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In case you missed it, the Rockies extended a $15.3 million qualifying offer to 35-year-old outfielder Michael Cuddyer on Monday in a move that generated a ton of reaction -- mostly negative -- among people who cover baseball.
double u tee eff RT @MLBRosterMoves: The @Rockies extend $15.3M qualifying offer to 1B/OF Michael Cuddyer.
— keithlaw (@keithlaw) November 3, 2014
Michael Cuddyer? Ha. Oh, Rockies.
— Mike Petriello (@mike_petriello) November 4, 2014
Unless Michael Cuddyer is set on multiple years, I think we’ve got our best candidate to accept a QO.
— David Cameron (@DCameronFG) November 3, 2014
Told that the qualifying offer kills the Mets’ interest in Michael Cuddyer. Draft pick compensation changes everything.
— Marc Carig (@MarcCarig) November 3, 2014
As good as he was in 2014, it's hard to imagine any team being willing to give up a draft pick to sign Michael Cuddyer, at his age.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) November 3, 2014
I almost think that someone at @PurpleRow is a super-genius that figured out the exact method to cause me the most psychological injury.
— Dan Szymborski (@DSzymborski) November 3, 2014
And then, of course, you have a few people who aren't exactly unbiased toward the situation who are fans of the move.
In attempt to do all they can to retain @mcuddy3 #rockies make one year qualifying offer of $15.3 million…like the move...
— Drew Goodman (@DrewGoodman42) November 3, 2014
Great gamble,love to have him,compensated if he doesn't sign,has trade value if healthy,also makes other players trade candidates.
— Ryan Spilborghs (@spillygoat19) November 3, 2014
@PoseidonsFist Plus he brings an entire attitude that you need if you want to develop a team that understands how to win.
— Tracy Ringolsby (@TracyRingolsby) November 3, 2014
Meanwhile, Rockies GM Jeff Bridich believes making the qualifying offer to Cuddyer was the right thing to do (of course he does, or else why would he have done it?), writes Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post:
"Michael is someone who has had a great impact on this organization both on and off the field for the past three years." ... "After weighing our options, we felt the qualifying offer was in the best interest of the organization."
Links
May 7th, A Day to Remember | Rockies Zingers Colorado Rockies Baseball
J.J. Buck looks at the high point of the Rockies' 2014 season. Colorado improved to 22-14 with a 9-2 victory over the Rangers. Of course, things went downhill rather quickly from there.
A Season Recap of the Little League Home Run | FanGraphs Baseball
August Fagerstrom brightened my morning with a series of GIFs showing every little league home run from 2014. Included is one from the Rockies' Wilin Rosario (keep that in mind for later).
Smart things players said this year | FOX Sports
Eno Sarris looks at 10 players who provided extremely intelligent-sounding baseball quotes at various points this season. No. 1 is particularly intriguing given its relation to the Rockies' pitching troubles:
"You can look across the board and see that pitching up can be just as effective as pitching down, maybe moreso. Hitting is cyclical. Hitters are very good low ball hitters now."
That quote is from Chris Young (the tall pitcher), who tops out at about 85 mph with his fastball yet just finished a season in which he posted a 3.65 ERA in 165 innings.