Saturday Rockpile: The stove is heating up as the Rockies begin to show interest in Free Agents

by Bryan Kilpatrick on Dec 5, 2009 9:48 AM MST in Rockpile

Rockies show interest in Hudson, hope Betancourt accepts arbitration - Fox Sports on MSN
Although the Rox would net two draft picks and avoid paying $6 million for one year of an aging reliever, they still hope that Rafael Betancourt accepts their arbitration offer. His situation on the market may force him to do just that.

Tracy Ringolsby also reports that the Rockies have began to show interest in free agent second baseman Orlando Hudson. I recall this being something that a lot of fans wished the Rockies paid attention to last offseason. However, to me it sounds like a good move this year as well, rather than it being a year too late. Hudson, 32, just finished a nice season for the Dodgers and could help the Rockies alleviate their need for a right-handed bench bat by simply inserting O-Dog into the starting lineup and using Clint Barmes in the bench/super-utility role. On top of all of that, Hudson wasn't offered arbitration by LA, so signing him will not require draft compensation. This all could be one big moot point, though, as Dan O'Dowd has denied seriously pursuing Hudson.

Rox could shift to Hawkins if Betancourt departs, while keeping an eye on Duchsherer and DeRosa - The Denver Post
In the event that Raffy B does not accept arbitration and decides to bolt for another club, Troy E. Renck says the Rockies have been open about the fact that they would love to bring back LaTroy Hawkins. Hawkins has had a good past few years pitching out of the bullpen for the Astros and Rockies and still throws very hard and has good stuff (although his walk totals are still a bit high), especially for his age. It sounds like the Rockies will definitely be bringing one of these guys back, though, as it could be as late as the middle of 2010 when we'll see Taylor Buchholz return.

Meanwhile, Justin Duchscherer has become a top target for the Rox as well. If he can get past his physical and mental health issues, Duchscherer has proven to be a solid big league starter and would be a good fit to the back of anybody's rotation. Also, Renck mentions that the Rockies have expressed interest in Mark DeRosa, who hits lefties well and could be another option to fill the right-handed void that the Rockies have amongst position players.

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Comments

That picture of Hudson makes me laugh.

by Greg Stanwood on Dec 5, 2009 10:58 AM MST reply actions

I think the Rockies plans for Hudson are exactly what it should be

Wait until he’s on the bargain disposal in late January-early February. The only thing that’s preventing us from getting him is if some team like the Mets decide to be eager and exploit Hudson’s non Type A free agent status, which is entirely possible, but there will be other bargain types looking for a contract come Spring Training.

I disagree with how high the Rockies are on Barmes, and while a two year deal with plans for him to be super utility is an awesome plan, it seems that the Rockies believe him to be the answer until Hector Gomez or EY2 inserts themselves into their plans for the second base starter.

Impossible not to have positive thoughts.

I want Sam Deduno to pitch already.

by bballrox4717 on Dec 5, 2009 11:12 AM MST reply actions

I'm down for the continuation of the O-Dawg NL West tour.

"There are only two important things in life: baseball and breathing. But at least you can survive without breathing for 3 minutes."
www.soundclick.com/hollidayrain

by Hollidayrain on Dec 5, 2009 11:30 AM MST reply actions

As long as it's not with the Giants or Padres.

by Greg Stanwood on Dec 5, 2009 11:34 AM MST up reply actions

The Padres have me really nervous....

I think they could make a real run, if they can start hitting….look out!

Dear Rockies - Thank you for a wonderful rollercoaster of a season! NL Wild Card Champs. Best turnaround in MLB history for a team to win the Wild Card. Can't wait to do it again next year!

Troy Tulowitzki - MLB's BEST shortstop..nuff said
Yorvit Torrealba - Re-sign!! he's en Fuego!!
Brad Hawpe- I hope I get to see you in a Rockies uniform again!
Dexter Fowler - prowling CF, WC in his talons, leaping Utleys in a single bound!

by SDcat09 on Dec 5, 2009 11:57 AM MST up reply actions

Your sig

I hope they don’t do it again next year. I want them to start off strong. I agree with everything else. :)

JFK

by jrockies on Dec 5, 2009 12:04 PM MST up reply actions

heh, I guess I should modify

I just want to see them in playoffs again next year :)

Dear Rockies - Thank you for a wonderful rollercoaster of a season! NL Wild Card Champs. Best turnaround in MLB history for a team to win the Wild Card. Can't wait to do it again next year!

by SDcat09 on Dec 5, 2009 12:38 PM MST up reply actions

It made June through September so much more exciting though

I wonder if Bud Selig will give the Yankees a receipt with their World Series purchase

by RhodeIslandRoxfan on Dec 5, 2009 8:42 PM MST up reply actions

The Padres have too many holes to be too worrisome,

but their hitting is actually probably more dangerous than their pitching at this point, it just gets masked because of PETCO. I think they’ve been put together too well to play down to the expectations of their salary level, but they’re not going to compete with the Dodgers, Rockies or Giants. I think Arizona has a better chance of surprising in 2010.

by Rox Girl on Dec 5, 2009 12:10 PM MST up reply actions

I dunno...they turned it on at the end of the season

Dear Rockies - Thank you for a wonderful rollercoaster of a season! NL Wild Card Champs. Best turnaround in MLB history for a team to win the Wild Card. Can't wait to do it again next year!

by SDcat09 on Dec 5, 2009 12:38 PM MST up reply actions

And at various points during the season...

