Rockies have contract flexibility
When it comes time to make roster decisions the Rockies do have flexibility.
A look at each area, the sure things, the candidates and the contract flexibility of those battling for a job:
Catcher
There’s no debate, barring an injury.
Chris Iannetta and Yorvitt Torrealba are set.
Infield
Starting infield is set with 1B Todd Helton, 2B Clint Barmes, 3B Garrett Atkins and SS Troy Tulowitzki.
It would be a surprise if Jeff Baker, a right-handed bat who can play the corners and second base, and Omar Quintanilla, a left-handed bat who can play middle positions plus third base, don’t make team. Ian Stewart is a decision because he can play outfield as well as third base, but he is a left-handed hitter and a true prospect so his playing time is a concern.
Contract matters
Baker and Quintanilla are out of options, and would have to clear waivers to be sent out.
Stewart has options.
Outfield
It’s likely the Opening Day alignment will be Seth Smith, Ryan Spilborghs and Brad Hawpe. For extra roles, Matt Murton has an edge because he is a right-handed hitter, which provides protection for Hawpe and Smith. Carlos Gonzalez has potential, but most likely would have to claim center field job ahead of Spilborghs. Doesn’t figure to be kept in backup role. Needs playing time. Dexter Fowler is the center fielder of the future, and has to play every day to refine offensive skills.
Contract matters
Smith, Murton, Gonzalez and Fowler have options.
Podsednik is signed to a minor-league contract, and can opt out of deal if he doesn’t make big-league team. He would void his $800,000 salary if he does that.
Ortmeier is signed to minor-league contract with no opt-out clause.
Rotation
RHPs Aaron Cook, Ubaldo Jimenez and Jason Marquis are set. LHP Jorge De La Rosa had the inside track to the fourth spot, but has pitched himself into limbo. LHP Franklin Morales has made strides to regain Opening Day roster spot he had a year ago. LHP Greg Smith has a legitimate shot but has to get healthy. Flu has cost him two starts already. RHP Matt Belisle has had some tenderness, and has worked only one inning so far. RHPs Jason Hirsh, Greg Reynolds and Josh Fogg have ground to make up.
Contract matters
De La Rosa is out of options, but if a team claims him on waivers it assumes his $2 million salary.
Morales, Smith and Reynolds have options.
Belisle and Fogg are signed to minor-league contracts and can opt out only if they have 25-man roster spots with another big-league team.
Bullpen
Manny Corpas and Huston Street will pitch for the role of closer with the other moving into an eighth-inning role along with lefty Alan Embree. LHP Glendon Rusch is solid as a swing man. RHP Taylor Buchholz will open season on the season on the disabled list, which opens a spot, at least temporarily. RHP Ryan Speier has earned an edge considering the way he handled the shuttle from Triple-A Colorado Springs to the big leagues last year. RHP Juan Morillo is pitching for survival in Rockies organization. Belisle and Fogg also could figure into a long role, but would have to sign 45-day deals to stick, which means if they are sent out within 45 days of the opening of the season they would accept a minor-league assignment.
Contract matters
Rusch is signed to minor-league contract, but that should not be an issue.
Speier and Morillo are out of options, and both figure to be claimed. Speier has shown he can pitch at this level and scouts marvel over Morillo’s high-90s fastball.
I hope Quintanilla doesn’t make the team out of spring over Stewart, he’s a nice little player, but come on! Tulo should be ready to play just about everyday and Barmes can move over to spell him when he needs a rest. I think Stewart will get enough at bats and you can’t yet count on Helton to play everyday.
So, I was wondering about our surplus of quality 3b and seemingly lack of quality pitching depth on the front end. Does anyone think with A-Rod’s latest drama that the Rox could pry away a Phillip Hughes for Atkins?
It seems the reasons to keep Atkins are that he’s a proven rh batter, and the backup for Helton at 1b. He’s also a steadying veteran presence and seems to genuinely want to remain a Rockie (at least right now).
However, it also seems like Stewie is very capable of hitting LHP, as well as RHP. Murton is pretty hot this spring too, thus another rh batting option.
I realize that this is beating a dead horse, but wouldn’t it seem like a natural fit for both the Yanks and the Rox to talk a pitching/3b swap?
There’s no way Q should make the team over Stewart. It’s nice to have that glove at the end of the game but he brings no offensive punch to the bench. Stewart has shown he can handle lefthanders which makes him a dual offensive threat either starting or off the bench.
Baker can handle the 2B backup duties, Barmes can slide over to SS to backup there, and both Baker and Stewart can backup 3B. There is no need for Q and his .226 career average to take up a roster spot that could be used for a future star.
I think the key with Stewart has to be how much playing time he gets. If he isn’t going to get enough the Rockies are better off keeping him getting regular at-bats and then if a new for extended time develops Stewart would be ready to step in.
I understand what you are saying Tracy, but at some point Stewart getting shipped to the minors every year has got to be more damaging to him than getting regular playing time. Getting 4 AB’s a game against AAA pitching cannot be more beneficial than spending time around big league players and producing in the majors. Stewart has to know he has more talent than over 90% of the big league roster but he could be shipped out because he has an option left? I just can’t see that is a good thing for his development.
If he needs regular AB’s, get him out there against the Rockies pitchers when he doesn’t start and have them throw him real situational AB’s before the game with velocity and breaking pitches. That way he gets AB’s against major league pitchers and not journeymen in AAA.
By the way..LOVE this site!
Atkins would sign a long term deal if he wanted to remain a Rockie.
No disrespect Matt but I don’t suspect he’ll be here for a very long time.
In the offseason the thought of moving him bugged me. Today, as I look at the rotation and the pieces to replace him (Ian) – I could digest trading him
Marc, no offense taken! I guess my comment about GA wanting to be a Rockie is more reflective of how he is handling the situation. Everyone can see the writing on the wall that GA won’t be with the club for years to come. What I’m happy with is that he’s not pulling a Manny and trying to force a trade. He doesn’t seem to be pulling the Holliday/ Boras game either. I guess he just seems to go about his work in a classier way than some other prominent players. Tracy- could you thank GA for me for being classier than some of his peers?
Regardless, I think we should include him in a package that will net a quality arm. Stewie clearly can hit lhp, so I don’t know why having a right handed bat is so important. Shouldn’t the question be whether you have someone who can hit left handed pitching rather than from which side he hits from?!
Tracy,
I just read MLB.com’s article about the Rockies’ top prospects, and one burning question arises: what are the Rockies going to do with Joe Koshansky? He’s getting old for AAA, so why haven’t the Rockies brought him up consistently? Is he one of those minor league power hitters who can’t hit breaking balls or is he going to force Todd Helton out?
David, there are two major concerns about Koshanksy — bat speed and agility. The bat is what scouts call slider speed, and the first challenge any hitter has to meet in the big leagues is to show he can consistently hit top quality fastballs. He works hard in the field, but defense is something that he has to continue to work to improve.
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