Thread: The Official Colorado Rockies thread--Now with extra awesome!!

Report: Matsui agrees to three-year deal
Second baseman played key role for NL champions last season
By Jim Molony / MLB.com


HOUSTON -- The Astros have reportedly agreed to terms with free agent second baseman Kazuo Matsui on a three-year, $15 million contract.

The Daily Herald of Chicago reported the agreement on the publication's Web site late Thursday night.

Astros GM Ed Wade's policy is not to comment on negotiations. Calls to Matsui's agent Arn Tellem were not returned.

The Astros had made an offer to Matsui last week and Wade had previously confirmed the team was interested in the 32-year-old switch-hitter, who played for the National League-champion Colorado Rockies this year.

Matsui, who will succeed the retired Craig Biggio as Houston's starting second baseman, hit .288 with four home runs and a .342 on-base percentage.

Jim Molony is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.



-------------


I like Kaz but the thought of all the 2nd base depth we have makes me really happy. The chance that Barmes could be back in the big leagues makes me wanna dance! Especially if you pair that thought with the fact that Tulo will be turning double plays with him. Its like...my dream come true!

I certainly hope the void can be filled with what we have. Many sports people have said that there was no better combination in baseball at short and second than Tulo and KazMat.

Originally Posted by Denver Native (Carol)

I certainly hope the void can be filled with what we have. Many sports people have said that there was no better combination in baseball at short and second than Tulo and KazMat.

I feel like that was an indirect diss to Clint Barmes.

Torrealba here is great, not a fantastic base runner killer but is a great catcher to throw to for the pitchers. BIG keep there.

I hate losing Matsui, hopefully our kids in AAA can step it upo. Some of them are reported to have alot of batting abilty but they better have some defense as well.

We didn't go to the series with our bats...

Originally Posted by Snapping Turtle

I feel like that was an indirect diss to Clint Barmes.

No, not an indirect diss towards any player. Just posted a comment I had heard.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. | Denny Bautista was acquired by the Detroit Tigers from the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday, Dec. 4, in a swap of right-handed pitchers.

The National League champion Rockies received Jose Capellan, once considered a top prospect with Atlanta.

Bautista was 2-1 with a 12.46 ERA in nine games for Colorado this year and went 3-2 with a 2.92 ERA in 64 2/3 innings at Triple-A Colorado Springs. The 27-year-old is 1-1 with a 3.46 in eight appearances with Oriente in the Dominican Winter League and has a 4-10 major league record with a 6.93 ERA in 21 starts and 14 relief appearances.

Capellan went a combined 0-3 with a 5.54 ERA in 17 relief appearances this season for Milwaukee and Detroit, which acquired him July 1. He was 0-1 with a 5.79 ERA at Triple-A Toledo.

The 26-year-old Capellan is 5-7 with a 4.90 ERA in 96 relief appearances and two starts for Atlanta (2004), Milwaukee (2005-07) and Detroit (2007).

Rockies named Organization of the Year by Baseball America

NASHVILLE – The Rockies were shutout in individual awards this year.

Monday, however, they hit what they consider the jackpot.

The Rockies were selected the Organization of the Year by Baseball America, which will present the award during the winter meetings on Tuesday.

"This is more fulfilling than any award any of us could have won,’’ said general manager Dan O’Dowd. "It affirms the efforts of the entire organization. It is recognition of the work everyone in the organization has done, from the business side to the baseball side.

"This is what our organization is about, the sum of the parts, not one individual.’’

A Rockies team that was a consensus to finish in either four or fifth place in the NL West for the 10th consecutive season instead put on one of the strongest season-ending pushes in baseball history, claimed the NL wild-card, and swept it’s way to the NL pennant by knocking off Philadelphia in the NL Division Series and Arizona in the NL Championship Series before being swept by Boston in the World Series.

