players Clint Barmes and Huston Street to multiyear deals, but if that doesn't work they'll simply get one-year contracts.
  • Catcher Paul Phillips who had 54 plate appearances with the big club this year, is expected to be designated for assignment re-signed to a minor league deal to create 40-man roster space.
  • Click here to read Monday's Rockies rumors.

Rockies Rumors: Hawpe, Betancourt, Torrealba

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8:34pm: SI.com's Jon Heyman is reporting that Torrealba declined a Colorado offer of two years, $4.5MM.

3:57pm: Joel Sherman of The NY Post has a slew of Rockies' rumors from the GM meetings, so let's recap…

  • The Rockies are willing to listen to trade offers for outfielder Brad Hawpe. Just last month, GM Dan O'Dowd said "We have no desire to move [Hawpe] at all." 
  • The team's top priority at the moment is to retain reliever Rafael Betancourt, who they've already approached about a multi-year deal.
  • Yorvit Torrealba turned down an offer to return to the team after they declined his option. They'll look elsewhere for a backup catcher.
  • The Rockies do not plan to tender Garrett Atkins a contract, and intend to use Ian Stewart at third base.
  • They'd like to add a righty bat to be a reserve outfielder or first baseman.
  • The team has received "glowing reports" about Jeff Francis, who is battling back from shoulder surgery and missed all of 2009.

Rockies Not Looking To Trade Brad Hawpe

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The Rockies are not looking to trade right fielder Brad Hawpe, according to Tracy Ringolsby of Inside The Rockies.  Ringolsby talked to Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd, who said, "We have no desire to move [Hawpe] at all."

The Rockies are not under pressure to unload Hawpe's contract, which pays $7.5MM in 2010 with a $10MM club option for '11 ($500K buyout).  Cot's Baseball Contracts notes that Hawpe can void the option if traded.  Ringolsby says the Rockies would trade Hawpe only if they "received a solid return, such as the Matt Holliday trade last off-season."

O'Dowd had to stomp out Hawpe rumors in June also.  At that time, he told Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post:

"I don't know where any of that came from.  I don't foresee us doing anything with him. That's something you would only do strategically, for the big picture. That would be something for the offseason, if at all."

Hawpe, 30, has a strong offensive track record over the past four seasons, but his defense has been detrimental.  Over the past few weeks we've seen and contributed to speculation that Hawpe could be a fit for the Cubs, Mets, and Red Sox. 

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