Rockies Hot Stove Action

Finally the Roxs do something during the off season. Now this trade is really tough to gauge. For one side, it seems the management is giving up a home grown talent and not willing to pay fair money for someone entering free agency in a year. Last year Jason Jennings at age 28 made $4,500,000. Looking at the winter signings it is probable that this 58 - 56 pitcher would probably command upwards of $12,000,000 a year (see Gil Meche!). For a pitcher who has slogged through 6 years at Coors Field with no injuries and 941 innings pitched it would seem that giving a 3 - 5 year deal was probably not that wise. Odds are that after another year, JJ would have moved on and the Roxs left with nothing. The way I see this deal is that the Roxs stole a couple of players from Houston. Not only did the Roxs find that elusive Centerfielder they also made away with two younger pitchers with some upside. Obviously 2007 will justify the trade but at least the Roxs made a move to keep up with the national league west. The Roxs have to make a move this year otherwise a fire sale is coming withnthe likes of Matt Holliday coming up for free agency. Perhaps not signing JJ for an extended amount opens up some room to keep some offense. Now if we can only find a suitor for Helton...