They were 57-48 in April/May and August/September, but 17-37 in June and July. Unfortunately for them those two months in the middle count just as much as the other four when determining the team’s true talent level. I’m not ignoring the September surge in saying this, and I do think they are more dangerous than most baseball fans not into the NL West realize, but they are still a long way away from a real contention level. Bad teams can have good months.

by Rox Girl on Dec 5, 2009 12:59 PM MST up reply actions

The problem I see for the Rockies next year with the NL west is that

nobody looks to be terrible. If that’s the case all of the teams may beat each other up a little bit and make it difficult for the wild card to come out of this division. The Rockies may have to win the division next year to make the playoffs.

I wonder if Bud Selig will give the Yankees a receipt with their World Series purchase

by RhodeIslandRoxfan on Dec 5, 2009 8:46 PM MST up reply actions

Sure nobody is terrible, but no team stands out above the rest, the division looks winnable for the Rockies to me

Yes, if Kershaw and Billingsley take steps forward, the Dodgers rotation looks strong, but that wasn’t their main problem when they were slumping. It was hitters such as Martin, Furcal and mostly Manny who struggled to hit the ball and played subpar defense that hurt the team. We all know the Giants have great pitching, and they are taking steps forward by planning on using Posey more next year, but unless they make a move for a big bat, their offense will be much of the same and they’ll have to deal with Cain’s likely regression. The Diamondbacks have an inconsistent offense and not enough starting pitching, and the Padres are still rebuilding. Honestly, the Rockies are the most balanced team heading forward, and while they may not have as much star talent as other teams, they don’t have a hole at any single position. Barmes hurt us at times, we need a righty bench bat, the young bats were still learning, but is there any gigantic problem with the team that the Rockies need to fix?

This team and the young players are taking steps forward, and don’t forget: we were two games from taking it from the Dodgers, who seem likely to regress. The Rockies should be the favorites to win the division next year, even though the National Media will think the Dodgers are the favorites.

Impossible not to have positive thoughts.

I want Sam Deduno to pitch already.

by bballrox4717 on Dec 5, 2009 9:14 PM MST up reply actions

I agree that we should be the favorites

Not huge favorites but we probably have a slight edge. I just think all the teams will beat each other up enough so that the wild card might not come out of the west.

By the way if the division comes down to us and the Dodgers it’s going to be a wild ending to the year because we play the Dodgers 12 times in the last 44 games of the season.

I wonder if Bud Selig will give the Yankees a receipt with their World Series purchase

by RhodeIslandRoxfan on Dec 6, 2009 1:07 AM MST up reply actions

Nah, they are totally set with eckstein and Sanchez

"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein

by Andrew T. Fisher on Dec 5, 2009 12:04 PM MST via mobile up reply actions

So? We're set with Barmes. :p

Though I wasn’t trying to actually suggest he’d actually go to either team.

by Greg Stanwood on Dec 5, 2009 12:06 PM MST up reply actions

Not sure if anyone noticed...

… but former Rockie Aneury Rodriguez may be Rule 5’d away from the Rays.

by Greg Stanwood on Dec 5, 2009 7:35 PM MST reply actions

That makes

the deal for Hammel that much nicer on our end

JFK

by jrockies on Dec 5, 2009 10:56 PM MST up reply actions

I noticed that they didn't protect him a couple of weeks ago...

And figured he might get some looks.

by Rox Girl on Dec 6, 2009 6:31 AM MST up reply actions

We will not get Halladay

MLBTR reports that Halladay will not go to a team that trains in Arizona, and that is “absolute”. So if any of you still harbored hopes, consider them dashed. The man likes Florida.

by crazedjohn on Dec 6, 2009 8:11 AM MST reply actions

To me

That is like a small finishing nail in a coffin already riddled with staples, nail, screws and duct tape

"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein

by Andrew T. Fisher on Dec 7, 2009 9:11 AM MST up reply actions

No shock there'll be no Halladay

There was no chance for him to be in purple pinstripes. Thankfully that means he won’t be a Dodger tho, I think if LA goes out and gets a solid SP, maybe Lackey, then they have a legit case for being the favorites again. And as long as the Giants offense stays on level it’s at and they don’t acquire a big time slugger like Adam Dunn then it’s easy to say the Rockies have the edge again this season. The DBacks aren’t that great but they have some solid pieces and can definitely be a tough team to play, especially if they have a healthy Brandon Webb. But it’s all pointless to argue because we know they won’t be taken seriously heading in to next season by the national media.

by KDub1988 on Dec 7, 2009 8:07 AM MST reply actions