Colorado Rockies Offseason Tracker: Hottest Free Agency News, Trade Rumors
The Colorado Rockies struggled mightily in 2014, but the team's front office has to be happy to know that they have some talent—on offense.
Troy Tulowitzki—when he was on the field—and Justin Morneau were the stars of the lineup in 2014. However, there were so many more players who stepped up on offense.
Corey Dickerson, Drew Stubbs, Charlie Blackmon and Nolan Arenado all contributed with the bat consistently. Carlos Gonzalez had a down year and battled injuries once again. Both Tulowitzki (torn labrum) and Gonzalez (knee) were shut down early after undergoing season-ending surgeries.
Colorado's offense is rarely an issue. It's the team's pitching that will once again be an area that needs addressed during the winter. The Rockies have a hard time attracting free-agent pitchers to Coors Field, but they will once again give it a go this offseason.
Stay tuned throughout the offseason to see what is going on with the Rockies.
*All stats are via MLB.com
Done Deals
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Colorado's Deals
Oct. 31: Exercised RHP LaTroy Hawkins' $2.25 million option
Nov. 1: Declined LHP Brett Anderson's $12 million option, pay $1.5 million buyout
Nov. 11: Acquired RHP Shane Carle to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for RHP Rob Scahill
Nov. 24: Traded RHP Juan Nicasio to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for minor-league OF Noel Cuevas
Dec. 11: Traded INF Josh Rutledge to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for RHP Jairo Diaz
Dec. 16: Signed INF Daniel Descalso to a two-year deal
Colorado's Free Agents
Nov. 10: OF Michael Cuddyer signed a two-year deal with the New York Mets
Dec. 15: LHP Brett Anderson signed a one-year, $10 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers
Rule 5 Draft
Dec. 11: Selected INF Mark Canha from the Miami Marlins
Dec. 15: Brett Anderson Signs with Los Angeles Dodgers
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Brett Anderson has signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to ESPN's Buster Olney. Per Olney, the Dodgers signed Anderson to a one-year, $10 million deal (with $4 million in incentives possible).
Colorado declined its $12 million club option on Anderson, according to Yahoo Sports' Jeff Passan.
He had some good moments in 2014, but he was limited to just eight starts because of a broken finger and a back injury. In the past three seasons, he has made a total of just 19 starts and 11 relief appearances. Since making 30 starts in his rookie season back in 2009, the left-hander has not made more than 19 starts in a season.
The Rockies weren't willing to give a pitcher with that injury history a lot of money, so he wound up signing elsewhere.
Dec. 11: Rockies Trade Josh Rutledge to Angels
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The Colorado Rockies have traded infielder Josh Rutledge to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for right-handed pitcher Jairo Diaz, per the team's Twitter account.
In 2014, Rutledge hit .269 with four home runs, 16 doubles and seven triples. He had played in 266 games with the Rockies over the past three seasons.
Diaz had been in the Angels' system since 2010. He made it to Double-A for the first time this season and pitched very well. He went 2-1 with 11 saves and posted a 2.20 ERA in 27 appearances at Double-A; he went 2-3 with a 4.78 ERA in 29 appearances at Single-A this year as well.
The 23-year-old was a starter early on in his professional career, but he has adjusted to life as a reliever with ease. He struck out 85 batters in 64.2 innings between Single-A and Double-A this year.
Colorado wanted pitching and felt Rutledge was expendable.
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Rockies Reportedly Looking to Trade Wilin Rosario
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Update: Tuesday, Dec. 9 at 9:05 p.m. ET
The Rockies and the Texas Rangers have discussed a deal involving Rosario, according to the Denver Post's Patrick Saunders.
--End of Update--
The Rockies are trying to trade Wilin Rosario, according to Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal.
In 2014, the 25-year-old hit .267 with 13 home runs and 25 doubles. He put up solid numbers at the plate, but overall, they were slightly down from a year ago.
The right-handed hitter is a solid bat but with his defense, he would be better suited for the American League.
Rosario is a very affordable option for any team. He is eligible for arbitration for the first time this winter, which means he also has three more years of club control.
Justin Morneau: Possible Trade Candidate
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The Miami Marlins are interested in Justin Morneau, according to MLB.com's Joe Frisaro.
Morneau hit .319 with 17 home runs, 32 doubles and 82 RBI in his first season with the Rockies. That was a nice rebound from the .259 average he posted between the Minnesota Twins and the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2013.
The 33-year-old will make $6.75 million in 2015 and has a $9 million mutual option—with a $750,000 buyout—for the 2016 season.
Dillon Gee: Potential Trade Target
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Colorado has spoken to the New York Mets about Dillon Gee, according to Fox Sports' Jon Morosi.
The 28-year-old went 7-8 with a 4.00 ERA in 22 starts this year. That comes one season after he posted a 3.62 ERA in 32 starts.
Gee made $3.6 million in 2014 and will get a modest raise now that he is eligible for arbitration for a second time.
Drew Stubbs: Potential Trade Candidate
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The Rockies have outfield depth, so they are reportedly seeing what kind of value Drew Stubbs has on the market.
Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com reported that Colorado has checked in with the Baltimore Orioles to see if they have interest in the outfielder. The Rockies are reportedly looking for pitching in return.
In his first season with Colorado, Stubbs had arguably the best offensive season of his career. He hit .289 with 15 home runs, 22 doubles and four triples.
Those numbers look pretty solid, but other teams will be cautious about trading for him. Stubbs hit .356 with 12 home runs and 15 doubles at Coors Field this year. Away from home, he hit just .211 with three home runs and seven doubles. His career average is just .246.
Stubbs is eligible for arbitration for the third time this winter.
