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Rockies' Bettis reveals cancer diagnosis Righty expects to be recovered from surgery in time for Spring Training By Matt Kelly / MLB.com | 1:05 AM ET Rockies pitcher Chad Bettis revealed Monday night that he was diagnosed with testicular cancer in late November and

underwent surgery soon after to have one of his testicles removed. The pitcher broke the news in a statement to ESPN.

Bettis, 27, said he expected to be fully recovered in time to report to Spring Training in February in Scottsdale, Ariz., and

remain a part of Colorado's starting rotation next season.

"The surgeon is very confident that the cancer was isolated and has not spread," Bettis said. "The Rockies and the

MLBPA have been great, and I truly appreciate the care and support shown by [general manager] Jeff Bridich to both me

and my family.

"My understanding is that I will be physically ready to have a normal Spring Training," he continued, "and I greatly look

forward to the upcoming season."

Bettis led the Rockies' staff in 2016 with 186 innings and 14 wins. In four big league seasons, the right-hander owns a

career 23-19 record with a 5.01 ERA.

MEDIA CLIPS – December 13, 2016

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Inbox: Blackmon in center, Desmond at first? Reporter Thomas Harding answers fans' questions By Thomas Harding / MLB.com | @harding_at_mlb | December 9th, 2016

The offseason creates unexpected situations.

When the Rockies signed Ian Desmond for five years and $70 million -- we're being told it's to play first base, but there is

speculation it could be part of a grand plan with more moves to come -- one fan comes to a sports writer for investment

advice.

@harding_at_mlb Did I waste money buying an @Chuck_Naztyjersey this summer?

7:53 AM - 9 Dec 2016

In other words, will the Rockies trade Charlie Blackmon, who is coming off a career year in center field, put Desmond in

center and either sign or otherwise obtain a first baseman?

The fact Desmond's offensive production fits better in the middle of the diamond than at first, and the fact the Rockies

talked about Blackmon trades certainly threatens your investment. And, frankly, I've gone back and forth on this.

But at this moment, I say the chances are better than even that he'll be with Colorado in 2017.

Under weighted runs created (wRC+) -- which measures overall offensive effectiveness with park factors accounted for -

- Blackmon finished this past season at 130, or 30 points above MLB average. Desmond, who scored a quite respectable

106, has finished between 106 and 125 in five different seasons.

So if Blackmon repeats or comes close, the team is still slightly better offensively. If the Rockies deal Blackmon, Desmond

would have to overperform and the new first sacker would need to really be something to improve that position and make

up for the slight drop in center. So the Rockies ask so much for Blackmon that the conversations with teams like the

Nationals and the Blue Jays -- from whom Colorado reportedly requested pitcher Marcus Stroman, straight up -- didn't

gain traction at the Winter Meetings. The Cardinals' pickup of Dexter Fowler takes a team out of the mix.

The defensive stats tend not to be kind to Coors Field center fielders. They put Blackmon at minus-2 defensive runs

saved (DRS), but the club has always felt current metrics don't accurately reflect Coors' effect. Desmond came in at

minus-4 in the outfield in 2016, and he would be coming to a new park. Desmond's athletic ability, by the way, profiles to

above-average defense at first base.

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So tell your friends you expect to lose Blackmon. Maybe one will buy you a Nolan Arenado jersey, and if they keep

Blackmon, you come out ahead.

@harding_at_mlb reason rox prefer trumbo over encarnacion? Cheaper? More power?

8:10 AM - 9 Dec 2016

It would be nice if the Rockies could sign one of them. Then @mailman9 will have to mothball the Blackmon jersey.

However, I don't see either Mark Trumbo or Edwin Encarnacion wearing purple unless the market forces them to accept

fewer than the five or more years they seek. The Rockies are staying in touch, but they don't figure to bite unless the

years come down. Mike Napoli could also come into play, depending on contract length.

@harding_at_mlb Losing Hundley This Year It Was Thought We Were Losing A Great Leader. Is Desmond They Type Of

Leader In The Clubhouse?

7:37 AM - 9 Dec 2016

Catcher Nick Hundley was an asset for a solid young starting staff. A longtime Nationals staffer says he observed the

team dynamic during the Nats' down years and noticed teammates coming to Desmond, or Desmond offering help to

others. The key is all this happened while Desmond was in a slump that put his average not much over .200.

Anyone can lead when he's an All-Star, the way which Desmond has been twice. But think about this in any job: maybe

you are struggling, maybe the bosses are wondering, can you still help others? If you can, that's saying something.

When Desmond left the Nationals for the Rangers as a free agent, Washington was awarded a compensation pick in the

Draft after extending a qualifying offer to the slugger. But star Bryce Harper told reporters: "You're never gonna get a

Draft pick that's like Ian Desmond."

@harding_at_mlb Any moves #Rockies *did not* make that disappointed or surprised you?

7:37 AM - 9 Dec 2016

First of all, well before the Meetings, I asked general manager Jeff Bridich if it's important to make an offseason splash.

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"I don't know," he said. "I would hope that when there's hundreds of millions of dollars on the line and a business to run in

a very competitive industry, I would hope that we're making good decisions, well-thought-out and well-structured decisions

on behalf of the organization. That's how it should be, and that is our primary goal. Some of the decisions will work out

and some of them won't."

That's a roundabout way of saying that the Meetings weren't a deadline, so I'm going to wait until the Rockies are done

this offseason.

@harding_at_mlb any other moves expected by the @Rockies to help the bull pen? We lost a lot of games last

year in the late innings

9:52 AM - 9 Dec 2016

This might be the most important question. No alphabet soup of offensive stats will matter if the bullpen doesn't

improve. Mike Dunn, Brad Ziegler and Joe Blanton have the accomplishment and familiarity factors that could entice an

offer. A return of lefty Boone Logan is possible, as well.

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Rox exit Meetings with big bat, bigger questions By Thomas Harding / MLB.com | @harding_at_mlb | December 8th, 2016

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. -- It's a baseball holiday tradition. As the Winter Meetings ended Thursday morning with the

Rule 5 Draft, the staff at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center gradually replaced baseball-themed placards

with holiday decorations, and all the soft and hard sell that they entail.

Rockies general manager Jeff Bridich understands the spirit.

The Rockies leave this year's Meetings having landed -- unconfirmed by the club and pending a physical -- free-agent

right-handed hitter Ian Desmond, but with their shopping incomplete.

They still need impact arms in the late innings, and it isn't clear whether the Rockies will plug Desmond into their void at

first base or clear a spot for him in the outfield by making a trade.

"It's tough to know a time frame," Bridich said of when the Rockies' offseason moves will be complete. "There's still a lot of

winter left. But we definitely have leads, we have ideas. We've certainly made contacts and had communications with

teams, with agents. We are, for the most part, running some parallel courses in these Meetings and after the Meetings to

address needs that we've talked about."

Deals done

Bridich came through on a pledge to increase the Rockies' payroll by signing the two-time All-Star Desmond, a shortstop

for seven seasons with the Nationals and a center fielder last year with the Rangers, for five years at $70 million. It's the

richest contract for a free-agent position player in club history, and the club's biggest free-agent deal since the eight-year,

$121 million contract Mike Hampton signed at the 2000 Winter Meetings.

Rule 5 Draft

The Rockies reunited with infielder Josh Rutledge on a Minor League deal last month, but the Red Sox took him back

Thursday with the 11th pick in the Rule 5 Draft. He could return to the Rockies if he doesn't stick with the Red Sox the

entire 2017 season.

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In the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 Draft, the Rockies selected catcher Anthony Bemboom from the Angels. Bemboom,

26, hit a combined .222 at the Double-A and Triple-A last season. The Rockies -- relying partly on info from new manager

Bud Black, who worked for the Angels as a special front-office assistant last season -- hope to have uncovered a gem.

