Before kicking off my season preview, I have decided to go ahead and cover all the Rockies offseason moves and how I think they will affect this years team. First off let's look at the players the Rockies kept and made sure they stay in a Colorado uniform for years to come.
All-Star SS Troy Tulowitzki signed a huge extension that will keep him with the team for the next 10 years. This is huge news for all Rockies fans as he signed a seven year extension for $134 million dollars. Despite missing 33 games last season, Tulo belted 27 homers drove in 95 runs and finally hit a stellar .315. Troy is amongst the top in his position in all of baseball and now has his wish to stay with one club his entire career.
Staying on contract extension's, Carlos Gonzalez had a huge season last year and finished 3rd in MVP voting. CarGo in his first full season put up huge numbers taking the batting crown with a .336 average, pounded out 34 homeruns, and drove in 117 runs. This young superstar, who is only 25, signed a 7 year contract worth $80 million. This ensures the 1-2 punch of Tulo and CarGo will remain in purple pinstripes for years to come.
Another key player brought back was left handed starting pitcher Jorge De La Rosa, who accepted a 2 year deal for $21.5 million as he turned down other more lucrative offers to stay with Colorado. Not many pitchers would take less money to pitch in a hitters park like Coors Field, but De La Rosa loves the city and the team enough to stay. Though he struggled a bit last year due to injuries, he is a huge factor in how the Rockies fare this year.
Now onto some trades the Rockies made to increase their odds in the fairly tough NL West. In a move I really liked, Colorado traded minor league pitcher Chaz Roe to the Seattle Mariners for second baseman Jose Lopez. Now Lopez did struggle a bit last season hitting .239 with only 10 homers and 58 runs driven in, but I do believe he will turn back to his 2009 form in which he belted 25 homeruns, drove in 96 runs and batted a respectable .272. Though his defense will be a slight downgrade from Clint Barmes, whom the Rockies lost via trade, he should be the opening day starter. The other options would be Jonathon Herrera and Eric Young Jr. whom both are pretty good options as well, but Lopez takes the spot for now.
Another big bat was added to the lineup as the Rockies brought in veteran infielder Ty Wiggington. Wiggy batted .248, belted 22 homers, and drove in 76 runs last season for the Baltimore Orioles. This gives the Rockies a nice power threat coming off the bench and should see some playing time as well occassionally filling in for Ian Stewart at 3rd and spelling Todd Helton over at 1st. The Rockies were able to get Wiggington fairly cheap signing him to a 2 year $8 million dollar deal. Yet another move I like and showed me the Rockies are not making huge deals, but adding some key players to make a run in the postseason.
Colorado also separted with longtime Rockie and one of the fan favorites in Clint Barmes. Barmes was sent to Houston in exchange for RH pitcher Felipe Paulino. Paulino gives the Rockies another option as a 5th starter or a replacement pitcher should the Rockies need one, but will more than likely start out in the bullpen. Right now he could crack the rotation to start the season pending on Aaron Cooks health status(which right now is not looking good). With the top four spots in the rotation pretty well decided with Ubaldo Jimenez, Jorge De La Rosa, Jhoulys Chacin, and Jason Hammel the Rockies are still very uncertain about veteran Rockie Aaron Cooks status. Felipe Paulino and Esmil Rogers could be battling over that final spot in the rotation. It would represent the first time that Aaron Cook has not broke into the rotation to start the season since 2005.
Chris Iannetta's job may also be safe for now as the Rockies departed with Miguel Olivo who took over the catcher's spot as Iannetta struggled early on. This could be a make or break year for the catcher as his back up is now Jose Morales, who was brought in from the Twins. Morales does not provide a whole lot of power or anything and this could be a weak spot on the Rockies should Iannetta struggle once again. They do have an up and coming catcher in Wilin Rosario down in the minors so he may even be in the mix later in the season.
Going back to the bullpen, Colorado added yet another reliable reliever in Matt Lindstrom with whom the Rockies recieved via trade with the Houston Astros for minor leaguers Jonnathan Aristil and Wes Musik. Lindstrom gives the Rockies another option at closer should Huston Street struggle with injuries once again this season.
Colorado also brought back Jason Giambi, signing him to a minor league deal. He should make the team because of his veteran presence and he is still a feared and powerful pinch hitter. Finally Colorado released veteran pitcher Jeff Francis, who turned down an invitation to Spring Training to become a starter for the Kansas City Royals. Francis had one great season back in 2007 in which he led the club to their first World Series appearance, since then he has struggled with injuries and consistancy the past couple seasons. That is pretty well the jist of trades and offseason moves the Rockies made this year. I would give the Rockies an A for the moves and also securing their best players for years to come. I am looking foward to an exciting season and can not wait until the season starts! Coming soon will be a complete season preview here at RoxNation! So until then Go Rockies!
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