NewsMarquis tops free-agent list for Rox
Righty, economical deals in 'pen are priority for Colorado
By Thomas Harding / MLB.com
11/19/09 12:00 AM EST
The Rockies have made no secret of their build-from-within philosophy in recent years, but that doesn't mean they will sit on the sideline during the free-agent signing period, which begins Thursday night at 10:01 p.m. MT.
While the high-priced free agents are all but certainly out of the Rockies' plans, general manager Dan O'Dowd has shown the ability to bargain hunt with the best of them.
First will come decisions about the Rockies' own free agents.
First baseman Jason Giambi likely will sign elsewhere after his strong pinch-hitting performance in September allowed him to re-establish his value. The Rockies like him, but he fits better as an American League designated hitter who can periodically play first base.
If Jason Marquis becomes one of the most coveted free-agent right-handers on the market, the Rockies will have difficulty competing.
Marquis earned $9.9 million last season, the end of a three-year deal he signed with the Cubs. But when the Rockies acquired him from Chicago last winter, they dealt reliever Luis Vizcaino, who was making $4 million, and the Cubs kicked in $875,000. That meant Marquis inflated the Rockies' payroll by $5 million. It is likely to require far more than that to retain him.
The most intriguing name among Rockies free agents is right-hander Jose Contreras, whom the club acquired from the White Sox at the end of August. Contreras, 37, earned $10 million last year at the end of a three-year deal but faces an uncertain free-agent market because of a difficult year with the Sox and age.
However, the Rockies liked his work in the bullpen during the season's final days. After he recovered from a hamstring strain in early September, Contreras shifted to the bullpen and showed increased velocity on his fastball.
Manager Jim Tracy praised Contreras' work and said he has a future there if he chooses it. If so, maybe the Rockies can fit him into their budget.
As for pursuing free agents from other clubs, the Rockies are likely to look for economical deals in the bullpen. Last year's big expenditure was for left-hander Alan Embree, but the Rockies also benefited from shrewd decisions on low-cost deals.
Colorado started to repeat that process early this offseason by reaching one-year contract agreements with right-hander Matt Belisle and left-hander Randy Flores, both of whom came aboard last winter on Minor League deals.
An in-house possibility is left-hander Joe Beimel, who went 0-1 with a 4.26 ERA in 26 games for the Rockies after being acquired from the Nationals at the July non-waiver Trade Deadline.
Beimel was a victim of last winter's tight market. He wound up signing with the Nationals for $2 million a little more than three weeks before the season began. It's possible that Beimel could be in the Rockies' price range this winter.
Even more pressing than free agency at this point are decisions about catcher Yorvit Torrealba and right-handed reliever Rafael Betancourt, both of whom performed well in the run-up to the playoffs.
The Rockies declined the contract options on each but are interested in re-signing both of them.
If Torrealba leaves, the Rockies will need to fill that spot this offseason. Bentancourt was a key cog in their bullpen.
"We did not exercise the option, but we will continue to negotiate with Rafael," O'Dowd said in a statement after the option was declined.
Betancourt arrived in a trade near the non-waiver Deadline and solidified the right-handed setup role by going 3-1 with a 1.78 ERA in 32 appearances as the Rockies earned the National League Wild Card. He gave up one run in 2 1/3 innings in the NL Division Series against the Phillies, who won the series in four games.
Betancourt is rated as a Type A free agent. If the Rockies offer Betancourt arbitration and he signs elsewhere, the Rockies will be entitled to two early-round picks in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft -- either the first- or second-round pick of the club that signs him, and a compensatory pick between the first and second rounds.
Thomas Harding is a reporter for MLB.com. Steve Gilbert contributed to this report. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