"He's a catch-and-throw guy, but really his ability to handle the game, handle the staff, all those things, we feel he's got a

chance to be a backup catcher in the big leagues," said Jon Weill, the Rockies' assistant general manager/player

personnel. "In our focus on pitching, catching is just as much in our focus."

Goals accomplished

There are questions as to how Desmond profiles as a first baseman, but there's little doubt he's a valuable addition to the

roster. He was an important leader as the Nationals went from a struggling club to postseason contenders, and the

athletic ability that allowed him to become an All-Star outfielder with the Rangers last season is a plus for a Rockies club

that values versatility.

Unfinished business

The rumor mill still has the Rockies in play for free-agent slugger Mark Trumbo, who according to reports is in line for a

contract similar to Desmond's. Trumbo plays first base and the outfield, so that chatter has sparked speculation that the

club could deal center fielder Charlie Blackmon.

Even if the Rockies sacrifice traditional first-base production for athletic ability and intangibles by going with Desmond at

first, an offense that also includes Nolan Arenado, Carlos Gonzalez, DJ LeMahieu and Blackmon should provide runs,

but that doesn't matter if the club can't protect a lead. That's where the bullpen comes in.

Familiarity could be a factor. Lefty Mike Dunn pitched for new Rockies bench coach Mike Redmond with the Marlins.

Righty ground-ball machine Brad Ziegler hurt the Rockies for several seasons while pitching for the D-backs. Several

others, such as ex-Giants Sergio Romo and Yusmeiro Petit and former Dodger Joe Blanton have track records in the

division that can make the Rockies' evaluations easier.

The Rockies also have to complete their coaching staff with a first-base coach, a hitting coach and an assistant hitting

coach. Additionally, Darryl Scott, last season's pitching coach at Triple-A Albuquerque, has been promoted to co-Minor

League pitching coordinator alongside Doug Linton.

GM's bottom line

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"We have to be realistic and somewhat creative about how we profile and about what's important to us at each position.

The productiveness of a DJ LeMahieu [.348, 11 HR with the Rockies] is very different from the productiveness of a Brian

Dozier[.268, 42 HR with the Twins]. They play the same position, but they're equally productive in their own ways. We've

got to appreciate all those things, and we work very hard to do that." -- Bridich, on balancing his various roster needs,

which may explain how they could incorporate lower-than-average production at one position with players who are above

expected production at others

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Rockies pitcher Chad Bettis has testicular cancer, expects full recovery, per report Rockies pitcher Chad Bettis said he expects to be part of the Rockies starting rotation in 2017 By The Denver Post / December 12, 2016 at 10:50 pm

Colorado Rockies pitcher Chad Bettis was diagnosed with testicular cancer last month but expects to make a full

recovery, according to a report by ESPN.

Bettis had surgery on Nov. 29 to have a testicle removed, he told ESPN in a statement, but he expects to report to spring

training in Arizona in February and be a part of the Rockies starting rotation next season.

“During an appointment in November, my doctor noticed an abnormality and ordered further tests and advanced blood

work,” Bettis said in a statement released to ESPN through his agent, Matt Sosnick. “The following Monday, I was

diagnosed with testicular cancer and had one of my testicles removed the next day.”

Bettis said in the statement that he was caught off-guard by his diagnosis, but has since learned the survival rate is 99

percent when the cancer is contained and caught early.

“The surgeon is very confident that the cancer was isolated and has not spread and that my ability to have children

should not be affected. The Rockies and the MLBPA have been great, and I truly appreciate the care and support shown

by [general manager] Jeff Bridich to both me and my family,” Bettis said in a statement to ESPN.

Bettis, 27, is 23-19 with a 5.01 ERA across four seasons with the Rockies. Last year, he went 14-8 with a 4.79 ERA in 32

starts, striking out 138 and walking 59 in 186 innings.

A phone call and e-mail to Sosnick late Monday night were not immediately returned.

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Building a bulletproof bullpen is key, but can Rockies get in the game? To be a true contender in the MLB, a good bullpen is essential. By Patrick Saunders | The Denver Post / December 12, 2016

At Dodger Stadium, the sight of closer Kenley Jansen taking the mound meant it was time cue up the Dodgers’ victory

song — Randy Newman’s “I Love L.A.”

In other locales, Denver and San Francisco quickly come to mind, the lack of a trusted bullpen signaled white-knuckle

time. The Rockies posted a major league-worst 5.13 ERA and blew 28 save chances. The Giants blew 30 save chances

and lost nine games in which they led entering the ninth inning, both major-league highs. They ended up losing the NL

West title to the rival Dodgers by just four games.

So what did the Giants do? They made the first big splash of the offseason, signing Mark Melancon to a four-year contract

worth $62 million. It was the largest contract for a reliever, eclipsing the four-year, $50 million deal the Philadelphia

Phillies gave Jonathan Papelbon before the 2012 season. But Melancon’s place atop the list didn’t last long. A few days

later, the New York Yankees landed left-handed flame-thrower Aroldis Chapman for five years at the cost of $86 million.

The trend is clear: If you want to be a true contender, a bulletproof bullpen is essential. Giants manager Bruce Bochy

summed it up last week at baseball’s winter meetings.

“I think more and more we’re realizing how important a closer is,” Bochy said. “They stabilize your season. Because when

you lose games late, it’s a blow. It’s a shot to the chin. And you take enough of ’em, it can wear your team out.”

The Rockies talked with Melancon and his representatives, and a source said that Melancon, a product of Golden High

School, was open to returning to Colorado but only if the money being offered was close, and if Melencon truly believed

the Rockies were a contender. In the end, Melancon signed a huge contract and landed with a team that has World Series

aspirations.

“It was obvious that this organization knows how to win, and that’s their top priority,” Melancon told San Francisco

reporters.

The Rockies, it turned out, were never really in the game.

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“We kept in touch and checked in to see where his representatives thought the market would go,” Rockies general

manager Jeff Bridich said. “He just ended up being a better fit somewhere else. … They knew that we were interested, but

I wouldn’t say we were at the front of the line.”

Of the big-three free-agent closers, only Jansen remained unsigned through Friday. According to media reports, the

Miami Marlins were likely to beat out the Dodgers for Jansen, at a cost of about $80 million for five years.

Jansen, a powerful right-hander with an elusive cut fastball, is the Dodgers’ franchise leader in saves with 189. He

converted 47-of-53 save chances last season, then was used as a multi-inning reliever during the Dodgers’ march to the

National League Championship Series.

The Marlins’ Don Mattingly, who managed Jansen in Los Angeles before moving on to Miami for the 2016 season,

believes Jansen would help turn the young Marlins into contenders in the NL East.

“He’s a guy that’s durable. He’s really a guy without a lot of innings on him,” Mattingly said. “He’s a guy that has shown

he’s capable of going one plus. Seeing what (Dodgers manager Dave Roberts) did with him in the playoffs, being able to

stretch him out … give him a day off and then he’s right back out there. He’s a guy that showed durability, bounce-back

and able to handle any situation.”

The last two seasons have demonstrated just how much a deep and talented bullpen is worth. The Kansas City Royals

won the 2015 World Series in large part because of a bullpen that could take over a game from innings six through

nine. Creative use of relievers Andrew Miller, Cody Allen, Bryan Shaw and Dan Otero led the Cleveland Indians to the

2016 American League pennant.

Chapman, of course, helped the Chicago Cubs win their first World Series title in 108 years, but the Cubs’ front office

decided not to get into a free-agent bidding war to retain him. Instead, the Cubs swung a deal with the Royals, sending

talented, young outfielder Jorge Soler to Kansas City in exchange for closer Wade Davis.

