Colorado Rockies: What the Colorado Rockies Should Do in the Offseason

The Rockies were supposed to be fighting with the Giants around this time for the division. Instead, they're one of baseball's biggest disappointments. The Arizona Diamondbacks have all but clinched the NL West, Ubaldo Jimenez got traded, and somehow, Heath Bell wasn't traded.

The Rockies nearly acquired Wandy Rodriguez about two weeks ago, but the Houston Astros wanted too much for him.

What should the Rockies do in the offseason? Let's discuss.

First, Before You Flame Me for Who I Want to Get...

The Rockies do have enough money to go get someone good. Not like Albert Pujols or Prince Fielder, but just look at the 2011 payroll for all MLB Teams.

Team	Total payroll	Average Salary	Median	STD Dev
New York Yankees	$ 202,689,028	$ 6,756,300	$ 2,100,000	$ 8,468,058
Philadelphia Phillies	$ 172,976,379	$ 5,765,879	$ 2,625,000	$ 6,227,550
Boston Red Sox	$ 161,762,475	$ 5,991,202	$ 5,500,000	$ 5,576,432
Los Angeles Angels	$ 138,543,166	$ 4,469,134	$ 2,000,000	$ 6,048,494
Chicago White Sox	$ 127,789,000	$ 4,732,925	$ 2,750,000	$ 4,810,687
Chicago Cubs	$ 125,047,329	$ 5,001,893	$ 1,600,000	$ 6,194,469
New York Mets	$ 118,847,309	$ 4,401,752	$ 900,000	$ 6,693,551
San Francisco Giants	$ 118,198,333	$ 4,377,716	$ 2,200,000	$ 4,877,657
Minnesota Twins	$ 112,737,000	$ 4,509,480	$ 3,000,000	$ 5,536,653
Detroit Tigers	$ 105,700,231	$ 3,914,823	$ 1,300,000	$ 5,259,443
St. Louis Cardinals	$ 105,433,572	$ 3,904,947	$ 1,000,000	$ 5,027,807
Los Angeles Dodgers	$ 104,188,999	$ 3,472,966	$ 2,142,838	$ 3,631,806
Texas Rangers	$ 92,299,264	$ 3,182,733	$ 1,251,000	$ 4,027,146
Colorado Rockies	$ 88,148,071	$ 3,390,310	$ 2,318,750	$ 4,398,021
Atlanta Braves	$ 87,002,692	$ 3,346,257	$ 1,275,000	$ 4,279,462
Seattle Mariners	$ 86,524,600	$ 2,884,153	$ 825,000	$ 4,414,418
Milwaukee Brewers	$ 85,497,333	$ 2,849,911	$ 1,050,000	$ 3,869,134
Baltimore Orioles	$ 85,304,038	$ 3,280,924	$ 1,425,000	$ 3,237,465
Cincinnati Reds	$ 75,947,134	$ 2,531,571	$ 825,000	$ 3,357,823
Houston Astros	$ 70,694,000	$ 2,437,724	$ 467,000	$ 3,960,818
Oakland Athletics	$ 66,536,500	$ 2,376,303	$ 1,400,000	$ 2,073,296
Washington Nationals	$ 63,856,928	$ 2,201,963	$ 1,050,000	$ 2,783,056
Toronto Blue Jays	$ 62,567,800	$ 2,018,316	$ 1,200,000	$ 1,906,416
Florida Marlins	$ 56,944,000	$ 2,190,153	$ 545,000	$ 2,877,071
Arizona Diamondbacks	$ 53,639,833	$ 1,986,660	$ 1,000,000	$ 1,854,261
Cleveland Indians	$ 49,190,566	$ 1,639,685	$ 484,200	$ 2,763,453
San Diego Padres	$ 45,869,140	$ 1,479,649	$ 468,800	$ 1,858,830
Pittsburgh Pirates	$ 45,047,000	$ 1,553,344	$ 450,000	$ 1,880,199
Tampa Bay Rays	$ 41,053,571	$ 1,578,983	$ 907,750	$ 1,570,206
Kansas City Royals	$ 36,126,000	$ 1,338,000	$ 850,000	$ 1,143,503

According to this chart, the Rockies actually have a bigger payroll than teams like the Mariners, Braves, and Brewers. And they're also not too far from the Texas Rangers.