"It's hard to imagine an organization having a year much better than what the Rockies just had.’’ said Will Lingo, editor of Baseball America. "We knew they were bringing great talent through their farm system, but we certainly didn't expect it to pay off with big league success so quickly. They won with home-grown players, have more talent on the way and have maintained stability in their front office, so they had pretty much everything we look for in an organization.’’

And they did it with a World Series roster that included 16 home-grown players, including rookie pitchers Ubaldo Jimenez and Franklin Morales, mid-season callups the Rockies turned to instead of bringing in veteran journeymen when needs arose in the rotation.

"We don’t have any hired guns,’’ said first baseman Todd Helton.

The Rockies are a home-made success story, and what makes them different from other teams that were under consideration, like Arizona, is that the folks who built the foundation in Colorado were given the chance by their ownership to see their vision through to fruition, which was underscored on Opening Day when O’Dowd and manager Clint Hurdle were given two-year extensions.

"What has happened proved that the people we have in place have the capability we knew they did,’’ said Rockies CEO Charlie Monfort. "When we announced the extensions for Dan and Clint it reached farther than the manager and general manager. The farm system was good. The scouting was good. We knew Clint could bring them together at the big-league level. This is gratifying not for ownership, but to know that after the slings and arrows that everyone in our organization took maybe we did know what we were doing.

"You have to realize that when you get rid of one person in baseball you get rid of the organization. Dan O’Dowd is (scouting director) Bill Schmidt and (vice president baseball operation) Bill Geivett and (director player development) Mark Gustafson. Consistency is what you need. You want people to feel they can do their job and not look over their shoulder after every loss. Consistency is what you need and we’ve had a system in place for eight years. Stability is any business is good.’’

O’Dowd is now fifth among general managers in terms of tenure with his current franchise. And the four who are ahead of him? Kevin Towers in San Diego, Billy Beane in Oakland, Brian Sabean in San Francisco and Bran Cashman of the Yankees.

"I would like to think (the extensions were) important to the people who work for us,’’ said O’Dowd. "The people who work for you are the heart beat of the organization.’’

The big-league success they enjoyed goes much deeper than the big leagues.

It has been a long-term challenge to create the confidence from within.

The Rockies have emphasized their scouting and player development, and made major strides in Latin America, where in the pre-O’Dowd era they would spend less than $100,000 a year, but in the past year alone have invested $1.9 million into signing bonus, much less the expenses of their staff and complex.

Rolando Fernandez, who oversees the Latin program, has recently begun to bring in position players, but the initial impact has come with a group of strong arms, including closer Manny Corpas, and starters Jimenez and Morales. That has given Schmidt flexibility in the annual draft to focus on adding impact position players, like shortstop Troy Tulowitzki. And the Rockies look into makeup along with abilities.

"When you go into our clubhouse there is evidence of old-school values, which is a tribute to the scouting and player development programs,’’ said Hurdle. "We knew when we started this it was going to take patience and patience takes courage. A lot of people were upset with it, but I think (the NL pennant) is a tangible sign that we are headed in the right direction.’’

The Rockies haven’t reached a final destination.

They have attained success with a home-grown nucleus, but the farm system hasn’t been bled dry, and that has not gone unnoticed.

"You can’t be surprised that the Rockies are a good team,’’ said **** Egan, a 47-year veteran of pro ball and currently a special assistant to the general manager in Detroit. "The Rockies kids didn’t crumble like the Diamondbacks kids from a couple years ago when they brought up all those guys and only Chad Tracy succeeded. The Rockies’ guys reached the big leagues and just kept getting better. And the biggest thing is they are going to get better.’’

And there are more on the way.

Consider that not only did Tulowitzki establish himself as an elite shortstop and the clubhouse leader in his rookie season, but the Rockies had four shortstops ranked among the top prospects in the minor leagues this year.

The irony is one of the worst moments in franchise history was the kindling for what has become the best moment. It was December of 2000 and the Rockies went on a spending spree. They passed on Alex Rodriguez, but gave Mike Hampton a seven-year, $121 million deal, the biggest ever signed by a pitcher, and also shelled out $55 million for five years to Denny Neagle.