During the past three seasons, Davis has posted a 1.18 ERA with 47 saves over 185 appearances. Cubs manager Joe

Maddon knows the right-hander well from their time together with the Tampa Bay Rays (2009-12), so that was a factor in

the Cubs’ thinking.

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“One thing we learned this year, and I know (Kansas City GM Dayton Moore) learned it in ’14 and ’15, is when you play

that extra month (in the playoffs), it’s really hard on your bullpen,” Cubs GM Jed Hoyer said. “It’s really hard on your whole

pitching staff. The more good relievers we can add to that, the more we can add that length and have versatile weapons,

the better.”

The Rockies, meanwhile, continue to say they’re searching for ways to bolster their bullpen, either through a free-agent

signing or through a trade. But Bridich has also repeatedly said that the Rockies may already have their closer on their

roster, specifically mentioning right-hander Adam Ottavino, while noting right-hander Carlos Estevez, a rookie last season,

and veteran left-hander Jake McGee have ninth-inning experience.

Still, it’s hard to imagine the Rockies becoming contenders without bringing in some new relievers. Bridich has

acknowledged the club’s interest in former Miami left-hander Mike Dunn, as well as right-handed sidearmer Brad Ziegler.

Other free-agent relievers still on the market include right-handers Neftali Perez, Joe Blanton and Yusmeiro Petit. The

challenge, as it always is, is convincing a pitcher to pitch at Coors Field.

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Jeff Bridich’s next order of business? Prop up Rockies’ bullpen Bridich said he expects the hot stove to stay hot over the next two weeks By Patrick Saunders | The Denver Post / December 8, 2016 at 10:55am

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — The winter meetings ended here Thursday morning as general managers and their

entourages scrambled to catch flights home, but that doesn’t mean the business of baseball is done.

Especially not for the Rockies. General manager Jeff Bridich said he expects the hot stove to stay hot over the next two

weeks.

“We can be active, I hope we are,” Bridich said. “There are still things we can do to improve our team.”

Topping the list is the need to improve the bullpen, which ranked worst in the major leagues last season with a 5.13 ERA.

Bridich said he and his staff have “looked at just about every free agent reliever.”

Among candidates whom the Rockies are known to have targeted are left-hander Mike Dunn and right-handed sidearmer

Brad Ziegler.

“There is a still a lot of work left, but we definitely have leads and we have ideas,” Bridich said. “We certainly made

contacts with teams and with agents. For the most part, we were running on parallel courses at these meetings in terms of

meeting our needs as far as first base and the bullpen.”

The Rockies have met their first need, agreeing in principle Wednesday with free agent Ian Desmond to a five-year, $70

million deal to play first base. The move is not official yet, but Desmond is expected to be signed early next week.

Dunn is in the bullpen mix, in part, because he was the eighth-inning setup man for former Miami manager Mike

Redmond, who was recently hired as the Rockies bench coach under new manager Bud Black.

“With (Dunn) being in the National League, we’ve seen him a number of times and there’s some level of familiarity there,”

Bridich said. “And he’s still available. He’s somebody, to a certain degree, we’re paying attention to.”

Ziegler, 37, pitched six seasons at Arizona, so the Rockies are familiar with him. He is 3-1 with a 4.15 ERA and two saves

in 20 career games at Coors Field.

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“He’s certainly a good pitcher, and with how many times we’ve seen him and faced him, we feel like we know him real

well,” Bridich said. “The way he operates, the unconventional can really work for him, and it doesn’t matter where he

pitches. I understand why his name keeps popping up.”

Draft day. The winter meetings closed out with the Rule 5 Draft Thursday morning, with the Rockies losing one player

and gaining another. Infielder Josh Rutledge, recently signed by the Rockies to a minor-league contract, was selected by

Boston in the major-league phase of the draft.

In the minor-league phase of the draft, Colorado selected catcher Anthony Bemboom from the Double-A Arkansas roster

of the Los Angeles Angels organization.

Rockies assistant general manager Jon Weil said Bemboon can help develop pitchers at the Triple-A level. Bemboom, 26,

appeared in 72 games with Double-A Arkansas and Triple-A Salt Lake City in 2016, batting a combined .222 with 11

doubles, three triples, one home run and 14 RBIs.

Praise for Black. New Rockies manager Buddy Black received a glowing endorsement from Angels manager

Mike Scioscia, whom Black served under as pitching coach when the Angels won the 2002 World Series.

“His baseball intelligence is off the charts,” Scioscia said. “He’s really a bright guy, but he’s got people skills that just are

very rare to see in, not only a manager, but in people that you meet. He genuinely cares about people. He understands

people.”

But, Scioscia continued, Black is tough and will be a good fit in Colorado..

“All those attributes I talked about are dwarfed by Buddy’s competitive nature,” Scioscia said. “He wants to win. He wants

to achieve. He wants to succeed.

“You’ll notice a difference. You’ll notice a difference throughout spring training. You’ll notice a difference around the

clubhouse. These players will feed off that and will play at the level they should.”

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Saunders: Sorting through the rumors after the Rockies landed Ian Desmond It’s not often the Rockies make the rumor mill spin at 5,000 RPMs By Patrick Saunders | The Denver Post / December 8, 2016 at 10:55am

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — Rockies general manager Jeff Bridich sat in his hotel room here Wednesday evening as the

baseball world swirled in the lobby nine floors below.

It’s not often the Rockies make the rumor mill spin at 5,000 RPMs, but that’s exactly what they did at the winter meetings.

First came surprising news that they had agreed to terms with shortstop-turned-outfielder Ian Desmond for five years and

$70 million.

Then came the flood of rumors.

The theory is that Desmond, who was brought in to fill the hole at first base, was just the first domino to fall and that other

moves were sure to follow. For instance, there were multiple reports that the Rockies were deep into talks with St. Louis

about a trade for center fielder Charlie Blackmon in exchange for pitching and perhaps first baseman Matt Adams. The

Rockies, however, are asking a lot in return for Blackmon, who’s coming off a career year when he hit .324 with 29

homers and a .381 on-base percentage from the leadoff spot.

The second part of the theory is if the Rockies trade Blackmon (or Carlos Gonzalez), the Rockies might move Desmond to

the outfield, where he played last season for Texas. Fox Sports’ national baseball writer Ken Rosenthal, a man with his

finger on the big-league pulse at these meetings, even tweeted that the Rockies might not be done with their pursuit of

free-agent slugger Mark Trumbo as their first baseman.

The problem with all of the rumors is that I’ve been told by reliable sources that the Rockies are intent on making

Desmond their first baseman. They like his athleticism and think he can thrive at Coors Field.

Despite the breaking news and chatter throughout the winter meetings, Bridich would not confirm the Desmond deal, but I

have no doubt it will become official relatively soon.

When Bridich was asked if the wheels were now in motion for more moves, he replied: “Our goals are still the same, we

came here to the winter meeting with priorities for first base and the bullpen, and those priorities are still the same —

which means we are still very active.

“It’s tough to gauge what will happen over the next day and what this situation will lead to once the meetings are done.”

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Asked specifically about the rumors about Blackmon, he replied: “My feelings haven’t changed about Charlie Blackmon

one bit. He’s a very popular player for good reason. There have been (trade) questions about him. There have been

increased questions about him since the (Desmond) rumors came out this afternoon. It’s no surprise because of the type

of player and person that he is.”

Then Bridich said something that made me think that Rockies would be open to moving Blackmon — for the right price —

as they did with Troy Tulowitzki in late July 2015.

“Certainly, we have not had any intention of trading this player (Blackmon) for all those good reasons,” he said, then

paused before adding, “As I’ve said before, we’re just going to keep our ears open and eyes open. That’s just part of the

business.”