Yet the Brewers can go out and get guys like Nyjer Morgan, Francisco Rodriguez, Zach Grienke, CC Cabathia (in 2008), the Braves can go out and get guys like Michael Bourn, and the Mariners were able to get Cliff Lee before 2010 (they did trade him later, but you see the deal).

If teams with less money than Colorado have enough money to go out and get good players, why couldn't the Rockies? They could afford them too.

Do Not Re-Sign Aaron Cook

Aaron Cook is in line to make $11 million next year if his option is exercised. Right now, that's very unlikely, but things can change in the MLB. Aaron Cook is a bum. He's not even good for a No. 5 guy. $11 million is a lot of money that could be spent on free agents. If you want more money, either don't tender his contract, or let him come back for a lot less money. I'd prefer they let him go.

With $11 million more to spend, the Rockies could really take advantage of that.

Release or Trade Ty Wigginton

Ty Wigginton has been awful this season. He can't hit with RISP (or at all for that matter), and he's an awful fielder. True, he doesn't have a huge contract, but 7.5 million for two years—No thanks. Trade or release him and we have even more money to spend on free agents.

Keep Kevin Millwood

Ever since Millwood joined the Rockies he's been a very solid addition, going 2-2 with a 3.79 ERA. Those aren't great numbers, but they're solid for a No. 3 or 4 guy.

We don't have anyone else in the organization to step up yet, so the team might as well keep Millwood for one more season while guys like Alex White and Drew Pomeranz develop.

Keep Mark Ellis

Mark Ellis isn't a big name player who will hit .300 every year, but he is the type of second baseman that's a good-for-now option. He's a very good fielder, and while his average or power isn't anything to write home about, I say it's good enough for him to stay.

I also say this because we have bigger needs than second base, so let's not worry about this position yet.

Try Again for Wandy Rodriguez

Two weeks ago, the Rockies claimed Wandy Rodriguez off waivers from the Houston Astros, but a deal never went through, so Rodriguez stayed in Houston. The Astros wanted Drew Pomeranz (one of the pitchers Colorado acquired in the Ubaldo Jimenez trade) or Willin Rosario. The Rockies were only offering Casey Weathers, Jason Hammel, and another solid prospect, but Houston wouldn't take that deal, even though Colorado offered to pay his whole salary.

I can definitely see the Rockies try again for him in the offseason, and I would like that. He's a very good pitcher, and Jholous Chacin just isn't ready to be an ace.

Besides, they can always change their asking price for Wandy, so at least try again. It wouldn't hurt.

Do Not Try to Get a Big-Name Player Like Albert Pujols

I would love to get a big-name player like Pujols, but he could obviously cost too much and we have too many needs to risk investing a lot of money in one player.

That's why we break it up and get a lot of great but not superstar players. Players that wouldn't cost an arm, leg and more.

If your team wasn't too great, and had needs, what would you rather do?

Spend $20 million per season on one superstar player?

Or spend $7 million per season (or so) on 3 good players?

I doubt we would, but just wanted to say.

Who should we get? I say start off with...

Aramis Ramirez

Aramis Ramirez would be a great addition to the Rockies. He's a great all-around hitter, and for a hitter like him, 5 years and 73 million is actually a solid bargain. I doubt any team would sign him for that type of contract now (since he's 33) but he would possible get around $10 million or so for the season, and I think that would be a great investment.

The Rockies have a huge hole at 3B, and nobody in the organization is good enough to fill it. We need to spend money on this position in the offseason.

Try to Get CJ Wilson

CJ Wilson signing with the Rockies probably won't happen, but I say we should at least try to get him. He's a very good pitcher, and when Jorge De La Rosa comes back from injury he won't be the only left hander in the rotation (if Drew Pomeranz isn't in the rotation).

He would be a very good addition, as we have a very thin pitching staff.

Imagine our 2012 rotation if we got Wilson:

CJ Wilson

Jholous Chacin

Kevin Millwood (if he doesn't retire)

Jorge De La Rosa (when he comes back from injury)

Pomeranz or White

Outfield Depth

We have our starting outfielders:

Carlos Gonzalez, Dexter Fowler, and Seth Smith.

We have our bench for outfielders. Unfortunately, they all suck in the outfield.

Ty Wigginton, Ryan Spilborghs, Eric Young Jr.

We do have a solid outfield prospect in Charlie Blackmon, but until he develops, we need outfield depth.

That's why I would like to sign a guy like Jason Kubel, Laynce Nix, or Austin Kearns. They would all be solid additions to the bench, or even start if needed.

Any of them, I'm ok with.