The Rockies haven’t gone after a highly touted free agent since.

"I said when we (traded Hampton) that it was the turning point for our organization,’’ said Charlie Monfort. "We realized we had to do things within our market and we had to do things right. We aren’t a small-market team. We are mid-market and we have to do some things different than teams in New York or Chicago or Los Angeles.

"We have to scout and develop talent. We can never back off in those areas. We aren’t going to find quick fixes. We have to have a long-term plan.’’

And that realization, said O’Dowd, made things easier because "we identified the club we are, the club we are trying to build, and the club we want to maintain. First and foremost we have to focus on scouting and development as the basis for our organization. We want to look to give our players an opportunity when we think that they are ready . . . It was painful at times, but it was the best thing that happened to us. Hampton and Neagle taught us a lot of what we have to be as an organization.’’

The lesson has been learned.

And the initial grade has been turned in.

The Rockies are the Organization of the Year.

LaTroy Hawkins signs with the Yankees 1 year, 3.75 Million dollars.

DENVER -- The Rockies and right-handed pitcher Aaron Cook on Tuesday signed a new contract that will pay him $34.5 million and will keep him with the club through 2011, with a mutual option for 2012.
The Rockies picked up Cook's 2008 option worth $4.5 million last month. The new deal maintains his scheduled 2008 salary, but adds an additional $30 million, starting with bonus money added to his 2008 contract. Cook would have been eligible for free agency after the 2008 season.

Cook, who turns 29 on Feb. 8, joins left-hander Jeff Francis as having signed long-term contracts with the club. Francis accepted a four-year, $13.25 million contract last winter.

The Rockies consider tying their top two pitchers to the club a huge forward step. As a small-to-middle market franchise that has made big-money mistakes in the past, tight payrolls are a fact of life. But Colorado has a group of young players that accomplished a National League Championship in 2007, and wants to keep as much of that nucleus together as possible.

The Rockies hope the signing of Cook, on the heels of the Francis signing, helps convince other players to trade some of their free agency for the chance at more success with the Rockies.

"I'm not big on sending messages, but I think there are times when certain things are done professionally and respectfully that add value to everything that you do," manager Clint Hurdle said recently when asked what effect signing Cook to his contract will have on the core of young players. "And I think players appreciate that and I think that would be a very good example of an organization showing the people that are in play that we value you first.

"And we'll make every opportunity to make sure we get things done in a proper fashion and a timely fashion with the people that we hold high."

Cook went 8-7 with a 4.12 ERA -- lowest on the staff among starters with enough innings to qualify for the NL ERA title -- in 25 starts last season and was on a hot streak (3-1, 2.41 in six starts) before suffering a strained left oblique muscle on Aug. 10. His two complete games led the staff and his 2.78 ground-ball/fly-ball ratio ranked third among NL starters.

The injury kept Cook out until Game 4 of the World Series, when he gave up three runs in six innings and took the loss as the Red Sox completed a sweep with a 4-3 victory.

The Rockies' second-round Draft pick in 1997, Cook is 36-35 with a 4.47 ERA in 138 games, including 107 starts. Cook won the Tony Conigliaro Award from the Boston chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America after recovering from near-fatal blood clots in both lungs, which afflicted him in August 2005 and kept him out of the Majors for a year.

DENVER -- The Rockies re-signed outfielder Cory Sullivan to a one-year, non-guaranteed $1 million contract on Wednesday, and general manager Dan O'Dowd said the team is "getting closer" to signing free-agent right-hander Kip Wells.
The deal with Sullivan came before Wednesday night's deadline for tendering offers to arbitration-eligible players.

Sullivan, 28, has hit .281 with the Rockies 2005-07. He was the starter in center field for much of 2006 but was supplanted when the Rockies acquired Willy Taveras from the Astros last winter. In 2007, Sullivan hit .262 in 53 games at Triple-A Colorado Springs and .286 in 72 games with the Rockies.