My bottom line: I think Desmond will be Colorado’s primary first baseman in 2017, and I would not be shocked to see

Blackmon traded if the Rockies get quality pitching in return.

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Colorado Rockies’ Chad Bettis diagnosed with testicular cancer, per report Bettis’ doctor is confident the cancer didn't spread beyond the testicle that has been removed. By Bryan Kilpatrick | Purple Row \ @purplerowBK | Dec 12, 2016, 10:47pm MST

Colorado Rockies pitcher Chad Bettis was recently diagnosed with testicular cancer, according to ESPN’s Jerry

Crasnick.

Bettis had to have a testicle removed, but the surgeon doesn't believe the cancer spread beyond that, the pitcher said in a

statement released to ESPN via his agent. Bettis expects to be ready to report to spring training with the Rockies in

February. More from Bettis, via Crasnick:

“I was completely caught off guard by my diagnosis, but have subsequently found that the vast majority of cases occur in

men 20 to 40 years of age, and that the survival rate is 99 percent when contained and caught early. This only reinforces

my belief that each of us needs to be totally in tune with our own physical health, and that taking action sooner than later

when we feel like something is off can sometimes literally be the difference between life and death.”

Bettis has asked that the privacy of his family be respected while he prepares for the upcoming season.

The 27-year-old right-hander is coming off an up-and-down 2016, during which he posted a 4.79 ERA (102 ERA+) with

6.7 K/9 and a career-low 2.9 BB/9. Bettis in 2017 is expected to slot in near the back of the Rockies’ rotation in what will

be his third season as a full-time starter in the majors.

On behalf of the entire Purple Row staff, our thoughts are with Bettis and his family, and we wish him continued health

and a cancer-free life.

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MLB trade rumors: How the Rockies could acquire José Quintana What would it take for the Rockies to acquire José Quintana? By Eric Garcia McKinley / Purple Row | @garcia_mckinley | Dec 11, 2016, 12:17pm MST

The White Sox are in the midst of a mini fire sale, having traded Chris Sale and Adam Eaton for loads of prospects. There

are still a couple big name players the White Sox could move: first baseman José Abreu and lefty starter José Quintana.

The Rockies could use both Josés and have the prospect capital to attain either, but we’ll focus on Quintana and what it

might take to get him.

Peter Gammons recently tweeted that the White Sox discussed trading Quintana to the Astros at the Winter Meetings.

The White Sox asked for three players: Joe Musgrove, Frances Martes, and Kyle Tucker. The Astros declined.

Yesterday, Dave Schoenfield at ESPN’s SweetSpot offered up a few teams that have both the need and ability to acquire

Quintana, and one of them was the Rockies. Schoenfield put together a package that the White Sox would almost

certainly say yes to and that the Rockies would be unlikely to put on the table: Brendan Rodgers, Raimel Tapia, and Riley

Pint.

Purple Row’s Ryan Freemyer took to Twitter and asked who would win such a trade, the Rockies or the White Sox. Sixty

percent of the 253 voters said the White Sox, eight percent the Rockies, and 32 percent said even. Full disclosure: I voted

in said poll, and I voted that the trade favors the White Sox. The Rockies would be foolish to offer such a package, but the

parts can be the starting point for other ones. Let’s figure something else out.

When thinking about a fair deal, we first have to establish what the Rockies would be getting. Quintana has been one of

the 25 best pitchers since his debut in 2012. In that time span, he has posted an ERA+ of 118. He’s sandwiched between

Jordan Zimmermann’s 117 and Jon Lester’s 119, whose innings pitched totals are both close to Quintana’s from 2012-

2016.

And speaking of innings pitched, Quintana has thrown at least 200 innings in each of the last four seasons. The last time

the Rockies had a starter throw 200 innings was 2010. To boot, Quintana is heading into his age-28 season and is owed

just $38 million over the next four seasons. The last two seasons are team options, so there’s even pumpkin insurance.

Quintana is good, durable, young, and relatively cheap. He’s worth a lot, which means it would take a lot to acquire him.

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Let’s use what the White Sox asked the Astros for as a guide. They asked for a 24-year-old starting pitcher with major-

league experience (Musgrove), a 21-year-old right-handed starter and MLB.com No. 29 prospect with Double-A success

(Martes), and a 19-year-old outfielder ranked No. 50 with Class A experience (Tucker). Immediately, it is clear that a

Rodgers plus Pint package would be too much, as Rodgers is a top 10 prospect and Pint ranked No. 39. The "two top 50

prospects" in the two packages do not align. Either could be the center of a trade, but not both.

Here are a few options that could get a trade done. I’m not suggesting that the Rockies offer any of these, but they are fair

packages.

Option 1: Riley Pint, Raimel Tapia, and Germán Márquez

The White Sox’ Winter Meetings ask indicates that they are more interested in players who will be ready sooner rather

than later. If Pint is the center of the trade, then the additional players would probably need to be either major-league

ready or close to it. Pint has an extremely high ceiling, but he’s probably at least four years away from the majors. This

deal would have to include Raimel Tapia. He has major-league experience, and although he might need more seasoning

in Triple-A, he could turn into an every day player in 2017. Germán Márquez could round out this deal. He’s MLB.com’s

No. 100 prospect and has some major-league experience.

In this scenario, Pint plays Tucker and Tapia and Márquez play Martes and Musgrove. A reason for the Rockies to use

Pint as the center is because he’s far away and a pitcher. He’s a lottery ticket that has three correct numbers, but a lottery

ticket nevertheless. That’s also a reason for the White Sox to execute the trade, and getting Tapia and Márquez, who are

both relatively safe at this point, makes it easy to take on Pint’s volatility.

Option 2: Riley Pint, Raimel Tapia, Jeff Hoffman

But perhaps the White Sox don’t want to take on the risk of a pitcher not yet 20 without getting a better major-league

ready pitcher than Márquez. In that case, the Rockies could probably slip Hoffman into the mix. Hoffman has major-

league experience, and though it wasn’t successful, it’s clear that he’s finished learning in Triple-A and is ready to take on

major-league lessons. Here, Pint is in the Martes role and Tapia and Hoffman appear as Tucker and Musgrove.

Option 3: Brendan Rodgers, Jeff Hoffman, Kyle Freeland

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In this case, Rodgers plays Martes if he were more highly regarded, Hoffman is still Musgrove, and Freeland is a less

impressive Tucker. Rodgers is still a couple of years away from cracking the majors, but he’s a relatively safe prospect

who plays a premium position. Whereas the previous two options have three top 100 prospects (depending on the list),

this one only has two. That’s because of Rodgers. Freeland would be easy to let go of for the Rockies, and for the White

Sox, he would provide a near major-league ready left handed arm who might work as a starter but can transition to relief if

need be.

Option 4: Jeff Hoffman, Ryan McMahon or Raimel Tapia, Ryan Castellani

This one might be a stretch for the White Sox. Hoffman is a fine centerpiece, but Castellani is a couple years away. While

he’s consistently young for his level, that doesn’t translate to a higher ceiling. For Castellani, a best future is in the middle

rather than top of a rotation. The McMahon/Tapia option presents a ceiling versus safety decision. Tapia should contribute

soon, but McMahon has more potential, despite the down year at Double-A. It’s easy to see how a team could like

McMahon more than Tapia. In this option, Hoffman is Musgrove, McMahon or Tapia is Tucker, and Castellani is Martes

with a lot of squinting.

Of the proposals thus far, this one is probably the one Rockies’ fans like the most and White Sox fans like the least. That

could be an indication that it’s a deal that wouldn’t work.