Nov. 10: New York Mets Sign Michael Cuddyer to 2-Year Deal
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Update: Monday, Nov. 10 at 3:45 p.m. ET
The New York Mets announced on Twitter that they have signed outfielder Michael Cuddyer. The Mets will surrender a draft pick, and the Rockies will gain a compensatory pick as a result of the qualifying offer.
--End of Update--
Update: Monday, Nov. 3 at 4:55 p.m. ET
Per the team's official Twitter account, the Colorado Rockies have extended a $15.3 million qualifying offer to outfielder Michael Cuddyer. He has until Monday, Nov. 10 to decline or accept the offer.
--End of Update--
Michael Cuddyer is a player who will draw some interest on the market.
The 35-year-old hit .332 with 10 home runs and 15 doubles in just 49 games this year. Missing that much time has to hurt his value, but teams have to like that he put up numbers like that. Specifically, he missed time with hamstring injuries and a fractured shoulder this year.
In three seasons with Colorado, Cuddyer has hit .307 with 46 home runs and 76 doubles. He also won the 2013 National League batting title with a .331 average.
The Denver Post's Patrick Saunders wrote that Rockies manager Walt Weiss wanted the veteran to return in 2015. However, Cuddyer decided to sign elsewhere.
Rockies Are Reportedly Willing to Listen to Offers on Troy Tulowitzki
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Update: Monday, Nov. 10 at 11 p.m. ET
Rockies GM Jeff Bridich, per the New York Post's Joel Sherman, said there is "no substance" to the reports that the team has discussed Troy Tulowtizki with the New York Mets.
--End of Update--
Update: Monday, Nov. 10 at 4:30 p.m. ET
The Rockies and the New York Mets have talked about Troy Tulowitzki, according to Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports.
The Mets signed outfielder Michael Cuddyer on Monday. Seeing as how the Mets were able to add an outfielder without giving up anyone in a trade, they still have plenty of attractive young arms that could be attractive to the Rockies.
--End of Update--
When healthy, Troy Tulowitzki is the best all-around shortstop in all of baseball. He is a dangerous hitter and a great fielder. However, health has been a major issue.
Now, Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal reported that the Rockies are willing to listen on offers for Tulowitzki.
The 30-year-old shortstop was a serious NL MVP in the first half this year. In 90 games this season, he hit .340 with 21 home runs and 18 doubles. He made his fourth NL All-Star team this year.
However, a torn labrum in his hip cost him nearly the entire second half. He played in the first two games after the All-Star break but did not appear in another game the rest of the way. Imagine the type of numbers he would have finished with had he stayed healthy.
There is no doubt that Tulowitzki has superstar talent. He has a career slash line of .299/.373/.517 and has hit 176 home runs in his nine-year career. Those numbers would be even better if he could stay on the field.
Since playing his first full season in 2007, he has averaged just 117 games per season. He played in 155 games in his first full year in the majors and has played in more than 150 games in a season just once since then. He has averaged just 88 games the past three seasons, topping out at 126.
Tulowitzki is owed $114 million over the next six seasons, with at least a $5 million buyout guaranteed for the 2021 season. That type of contract will limit the number of teams that will consider trading for him.
Given Tulowitzki's injury history, teams will likely want to trade for him only at a discounted price. However, Rosenthal reported that the Rockies will only trade Tulowitzki if they get full value—meaning what he's worth when he's healthy—for him.
Tulowitzki made some waves this summer when he told The Denver Post's Mark Kiszla that he wants to play for a winner. Given that the Rockies have made the playoffs only twice during Tulowitzki's time in the majors, that may have been his way of saying that he would welcome a trade.
Colorado appears to be willing to listen on Tulowitzki, but if teams aren't willing to give the Rockies fair value, don't expect anything to happen.
Are the Rockies Looking to Trade Carlos Gonzalez?
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Carlos Gonzalez is one of the Rockies' biggest stars, but the team may be making him available for trade this offseason.
ESPN.com's David Schoenfield wrote that Colorado may look to trade its star outfielder this winter. Andy Martino of the New York Daily News wrote that some in the baseball industry believe that the outfielder could be on the trade block.
Why? The Rockies gave Michael Cuddyer a $15.3 million qualifying offer. That figure and the fact that another team would have to give up a draft pick makes it unlikely that Cuddyer will be able to sign elsewhere. That means the Rockies could potentially have Cuddyer, Gonzalez, Charlie Blackmon, Drew Stubbs, Corey Dickerson and Brandon Barnes for three outfield spots.
That kind of outfield depth may motivate the Rockies to try to move Gonzalez.
Sure, the 29-year-old is still a good hitter. Entering the 2014 season, he had hit at least .295 and slugged at least 22 home runs in four straight seasons. He has a career slash line of .294/.351/.520 and has 136 home runs in seven seasons in the majors.
As talented as he is, Gonzalez may not be the easiest to move. Injuries and a big contract will make some teams hesitant to deal for the star.
Gonzalez has played in just 180 games the past two seasons, playing in only 70 in 2014. He has topped out at 145 games, a feat that he accomplished in 2010. Since that season, his game totals have steadily declined. He has averaged playing in just 109 games per season in his career.
The New York Mets have been interested in Gonzalez in the past, so if the Rockies make the outfielder available, they may check in on him.
Oct. 31: Rockies Exercise LaTroy Hawkins' $2.25 Million Club Option
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The Rockies, per the team's official Twitter account, exercised their $2.25 million club option on LaTroy Hawkins for next season.
In his 20th season in the majors, the right-hander went 4-3 with 23 saves and a 3.31 ERA in his first season back with the Rockies. The 41-year-old allowed just three home runs in 54.1 innings this year.
Hawkins is not only a solid pitcher, but his veteran presence is great for the clubhouse.
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