"We felt Cory was someone we wanted to keep on our roster, and we're glad we were able to keep him outside of the arbitration process," O'Dowd said.

Wells, who will turn 31 on April 21 and went 7-17 with a 5.70 ERA in starting and relief roles with the Cardinals last season, is being pursued to compete for a starting rotation spot or help the bullpen.

The Denver Post, citing a source close to the situation, reported that Wells' deal could be worth in the neighborhood of $3 million.

The Rockies tendered offers to all their other established Major League players eligible for arbitration. They non-tendered pitcher Darren Clarke and outfielder Sean Barker, both of whom made brief appearances with the Rockies in 2007. The club can still re-sign them.

The Rocky Mountain News reported that the Rockies have also reached an agreement to re-sign left-hander Mark Redman on a non-guaranteed, one-year deal worth $1 million.

Matt Herges named in Mitchell Report.

Gelallan Hill on there as well, Rockies first base coach.

As for the team, just signed Kip Wells to a one year deal, most likely will be a 5th starter don't expect big things, pretty much a Josh Fogg type.

2nd base is interesting, Nix and Stewart should get looks if the Rockies are unable to sign a vet. Hopefully they will be able to find a consistaint player at 2nd, Ian's bat would be another huge weapon in the line-up.

DENVER -- Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd said Monday that he has spoken with right-handed reliever Matt Herges, who was accused of using steroids and human growth hormone in the Mitchell Report released last week, and he expects Herges to speak publicly at some point.

Herges hasn't spoken to the media since former Sen. George Mitchell's report was released Thursday. Information about Herges was provided by former Dodgers Triple-A strength and conditioning coach Todd Selyer and former Mets employee Kirk Radomski, who has pleaded guilty to one count of distributing steroids illegally and one count of money laundering as the result of a federal investigation.

Herges declined to participate in Mitchell's investigation and hasn't answered media requests.

"I think at some point Matt will address the issue, and when he addresses it, we'll address it at that point in time, too," O'Dowd said.

What isn't known is whether Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig will suspend Herges. Mitchell asked Selig to forego punishments except in "egregious" cases. The Radomski investigation accused Herges of trying to obtain HGH in 2004 and 2005, after baseball's drug testing/prevention program was in place.

Selyer linked Herges to steroids as early as 1999.

O'Dowd said the Rockies don't necessarily need to change their strategy just in case they lose Herges, who went 5-1 with a 2.96 ERA in 35 appearances last season, for a brief period.

"When we get back from the holidays, we're going to look at where we are and look at who might be out there that we might take a shot at bringing into camp," O'Dowd said. "It has nothing to do with Matt's situation. It's just how we do our business."

The Rockies are working toward completing a two-year, reported $7.5 million deal with Luis Vizcaino to work alongside Herges in a late-innings setup role. Help could come from a group of young setup men such as Ryan Speier, who was strong late in 2007, and Jose Capellan, who pitched well for the Brewers in 2006 but struggled with the Tigers last season.

O'Dowd also said he isn't certain if the Commissioner will discipline first-base coach Glenallen Hill, who was accused in the Mitchell Report of being involved with performance-enhancing drugs in 2001 at the end of his playing career.

The Rockies continue to look at protection for second base, where rookie Jayson Nix is expected to replace Kazuo Matsui in the lineup. Dan O'Dowd has had preliminary conversations with the agents for Todd Walker and Marcus Giles about possible non-roster invitations to spring training. -- Rocky Mountain News

I like Nix, young guy, will need some time to adjust to the MLB but is another good young in house prospect. Infield could be all home grown.

I nnnneeeeeeeeeEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeed basssseeeeeeeballllllllllllllll sooooooooooon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by BroncoAV06

I like Nix, young guy, will need some time to adjust to the MLB but is another good young in house prospect. Infield could be all home grown.

What about Ian Stewart?