Of these, I like Options 1 and 4, but those probably don’t get it done. They’re Rockies fan proposals. I hate Option 3. I

don’t think the Rockies should consider moving Rodgers. He’s not that far away and has a legitimate shot of becoming a

premier major-league shortstop. Option 2 is both the most palatable and the most realistic. It would be tough to lose out

on what Pint might become, but if the goal is to compete in 2017, that’s a sacrifice to make. Giving up Tapia would sting,

but it wouldn’t hurt the team’s immediate fortunes. Letting go of Hoffman would be the easiest here because Quintana

would replace him immediately.

But those are just my thoughts. What say you?

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MLB trade rumors: Colorado Rockies’ Charlie Blackmon’s value likely increasing Recent developments in the outfield market may help the Rockies trade Blackmon. By Ryan Schoppe / Purple Row | @rj_schoppe | Dec 9, 2016, 1:06pm MST

When the news first broke that the Rockies had signed Ian Desmond, the first thought that almost everyone had was

that the Rockies would need to trade one of the current outfielders. Much like signing Gerardo Parra last offseason,

the adding Desmond puts the Rockies in a position where trading one of their incumbent outfielders appears to make the

most sense.

The Rockies have made plenty of noise that Desmond is their solution at first base; however, there are still lots of rumors

that the Rockies are looking at some of the other first base options on the market while also potentially trading Charlie

Blackmon to create space for Desmond in the outfield. Yet, the return for Blackmon will be the deciding factor as to

whether or not those plans come to fruition.

That chances of a team being willing to give up a big enough return may have taken a boost in the last 24 hours.

First, Dexter Fowler signed a five-year $82.5M contract with the Cardinals. While a potential trade partner is off the

market, Fowler no longer being available may make on the runner-ups for his service more desperate to find a quality

center fielder and lead-off hitter.

The other big development was the Pirates appearing to take Andrew McCutchen off of the trade market. Before the

Winter Meetings, there was rumors that the Pirates were actively shopping McCutchen. With their prime trading

partners, the Nationals and Rangers, off the market, the Pirates are now planning on McCutchen being on their Opening

Day roster.

For teams that are still looking for a center fielder like the Blue Jays, these two developments may bring them back to the

Rockies in an attempt to acquire the best available option left. While the number of available suitors has decreased, the

Rockies’ leverage with the remaining teams has potentially grown to the point where the return will be enough to pry

Blackmon from the Rockies.

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Colorado’s Chad Bettis Reveals Battle with Testicular Cancer By Kevin Henry / Rox Pile | @Rox_Coverage | Dec 13, 2016

Chad Bettis has faced some tough opposition during his time pitching for the Colorado Rockies. However, no battle has

been like the one Bettis has faced in the last month.

In a statement to ESPN, Bettis revealed that he was diagnosed with testicular cancer and underwent surgery in late

November. He is confident he will be ready for spring training and that the cancer “was isolated and has not spread.”

“I was completely caught off guard by my diagnosis, but have subsequently found that the vast majority of cases occur in

men 20 to 40 years of age, and that the survival rate is 99 percent when contained and caught early,” Bettis conveyed in

the statement. “This only reinforces my belief that each of us needs to be totally in tune with our own physical health, and

that taking action sooner than later when we feel like something is off can sometimes literally be the difference between

life and death.

“My understanding is that I will be physically ready to have a normal spring training, and I greatly look forward to the

upcoming season.”

According to the American Cancer Society, testicular cancer is not common. About one of every 263 males will

develop testicular cancer at some point during his life. About 8,720 new cases of testicular cancer will be diagnosed in

2016 and about 380 men will die from the disease.

Bettis is being counted upon by the Rockies to continue the strong way he finished the 2016 season. The 27-year-old

right-hander went 3-1 with a 3.03 ERA in September to cap off a season that saw him post a 14-8 record and throw the

most innings (186) of any Colorado starter.

He started September in amazing fashion, pitching a two-hitter in a 6-0 win over the San Francisco Giants at Coors

Field for his first career complete game win and shutout. One person even used that game as encouragement for Bettis

heading into the rest of the offseason.

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Colorado Rockies: Grading the 2016 Corner Infielders By James Keating / Rox Pile | @TheJamesKeating | Dec 12, 2016

Reflecting back on the performance of the Colorado Rockies corner infielders in 2016, it’s clear the Rockies were living in

a paradox where they had both the league’s best and worst players.

As a note, we have only listed the players in this article who played a majority of their innings at a corner infield position.

STEPHEN CARDULLO: 2016 GRADE D+, fWAR -0.3

Perennial minor leaguer Stephen Cardullo got a shot at both corner spot during September callups in 2016. All in all,

Cardullo managed a weak .214/.254/.411 line in 59 plate appearances. At the prime age of 29, the club needed to see

what Cardullo was capable of. It is safe to say they didn’t find their long-term solution at first base in the presence of

Cardullo.

Altogether, it wasn’t all bad having Cardullo in LoDo. After all, it was a fun loving story that an older guy who had spent so

much time in the independent leagues was finally getting at shot at the Bigs. In the best moments of his career, Cardullo

managed to hit two very memorable homers on the season. First, both homers came during a twin bill against the rival

Dodgers (always a great thing). Second, the latter dinger was a first-inning grand slam (you have to love getting on top

early). Third, it was also his birthday. Thanks for the gifts, Mr. Cardullo.

Equal to Reynolds’ situation, Cardullo won’t be around once Spring Training is upon us as he was granted his free agency

on December 2. It’s unclear at present if another organization will give him an opportunity to catch on with their club.

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Colorado Rockies Free Agent Pitching Target: Ivan Nova By Kevin Henry / Rox Pile | @Rox_Coverage | December 12, 2016

The Colorado Rockies seem very interested in acquiring additional starting pitching. Within the past week, the Rockies

have been linked to potential trades involving the Toronto Blue Jays (see the rumored trade here) and Baltimore Orioles

(see the rumored trade here). Both involved the Rockies dealing an outfielder in exchange for a starting pitcher.

If the Rockies are looking for another starting pitcher to join Jon Gray, Tyler Anderson, Tyler Chatwood and Chad

Bettis in the rotation, perhaps Ivan Nova would be a fit in Denver.

He’s been called the best free agent pitcher left on the market so it’s no surprise that the Rockies are just one team that

would be a fit for Nova. Per this FanRag Sports article, the Rockies could be a landing spot for the right-hander who

pitched for both the Yankees and Pirates last season.

Nova’s time with Pittsburgh last season was the only time that he has pitched in the National League. However, he made

quite the impression in his short time, going 5-2 with a 3.06 ERA in 11 starts for the Pirates. That includes three complete

games.

The Rockies saw him twice last season before he left the Yankees for the Pirates and stung him both times. In nine

innings against the Rockies last season, Nova surrendered 18 hits and 10 earned runs. He took the loss both in both

outings.

Pittsburgh is still interested in bringing Nova back, and the free agent already reportedly has multiple offers for his

services.

Colorado has reportedly signed Ian Desmond to a five-year, $70 million contract. The Rockies have also made it clear

through recent discussions they are interested in bolstering their rotation. But are they willing to spend more money on a

starter? Nova has been rumored to have contracts in the three-year, $36 million range on the table. However, he’s

been projected to earn up to $52 million over four years so he’s certainly weighing his options.

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The Rockies bullpen still needs some work and Colorado reportedly remains in the hunt for Mike Dunn and Brad Ziegler.

However, if Colorado is looking for a starter and would rather go the free agent route than orchestrating a trade, Nova

would be a possibility … if they’re willing to spend some big dollars.

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Colorado Rockies Rumors: Trade Talk with Baltimore? By Kevin Henry / Rox Pile | @Rox_Coverage | December 12, 2016

We know the Colorado Rockies have been looking to acquire more starting pitching. It was part of the big rumor that

circulated toward the end of baseball’s winter meetings with Charlie Blackmon heading to the Toronto Blue Jays in

exchange for Marcus Stroman.

