Wednesday Rockpile: Winter Meetings, Day Three

by Russ on Dec 10, 2008 7:01 AM MST in Rockpile Comment 21 comments

While a Willy Taveras-for-Tim Redding swap is dead, a deal for Tim Redding could still happen, according to Troy Renck, if the right player is found. One guy discussed was:

Joe Koshansky

#47 / First Base / Colorado Rockies

Height: 6-4

Weight: 225

Bats: L

Throws: L

Born: May 26, 1982

	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	K	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
2008 - Joe Koshansky	18	38	5	8	3	0	3	8	1	17	0	0	.211	.250	.526

Joe Koshansky wouldn't be a terrible loss to acquire Tim Redding. It would likely take another player and Koshansky to get Redding, given that he's already been discussed and nothing's happened.

Koshansky, like Ryan Shealy before him, is blocked in his pursuit of playing time with the Rockies. The problem is amplified even more now for Koshansky with the Rockies having several players able to play first base: Todd Helton, Garrett Atkins, and Jeff Baker. And Brad Hawpe could always take over first base in a pinch, playing there for LSU.

Koshansky struck out in 45% of his at-bats (17 in 38) with the Rockies in 2008. His defense also left something to be desired.

Koshansky's at the bottom of the pecking order for time at first base, so he'll need to be moved somewhere else for a real chance at the majors. I'd place money on him being moved by the Rockies in 2009.

Also in Renck's article, Dan O'Dowd places Huston Street as the favorite for the closer's job, but has this to say about Manny Corpas:

"I think he came into camp heavy. And in spring, I don't think he worked on getting his main two pitches (fastball and slider) locked in," O'Dowd said. "He's going to have to come in a different frame of mind and better condition."

-----

And outside of baseball, Colorado Crush fans must be disheartened right now.

0 recs | Comment 21 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

KO.....gone?

well, it’s about time the Rockies start trading off some of their surplus B grade prospects. I don’t expect Kosh to be much of a Big League player. I expect a throw in would be…..Tavares. Really? for a #4/5 type starter, that the Rockies already have a bunch of? I really love the idea of Tavares on the bench to pinch run as by the end of the year, he was almost an automatic stolen base (or two!) when he got on, or defensive sub. I like the idea of Tavares on the bench better then Redding straight up (which given the high price of #4 type starters might be off line some)

And for the Crush: CRAP on a STICK. I hate this news. Last year the Crush lost Damien Harrell…this year, they lost their league. (glad I held off on sending in my season ticket renewal). I’ll actually miss arena football. I thought it was a fun sport.

Thought Clint Hurdle should be fired before it was cool.

by Redhawk on Dec 10, 2008 8:06 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Willy T

Can they really afford to spend $4 million on a bench player?

by roxhead on Dec 10, 2008 8:12 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

$4 Million ???

Sorry….didn’t realize he was going to make that much. I thought it was closer to $2 M. Which would be a lot for a bench player, but not crazy lot. $4 M for the Rockies bench, is too much. Not for the big 7 teams…but the Rockies…too much.

Thought Clint Hurdle should be fired before it was cool.

by Redhawk on Dec 10, 2008 9:13 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Joke is on Yank fan

$160 MILLION for Sabathia..

Nobody even came close to offering CC the kind of money he just snagged from the Yankees.

by roxhead on Dec 10, 2008 8:09 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Glad

not to see CC (slight pun intended) as a Dodger.

4/1/1983-11/27/2007 * RIP#21 * The Eternal Redskin

by DbacksSkins on Dec 10, 2008 8:49 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Redding to replace Josh Towers

Koshanky is not going to impact the Rockies, so trading him for Redding would not hurt. I just see Redding being the replacement for Josh Towers in Colorado Springs,

by brian8065 on Dec 10, 2008 8:15 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Redding 2007 and 2008 was a higher grade than Towers 2006 and 2007

But otherwise it’s a pretty apt comparison. It might be tricky getting him through waivers and onto the AAA roster, but the numbers suggest you’re probably right. It’s looking like the pen will be something like:

Corpas
Buchholz
Street
Vizcaino
Embree
Rusch

and two of the three of:
Morillo/Speier/Grilli

I’m pretty sure the club’s set with the Cook/Jimenez/Francis portion of the rotation, so Redding would be used just in case Smith and JDLR don’t pan out, or an injury to one of those five in spring training, but then outrighted to the Springs if everything goes according to plan.

by Rox Girl on Dec 10, 2008 8:32 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

8-man relief corps?

I’ve never even heard of the Rockies doing that.

by Tom (RFTN) on Dec 10, 2008 11:07 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Did I ever say basic math was my strong suit?

