Rockies decline option on Francis, possibly Olivo
Tracy Ringolsby reports via Twitter that the Colorado Rockies have declined their $7 million option on left-handed starter Jeff Francis. The former first-round pick was 4-6 with a 5.00 ERA in 2010 after missing all of the 2009 season while recovering from shoulder surgery. But Francis was held to just 104 1/3 innings and 20 appearances (19 starts) after two extended stays on the disabled list to start the season and again in September.
The Rockies have interest in bring Francis back on an incentive-laden deal.
Ringolsby also reports that the team will decline their $2.5 million option on Miguel Olivo despite an indications after the season they were leaning to bringing him back.
UPDATE, Nov. 4, 6:50 p.m.: The Rockies officially announced this afternoon that they had declined the options on Francis and Octavio Dotel, but have not released word on Olivo.
Declining Francis’s option isn’t a surprise.
I am surprised that the Rockies declined the option on Olivo. I assumed they would exercise it and trade him if they decided they didn’t want to have him on the team. If they had exercised the option on him, would he have had trade value?
Is this a signal that the Rockies might make a play for Victor Martinez or another free agent to be the starter?
Assuming that the Rockies do not pick up another catcher in free agency or in trade, will McHenry start the season as the backup to Iannetta?
Pacheco seems to have done well in the AFL. Has his “stock” improved?
As of now, Iannetta with McKenry as backup. BUT
Olivo or Torrealba could be signed as free agents – or both – and Iannetta traded. Rosario is recovering from knee surgery and is unproven as is Pacheco, both offensively and defensively; but as of now they are the minor league backups in case of emergency. Someone like Paul Phillips will now fit in at CO Sps as emergency backup. BUT
Who knows what mighty magic lies in store for us as the GM’s wave their off-season wands.
Conflicting reports about whether they will decline Olivo’s option. Seems that the hiring of Lansford has changed what the Rockies planned to do here and maybe be more likely to give Iannetta another shot. The emergence of Pacheco in AFL probably has had an effect, too. Should know for certain what they did regarding Olivo on Thursday. Moves on Francis and Dotel are no surprise though.
Iannetta in my opinion does deserve one more shot at proving he can be a major league starter. With his power and his OBP, he deserves the shot. If he gets his average up to the .260 range, his OBP will be close to .375 I bet. I really like his approach at the plate. And his defense is solid I believe.
I really hope Olivo doesn’t come back, I can’t stand watching him swing at whatever the pitcher throws.
I love it. Nothing against Olivo, but the Rockies’ management finally realized that they are at least average at catcher already with Iannetta (and I think he’ll be considerably better than average if he gets his playing time), so you can’t be spending 3 million bucks on yet another average catcher. And that’s what Olivo is. Let’s hope that this is part of a real plan to clear some salary room for positions where the Rockies can really improve.
I would wait until tomorrow. As of right now Mr. O Dowd is saying:
“7:49 pm: Dan O’Dowd tells MLB.com’s Thomas Harding that a decision hasn’t yet been made about Olivo’s option. “We’re allowed to take our time and make a decision tomorrow,” O’Dowd said.”
I think everyone knew the Francis decision long before today
For those that were hoping maybe Pierzynski would become a possibilty.
Not gonna happen unless:
“His new club must be a contender, be willing to give him a starting job, be located close to his home in Florida. He says the Marlins, Padres, Rangers, Rays and Red Sox “would all be good fits.”"
Mike Raysfan, saw the same thing and got me wondering…are the Rockies working on a deal with someone right now where they activate the option and make a trade so that one of the teams that needs a catcher gets on at a fixed price without the indigestion of free agency. If Molina lets the Rangers know for sure he is going to retire that team makes a lot of sense.
At this point the Rockies need for right handed power and good up the middle defense could be answered by Chris. We know its in there, and one wonders if the decision to go with Carney is rooted in that up the middle group – Ianetta, Nelson/Young/Herrera, and Fowler – all of whom you have to guess are going to benefit from Lansford’s style.
Any updates on DLR? I know the official word is that he will go to free agency, but it just seems like both sides need each other enough and it is a perfect set-up for both that they should be talking right now somewhere to get this done. Remember Rocks, the window closes in 2014, so locking up DLR for three yeasr with an option for 4 would work perfectly. Besides, right now Chacin is going to be asked to be a #2, and as great as his stuff is, that is more pressure than a kid needs.
A little off topic here. Woody brought up a name in the DP today. Jared Clark, who is RH 1B at Ashville and seems to have put together two really good seasons.
Steve, what can you tell us about Jared, and does he have a shot to be a RH bat to spell Helton.
Back on topic, I am not surprised by these moves. I think Francis comes back at a greatly reduced price and battles with Cook for 4th or 5th spot, or moves to bullpen. If all it is with Chris is a matter of faith in his batting coach, then a bounce back season could be expected and we are better off with Chris then Olivo.
The Denver Post says the Rockies are liking Mike Napoli from the Angels. What will it take to acquire him without giving up top prospects?
Once again I am here to help DanO. The answers to the catching puzzle are really pretty simple and not much additional money.