While the Rockies have been looking strongly toward the Baltimore Orioles roster in swiping Mark Trumbo away from the

American League East team, it appears that’s not the only Baltimore player the Rockies have been coveting.

According to Roch Kubato of MASNSports.com, the Rockies have been talking to the Orioles about a potential trade

that would send a Colorado outfielder (presumably Blackmon or Carlos Gonzalez) to Baltimore with Colorado receiving

starting pitcher Kevin Gausman in exchange. The problem, however, is that Baltimore isn’t interested in trading

Gausman.

One thing that is a constant within the talks the Rockies have reportedly had with the Blue Jays and the Orioles is that any

trade will involve a starting pitcher. It’s obvious that the Rockies are looking to upgrade their pitching as a whole, including

a rotation that features young guns Jon Gray, Tyler Anderson, Tyler Chatwood and Chad Bettis. While the Colorado

bullpen has been a constant focus when the word “upgrade” is mentioned this offseason, it’s clear Colorado wouldn’t mind

acquiring another starter as well.

We talked openly about whether Colorado needed another starter in this article. The Rockies certainly seem to be

pushing for one … but they’re clearly shooting for top-tier starters if they’re potentially going to trade one of their All-Star

outfielders. Reportedly, Toronto is not interested in parting with Stroman and Baltimore wants to no part of sending away

Gausman, who paced all Orioles starters innings pitched and ERA in 2016.

If we’ve learned nothing through the recent rumor mill involving the Rockies, it’s that Colorado general manager Jeff

Bridich is willing to talk about trading Blackmon or CarGo. But any team interested in talking about that best be prepared

to give up a big-name pitcher as Colorado is in win-now mode.

One more note involving Baltimore and Colorado … it appears the Orioles are interested in a pair of former Rockies

catchers. While former Arizona catcher Welington Castillo appears to be their top backstop target, Baltimore has

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expressed interest in Nick Hundley and Chris Iannetta. By the way, Iannetta was just named to our all-time Colorado

Rockies 25-man roster. Check it out here.

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Colorado Rockies Rumors: 4 Potential Bullpen Targets By Kevin Henry / Rox Pile | @Rox_Coverage | December 10, 2016

With Ian Desmond reportedly in the fold to play first base for the Colorado Rockies in 2017, that leaves the bullpen as the

biggest offseason priority in Denver.

While the rumors about Mark Trumbo or another big-name slugger coming to the Rockies may have dominated the

headlines during the recent winter meetings, Colorado was still doing plenty of checking on relievers who could make an

impact at Coors Field in 2017.

So who are some of the relievers who could (or should) be in Colorado’s sights right now? Let’s look at four prominent

names.

One of the names linked to the Rockies often is Mike Dunn. Colorado general manager Jeff Bridich originally brought his

name up in late November in an interview with Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post. Here’s what we know about the

veteran left-hander, who the Rockies would probably bring on to take the place of Boone Logan in the bullpen.

We also brought up the idea of Brandon Morrow joining the Colorado bullpen. The Rockies are already familiar with him

from his days in the San Diego Padres organization. We detailed what we liked about Morrow in this article.

Staying in the National League West, there’s the acknowledgement that the Rockies are interested in Brad Ziegler. He

was a thorn in Colorado’s side during his years with the Arizona Diamondbacks. While he was most recently with the

Boston Red Sox, Colorado would rather have him on their side than trying to bat against him in late-inning situations. We

talked more about Ziegler and his potential with the Rockies here.

Neftali Feliz is a pitcher who was originally linked to the Rockies long before the rumor mill started churning … and he’d

still be a good fit with the team. A number of teams are reportedly interested in him, including Washington, who may also

be looking at Ziegler for their bullpen. Feliz has been called one of the best setup men in the business so how nice

would it be to have him lay the groundwork for Adam Ottavino to come in in the ninth inning for the save? We talked

about what Feliz would bring to the table in this article.

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Colorado Rockies pitcher Chad Bettis diagnosed with testicular cancer By Mile High Sports Staff | December 13, 2016 According to Jerry Carsick of ESPN, Colorado Rockies pitcher Chad Bettis was diagnosed with testicular cancer and

underwent surgery in late November to remove one of his testicles.

Bettis, 27, had a breakout season last year, leading the Rockies rotation with 14 wins in a career-best 32 starts.

He remains an integral part of Colorado’s pitching staff moving forward, and he’s expected to make a full recovery by the

time spring training roles around in February.

“During an appointment in November, my doctor noticed an abnormality and ordered further tests and advanced blood

work,” Bettis said in a statement released through his agent, Matt Sosnick. “The following Monday, I was diagnosed with

testicular cancer and had one of my testicles removed the next day, on Tuesday, November 29.

“I was completely caught off-guard by my diagnosis but have subsequently found that the vast majority of cases occur in

men 20 to 40 years of age and that the survival rate is 99 percent when contained and caught early. This only reinforces

my belief that each of us needs to be totally in tune with our own physical health, and that taking action sooner than later

when we feel like something is off can sometimes literally be the difference between life and death.

“The surgeon is very confident that the cancer was isolated and has not spread and that my ability to have children should

not be affected. The Rockies and the MLBPA have been great, and I truly appreciate the care and support shown by

[general manager] Jeff Bridich to both me and my family.

“My understanding is that I will be physically ready to have a normal spring training, and I greatly look forward to the

upcoming season. I thank my friends and family for their love and kindness and ask that privacy be shown to both my wife

and myself until spring training begins.”

(via ESPN.com)

We in the Mile High City all wish you the absolute best, Chad!

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Rockies eyeing two familiar relievers By Aniello Piro / Mile High Sports | December 12, 2016 The Colorado Rockies have made one big move this offseason in the signing of Ian Desmond, but general manager Jeff

Bridich still has items to check off his to-do list this offseason.

Sure, the signing of Desmond was a solid add to an already stacked Rockies lineup, but the Rockies will not be going

anywhere if they don’t beef up the bullpen.

Last season, the Rockies were playing meaningful games down the stretch, but as the season moved along, Colorado’s

bullpen showed its true colors.

Bridich talked with Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post and identified a few targets to shore up the bullpen, namely left-

hander Mike Dunn and right-handed sidearmer Brad Ziegler.

Bridich on Dunn:

“With [Dunn] being in the National League, we’ve seen him a number of times and there’s some level of familiarity

there. And he’s still available. He’s somebody, to a certain degree, we’re paying attention to.”

Bridich on Ziegler:

“He’s certainly a good pitcher, and with how many times we’ve seen him and faced him, we feel like we know him real

well. The way he operates, the unconventional can really work for him, and it doesn’t matter where he pitches. I

understand why his name keeps popping up.”

One thing is clear: Bridich likes familiarity, as we’ve already seen in his first two big moves this offseason.

Bud Black and Desmond both made names for themselves in the National League and are people Bridich and the

Rockies have become familiar with over the years.

The same goes for Dunn and Ziegler, according to Bridich.

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Whichever way you put it, the Rockies path to the postseason will be dependent on the bullpen. The lineup is stacked

from head to toe, and the team finally has some promise in the rotation, but the bullpen will need to catch up to speed.

Ziegler and Dunn are proven arms that have pitched at Coors Field before. The experience would prove valuable to the

slate of young arms the Rox possess, and would help round out a bullpen that was a disaster last season.

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Chad Bettis Underwent Surgery For Testicular Cancer; Full Recovery Expected By Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors | December 13, 2016 at 8:06am CDT

Rockies right-hander Chad Bettis tells ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick that he was diagnosed with testicular cancer about

two weeks ago. He required surgery the next day to remove one of his testicles, but the expectation is that the procedure

will not significantly impact his future — either in his personal life or on the mound.