One of those last three would be the obvious correction.

by Rox Girl on Dec 10, 2008 11:31 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Stewart

Put a package together that includes Stew. Once again he comes to camp, as a potential 2nd baseman, third?, left fielder? Come on give the kid a break. Send him along with others and get a FRONTLINE starter!

by roxtalk on Dec 10, 2008 8:54 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Stewart isn't the only big prospect

who had to wait for the smoke to clear before settling in at his natural position. Albert Pujols played left field and third base until he settled in at first. Helton played in left field a few games. What’s it hurt to have him play 130+ games at various positions? Plus, Helton might not hold up, and Atkins could be gone soon. With no corner IF depth in the minors, we NEED Stewart….

…plus what FRONTLINE starter do you honestly think we’d get for him? Some players have more value to a team as trade bait, and some have far more value staying on the team. Stew is the latter.

by Poseidon's Fist on Dec 10, 2008 9:02 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Pujols bounced around a lot

The Cardinals, though, did the right thing by getting his bat in the lineup however possible, first by using him at third (he played third in the minors); then, after they got Scott Rolen, moving him to left; and when arm problems flared up he moved to first.

Only in the dreams of Rockies fans is Stewart equal to Albert Pujols, though.

by Tom (RFTN) on Dec 10, 2008 11:09 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

He can play 2nd? What??

Trade you Eric Byrnes for him. (No tradebacks)

4/1/1983-11/27/2007 * RIP#21 * The Eternal Redskin

by DbacksSkins on Dec 10, 2008 9:04 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

It won't work

There are no frontline starters available out there except Peavy and he’d veto any trade to Colorado. This is before I get into all of my issues about dealing Stew right now anyway. I just don’t see that as a good move by the Rockies at all.

by Rox Girl on Dec 10, 2008 9:04 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

The only starter I might at least think about including Stew in a package of prospects for would be Roy Halladay, who may or may not be available… otherwise, there is no reasonable scenario in which the Rockies would move him.

by roxhead on Dec 10, 2008 10:12 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Stewart, Atkins

I think we need to sit tight on Ian and Garrett until Spring Training at the earliest. Todd’s health must be assured before moving any corner infielders. With the exception of Koshansky. I don’t see him as a long term fixture at first. And I don’t think we can afford to keep Taveras on the bench to pinch run and be a late inning defensive specialist.

Figure out a way to move Koshansky, Taveras, Yorvit and maybe even dangle Baker or Barmes to get some pitching help.

by pedalpusher on Dec 10, 2008 12:18 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Agree

I just don’t think there is going to be much a market for Atkins right now. With the Yankees, Mets, Cubs, Red Sox all solid at 3b and most solid at first, the only two big money teams left would be LAA, LAD, and Atlanta. We can rule out a trade with the Dodgers, and I don’t think LAA has the prospect base to be much of a player for trades at this time. That really leaves Atlanta; I don’t see them going after Atkins.

The other teams mentioned like Minnesota and Cincy are more likely to sit with their younger and cheaper players given the economy unless the Rox asking price were to come way down. Wouldn’t mind Hawpe getting some pt at 1b in the spring to see how he holds up there defensively. Someone else besides Atkins has to be able to play first on a regular basis if needed and that is Baker’s worst position.

by brainteaser on Dec 10, 2008 2:09 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

However

Every indication is that the Twins and Reds both intend to raise payroll, which is reinforced by their rumored interest in Atkins, as well as other free agents like Casey Blake and Pat Burrell. They also happen to be two teams with some pretty good young talent (although Minnesota’s overall young pitching is deeper than Cinci, and Cueto and Volquez aren’t coming back in an Atkins trade).

The four teams you mention are set at the corners for awhile (except 1B for the Yankees, but Swisher is there). Relative to some free agents, Atkins would be pretty desirable to teams with mid- to low- payrolls. He’s not that expensive this year (like Crede), not that old (like Blake), and won’t cost a truly elite player in return for a trade. If O’Dowd had reasonable sights (and maybe he’s right not to, but I doubt people are going to be any more convinced on Atkins in July than now), he’d go after a young talented starter who hasn’t had a breakout year yet – like Volquez and Cueto did this year. If he wants more than that, he’s going to have to throw in some minor league talent to get it. The Twins and Reds still fit the bill.

by deacs on Dec 10, 2008 4:55 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

With Blake off the market

We’ll probably hear some more serious offers on Atkins. It’s still a premium position, but right now, there’s a serious lack of premium talent. Be interesting to see what happens next.

You know you want to check out Matt's Korea blog: http://koreamatt.wordpress.com

by MattTheRock on Dec 10, 2008 7:21 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I think teams have to cycle through all their semi-realistic pipedreams first...

So you’ll hear about a lot of Adrian Beltre and Alex Gordon rumors first. Once they find out that those players are more prohibitive than Atkins, then we might start to see some movement.

by Rox Girl on Dec 10, 2008 9:31 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Why not?

I don’t see any loss coming out of this trade. We get rid of Koshansky and Taveras, that clears up room, and maybe Redding has a decent year, and maybe he doesn’t. We don’t really lose anything either way.

by onholliday on Dec 10, 2008 11:46 AM MST reply actions 0 recs