1. DanO you have to take J Tracy aside and tell him that CDI is making TOO much money to be sitting on the bench or playing regularly in Colorado Springs. In short this means that CDI will be the primary catcher for at least the first sixty games of the season. Langsford will have to accept the challenge to get CDI back on track hitting wise.
2. Sign a backup catcher to start fifty some games who happens to hit left handed, so you can schedule this catcher to hit against the tougher right handed starters of the opposition. Let’s see cheap left hand hitting catcher that is adequate behind the plate – oh yes I told you last year to sign free agent Josh Bard. I know you were busy looking for that right handed power bat – so you are forgiven.
3. Finally you will need to sign a Paul Phillips type catcher to play at AAA in case of an injury to CDI or the new backup. This may not be necessary if you believe that McKendry is really ready to play at the MLB level, but just so we are clear here, I have some doubts about McKendry.
I would really like to plug V Martinez into this catching discussion, however the reality is that VMart will be too expensive for basically a platoon player that is marginal defensively at a couple of positions.
This is an effective and most importantly affordable catching plan, because I want to save a lot of the Monfort dollars to be used in other places. So DanO – there is your catching puzzle solved with a solid plan – go get to getting it done – and as usual you can thank me later.
San Diego is close to Florida? Why would Pierzynski say he wants a team close to his home in Florida and then say the Padres would be a good fit? The dude is weird.
So I guess Iannetta will be given the starting job(again). Hopefully this time he doesn’t lose it. This is the year both he and Stewart need to step up. Can’t wait till Spring Training!!!
Why doesn’t anyone realize that Ianetta has been given multiple chances and just can’t hit. The reasons the Rockies will keep giving him chances is because of the outrageous contract he received. The Rockies keep signing their own players to outrageous contracts (Francis, Cook, ETC)and picking up other teams garbage for the roster. Don’t let the Mike Hampton signing hinder the team forever
Wayne, Jared Clark was 12th-round pick by the Rockies in 2009. He’s a bit of a fringy prospect. He could have a shot at the majors one day, but he’s a long way from that. His good numbers the past two years — .348, 11, 44 at Casper and .299, 24, 82 at Asheville — had as much to do with the fact that he was one of the oldest players in each of those leagues at the time. Had he not hit well would have been more surprising than that he did hit well. He could emerge as a prospect one day, but he has to prove quite a bit at the upper levels of the system for that to happen. Woody was probably too busy being Woody to look at anything more than stats when pronouncing Clark ready for the major leagues. He appears to be the only one to think Clark is that advanced and doesn’t seem to be giving much credit to people in the Rockies organization who have actually been watching him play the past two seasons.
Thanks Steve. You’re probably right, Woody being Woody. Mostly surface stuff.
If pitchers and catcher report on 17th that leaves only 105 days. Let’s get this hot stove party started!!!!!!
Clark is somebody worth watching down the road to see how he progresses. But he’s certainly not the answer to the first-base question for 2011.
Steve, no wonder you are professional writer, you have such a polite choice of words. J Clark was unable to make the BA top 30 Prospects list and also failed to make the list of 21 players expected to have a chance to break into the top 30 list.
In other words he is not one of the Rockies top 50 prospects, and has a very slim chance of making it to the MLB. If that was actually Woody’s solution for 1st base then I am really disappointed in Woody’s research.
Hitting well in a bank box park in a low A league at an advanced age does not a MLB prospect make.
Good ‘ol Woody Paige!
Clark has been compared to Ryan Shealy by some in the Rockies organization.
Did we trade Shealy? If so, who did we get for him?
What the hec. All is quiet so I figure I will throw out my whimsical thought of what could be going on behind the scene.
There is no word on Olivo yet because the Rockies are trying to work out a deal with the Marlins for Ricky Nolasco.
Didn’t we get Affeldt for Shealy back in ’07?
I think you’re right Robb! Man, can we trade Clark for another good pitcher like Affeldt? I say we try to screw the Royals again and trade Clark, Smith, and Morales for Greinke! Won’t happen but can’t we at least try?
Steve, quick question about Francis. Obviously every player wants money up front, but an incentive laden contract is most likely what he will be offered by every team I would imagine (unless the Mets are still the Mets…see Perez, Oliver). So the question is does Francis want to return to the Rockies? Being basically dumped and losing $7 mill has to hurt, both the pocketbook and the pride. I really want to see Francis back here, even though the combacks from shoulder surgeries is not as likely as return from Tommy John. But if Francis does come back he can absolutely still be a 10 game winner (since he never relied too much on volocity…heck, if Moyers can still get guys out at his age, why not Francis if the location comes back). It just seems to me that he would be more likely to go to a team closer to home (Seattle?), that has a good chance at the playoffs (Yankees, Rangers) or even for the other Canadian team (Toronto). So if you had to guess Steve, is Francis wanting to come back and what % chance is his return?
The way Francis stuck with the team during the 2009 season, which he missed but still spent with the team essentially serving as the designated catcher for pregame first pitches, speaks to his desire to stay in Colorado. All things being equal, I believe he would like to stay here.