It’s certainly great to hear the positive prognosis for the 27-year-old, who has turned into a critical member of the Rockies’

staff. Bettis says that he has been informed that he should not suffer any impairment to his ability to have children, and

ought to “be physically ready to have a normal Spring Training.”

The coming season is an important one for Bettis, who will be completing his arbitration resume in advance of his first-

time eligibility next fall. That assumes, of course, that he can continue to grow on the mound. He took a step back in the

earned-run department this year (4.79 ERA) following his twenty-start breakout in 2015 (4.23 ERA). But Bettis still

provided 186 frames and carried good peripherals, leaving plenty of reason to hope that he’ll be a valuable rotation

member in 2017 and down the line.

While any diagnosis that includes cancer is obviously frightening, Bettis notes that testicular cancer is generally quite

manageable so long as it is identified and treated promptly. As we send our best wishes to him for a full recovery, we’ll

echo his message here: “This only reinforces my belief that each of us needs to be totally in tune with our own physical

health, and that taking action sooner than later when we feel like something is off can sometimes literally be the difference

between life and death.”

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Rockies Weren't In Contention For Mark Melancon By Connor Byrne / MLB Trade Rumors | December 11, 2016 at 10:05am CD

While Colorado native Mark Melancon reportedly would have taken a slight discount to sign with the Rockies, they were

never really in contention for the closer before he inked a four-year, $62MM deal with the Giants on Monday,

writes Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post. “They knew that we were interested, but I wouldn’t say we were at the front of

the line,” said general manager Jeff Bridich.

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Rockies Interested In Orioles' Kevin Gausman By Connor Byrne / MLB Trade Rumors | December 11, 2016 at 8:47am CDT The latest on the Orioles, courtesy of Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com:

At last check, Baltimore and free agent outfielder/first baseman Mark Trumbo had agreed to a four-year framework, but

the sides remained far apart on the slugger’s worth. Despite that, the Orioles likely have the best offer on the table for

Trumbo, according to Kubatko. If they’re unable to re-sign Trumbo, the O’s could bring back free agent designated

hitter Pedro Alvarez, but he’ll probably end up elsewhere if Trumbo returns to Baltimore. And contrary to an earlier report,

the Orioles are not in on free agent first baseman/DH Chris Carter, per Kubatko.

While the Rockies could trade one of their outfielders this offseason, they’re unlikely to reach a deal with the Orioles. No

matter which Rockie the Orioles have shown interest in, Colorado has consistently pressed for right-hander Kevin

Gausman in trade talks. The Orioles aren’t going to move Gausman, though, as he’s arguably their top starter and has

four years of club control remaining. Gausman, 25, led all Orioles starters in innings pitched (179 2/3), ERA (3.61) and

K/BB ratio (3.7) last season.

The Orioles are in the lead for free agent catcher Welington Castillo’s services, writes Kubatko. Baltimore is willing to

give a two-year deal to Castillo, who has been seeking a three-year pact since the Diamondbacks non-tendered him Dec.

2.

Moving to the outfield, the O’s haven’t closed the door on re-signing free agent Michael Bourn. The club acquired the

fleet-footed Bourn from the Diamondbacks at the end of August, and he then proceeded to hit .283/.358/.435 with two

home runs and a pair of steals over 55 plate appearances. Meanwhile, the Orioles haven’t discussed a contract extension

with fellow outfielder Hyun Soo Kim, who’s entering the final season of the two-year, $7MM deal he signed as a free

agent from Korea last winter. The lefty-swinging Kim accrued 346 PAs – 323 against righties – as a major league rookie in

2016 and held his own with a .302/.382/.420 line.

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Rockies should spend at first base only as last resort By Andrew Dill / BSN Denver | December 9, 2016 The Colorado Rockies have a few holes to fill this offseason, mainly the bullpen after a dreadful 2016 campaign. However,

there is one position that comes to mind where they will have to decide what’s best for the team regarding the 2017

season and perhaps the future — first base.

Colorado just signed outfielder Ian Desmond to a five-year, $70 million contract, which left many scratching their head

from the start. Some believe the long-time shortstop converted outfielder will take over the first base position — who

knows. If it comes down to it, Desmond at first base shouldn’t be that big of a concern, yet there has to be something up

the sleeves of the Rockies’ brass. I just can’t envision Desmond occupying first base at 20th and Blake. The key to the

acquisition is the flexibility Desmond possesses, meaning he can play both the infield and outfield incase of injury or to

give a player a breather.

One thing is for certain — or so it seems — Colorado is looking to trade an outfielder to open up a spot for Desmond.

Charlie Blackmon has been linked more so in the rumor mill than Carlos Gonzalez, which isn’t all too shocking. Blackmon

is coming off a career year hitting .324 with 35 doubles, five triples, 29 home runs, and 82 RBI.

Talk about insane production from the leadoff spot.

One name that has come to surface in the past few days is Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Marcus Stroman — that

would be a huge get for Colorado. With the possibility of Toronto losing out on both Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Bautista,

Toronto’s priority is to acquire another impact bat to keep the team afloat. If such deal were to come to fruition, Blackmon

would join a familiar friend in Troy Tulowitzki.

Just think about Colorado’s rotation with the addition of Stroman. Jon Gray, Marcus Stroman, Tyler Anderson, Tyler

Chatwood, and a toss-up between German Marquez/Jeff Hoffman/Chad Bettis. Not to mention, Colorado will have

Antonio Senzatella and Kyle Freeland in the wings.

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As far as the package goes to acquire Stroman, that’s the tough part. It will have to feature a key player, such as

Blackmon or CarGo, yet Toronto will be asking for another piece in the deal, such as a pitching prospect in return.

Colorado could sweeten the deal with a pitcher such as Senzatella, who’s either Major League ready or very close, or

they could go down the route of adding a guy like Peter Lambert or Ryan Castellani who need some more seasoning in

the Minors.

But back to the main topic — first base.

Colorado, like mentioned above, has had their eyes set on Mark Trumbo which is fine, yet it’s a questionable fit, at best.

He will hit a ton of home runs at Coors Field, there’s no question about it, but I’d be willing to spend the same amount of

cash, or more, on a guy like Encarnacion — who has been pretty durable over the last six seasons — opposed to Trumbo

whose strikeout rate is a bit of a concern as well as his durability.

As the days go on, it looks more and more like Encarnacion is a pipe dream for the Rockies, considering the Cleveland

Indians have the edge due to their World Series run as well as the option to utilize him as a designated hitter.

The bullpen is obviously the Rockies’ weak link at this point — that should be their priority. If they aren’t able to land the

guys who they believe can help this team compete for their goal of contending, the idea of spending top dollar for a first

baseman such as Encarnacion or Trumbo becomes more likely.

They should be focusing their efforts on run prevention, but in the absence of being able to do so, there are worse things

in the world than just trying to outscore everyone.

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The National League West is the best division money can buy By Buster Olney / ESPN.com | December 9, 2016

For years, the National League West was generally regarded as a top-heavy pitching division -- a place where a free-

agent starter could land for a year and rebuild his value by taking advantage of the big ballparks and soft competition.

That may not be the case in 2017, or the next few years, with the NL West poised to contend with the AL East as Major

League Baseball’s most competitive division, and maybe its best division.

Just follow the money spent this winter to see that trend. Once the Dodgers complete the signings of Kenley

Jansen and Justin Turner, following the retention of Rich Hill, they will have committed $192 million to free agents this

winter.

The Giants spent a then-record $62 million to fill their need at closer, signing Mark Melancon. The Rockies added to an

already exceptional everyday lineup by locking down Ian Desmond to play first base for $70 million.

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Looking for lumber? Plenty of power bats left in buyer's market By Jim Bowden / ESPN.com | December 9, 2016 There were some players and their agents who were smart to strike early and land jobs with the contending clubs that

they wanted to play for. Consider the job the Boras Corporation did for their client, Kendrys Morales: He quickly snagged

a three-year, $33 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, which in turn became a major obstacle to Edwin

Encarnacion returning to the team. Similarly, the agents for Josh Reddick -- led by Sam and Seth Levinson of Aces --

struck a four-year, $52 million deal for Josh Reddick with the Houston Astros, while Carlos Beltran inked a one-year, $16

million deal with the Astros right afterward.

Those quick moves secured those players the opportunity to get back to the postseason. But at the same time, their deals

blocked a few better free agents from having those teams as options for where they’ll be playing in 2017 and beyond.

Consider the biggest surprise of the offseason, when Ian Desmond did a $70 million deal with the Colorado Rockies,

taking away another free agent chair for players such as Mark Trumbo, Mike Napoli and possibly even Edwin

Encarnacion. The Yankees’ unwillingness to give up a draft pick led to the signing of Matt Holliday, which also took away

another important landing spot for the remaining free-agent bats.

Mitch Moreland quickly moved over the weekend to sign a one-year under-market deal so he could be assured of being a

Red Sox, realizing that the longer he waited, the more likely he wouldn’t end up with such a great chance to see the

postseason and maybe even a World Series.

All of this has left the remaining best free-agent hitters with limited choices of where to go, with some of those teams even

saying they don’t have enough money to sign them within their budget.

That leaves us with the distinct possibility that Edwin Encarnacion, the industry’s best remaining free-agent bat, might now

have to consider following the contract strategy that both Yoenis Cespedes and Dexter Fowler used last offseason, when

both of them took shorter-term deals, bet on themselves and then earned big rewards this offseason. Fowler took a pay

cut last season by signing a one-year, $8 million deal with the Chicago Cubs. He waited a year and just inked a five-year,

$82.5 million deal. Cespedes signed a three-year deal last year worth $75 million with a player opt-out after year one, in

which the salary was $27.5 million. He then opted out and this offseason signed a four-year, $110 million extension.

Encarnacion should have gotten a deal priced between those of Fowler and Cespedes, but if the money really has dried

up in Texas and Cleveland (as they’re claiming), then he should consider either a “pillow” one-year contract like Fowler

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did, or a three-year deal like Cespedes did with a player opt-out after one-year. Because if Edwin doesn’t get his due this

offseason, I’ll bet he definitely gets it next year.

In the meantime, here is where we stand with the best remaining free agent bats and some of the bats that are presently

on the trade market. Both the free-agent and trade markets are intertwined, which is confusing but also providing some

clear answers for contending teams that are looking for more offense. Here’s my breakdown of what’s out there:

Free agents

Edwin Encarnacion, 1B

Age: 33 | DOB: 1/7/1983 | 2016 WAR: 3.7 | 2016 wRC+ 134

Possible destinations: Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays, St. Louis Cardinals, Oakland

Athletics, Colorado Rockies, Houston Astros.

Most likely: Rangers or Indians.

Encarnacion turned down a four-year, $80 million offer that was made by the Blue Jays before he reached free agency.

After getting to the open market, he was expecting the Astros, Blue Jays and New York Yankees to get in a bidding war

for his services, considering he was the best bat on the market after Cespedes inked his four-year, $110 million deal with

the Mets. However, after the Astros quickly inked Carlos Beltran, the Yankees snagged Matt Holliday and the Blue Jays

signed both Kendrys Morales and Steve Pearce, we’re looking at a man ending his run with Toronto. This surprising turn

of events will make some opportunistic team and GM look like a genius when he finally lands a deal, because

Encarnacion should be a difference-maker for a contending postseason team. No one besides Chris Davis has more

homers than Encarnacion over the past five years and he has driven in 100 or more runs in all of those five years.

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Chad Bettis says he expects to make full recovery from testicular cancer By Jerry Crasnick / ESPN.com | December 9, 2016

Colorado Rockies pitcher Chad Bettis has been diagnosed with testicular cancer and underwent surgery to have one of

his testicles removed in late November, he said in a statement to ESPN on Monday night.

Bettis, 27, said he expects to make a full recovery and will be ready to report for spring training in Arizona in February and

be part of Colorado's starting rotation in 2017.

"During an appointment in November, my doctor noticed an abnormality and ordered further tests and advanced blood

work," Bettis said in a statement released through his agent, Matt Sosnick. "The following Monday, I was diagnosed with

testicular cancer and had one of my testicles removed the next day, on Tuesday, November 29.

"I was completely caught off-guard by my diagnosis but have subsequently found that the vast majority of cases occur in

men 20 to 40 years of age and that the survival rate is 99 percent when contained and caught early. This only reinforces

my belief that each of us needs to be totally in tune with our own physical health, and that taking action sooner than later

when we feel like something is off can sometimes literally be the difference between life and death.

"The surgeon is very confident that the cancer was isolated and has not spread and that my ability to have children should

not be affected. The Rockies and the MLBPA have been great, and I truly appreciate the care and support shown by

[general manager] Jeff Bridich to both me and my family.

"My understanding is that I will be physically ready to have a normal spring training, and I greatly look forward to the

upcoming season. I thank my friends and family for their love and kindness and ask that privacy be shown to both my wife

and myself until spring training begins."

Bettis, 27, was selected by Colorado in the second round of the 2010 first-year player draft out of Texas Tech. He made

his major league debut in 2013 after missing the entire 2012 season with a shoulder injury.

Bettis went 14-8 with a 4.79 ERA in 32 starts this season and led the Colorado staff with 186 innings pitched. The Rockies

won his last nine starts at Coors Field after June 9.

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MLB Rumor Central: Rockies a fan of Kevin Gausman? By Kyle Brasseur / ESPN.com | December 12, 2016

The Baltimore Orioles and Colorado Rockies don't appear to match up in trade talks due to the Rockies' insistence on one

certain player.

Whenever the two teams try to make a deal, the Rockies always ask for right-hander Kevin Gausman in return, Roch

Kubatko of MASNsports.com reports. Kubatko adds that the O's don't have any interest in trading the 25-year-old.

Baltimore is looking to add an outfielder this offseason, which is a position Colorado appears to have a surplus at. Charlie

Blackmon and Carlos Gonzalez, both left-handed hitters, have often been mentioned as potential trade targets and would

appear to be a fit for the Orioles, whose lineup leans right-handed.

Meanwhile, Gausman is coming off a strong 2016 campaign in which he posted a 3.61 ERA in 30 starts.

According to Kubatko, the O's met with outfielder Michael Bourn's agent at the winter meetings to discuss a potential

return for the 33-year-old. Bourn hit .283 with two homers and eight RBIs in 24 games with Baltimore last season.

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MLB Rumor Central: Rockies targeting Mike Dunn, Brad Ziegler? By Alex Tekip / ESPN.com | December 11, 2016

The Colorado Rockies, in search of bullpen help, are targeting free-agent relievers Mike Dunn and Brad Ziegler,

per Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post.

Dunn, a left-hander, spent the last six years with the Miami Marlins. The 31-year-old was a setup man for former Marlins

manager Mike Redmond, who will be the Rockies' bench coach under Bud Black.

In 51 games this year, Dunn posted a 3.40 ERA and 38 strikeouts across 42 1/3 innings.

The Rockies are familiar with Ziegler; the right-handed sidearmer spent six seasons with Arizona Diamondbacks, an NL

West foe of Colorado, prior to being dealt to the Boston Red Sox in July.

Ziegler had a combined 2.25 ERA, 22 saves and eight holds in 69 games with the Red Sox and D-backs this year. The

37-year-old struck out 58 batters over 68 innings.

ESPN's Jim Bowden projects that Ziegler will sign a two-year, $16 million deal this winter.