San Diego – On May 19, the Rockies awoke as the National League’s worst team, drawing comparisons to the 1962 Mets. Brian Fuentes saved that night’s game for the Rockies. And the bullpen has spent the past four months rescuing Colorado from statistical embarrassment.
Keeping setup man Mike DeJean, a free agent at season’s end, has become a priority, with talks progressing quickly toward a deal over the past few days. DeJean declined to discuss specifics other than to reiterate his desire to remain with the Rockies.
“This is absolutely where I want to be,” DeJean said. “I have never been a guy that has tried to break the bank.”
DeJean signed with the Mets for $1.15 million last winter with $725,000 in incentives, $175,000 of which he has reached by appearing in 55 games.
With $21 million committed to Todd Helton and Jason Jennings, the Rockies have room to retain DeJean and pursue at least one other reasonably priced veteran.
“When we get to the seventh inning with a lead, we feel like we are going to win,” Helton said. “I want DeJean back. You need some veterans out there.”
DeJean, who will turn 35 on Sept. 28, has posted a 3.08 ERA in 26 1/3 innings for the Rockies and has not allowed an inherited runner to score.
Bigbie back, sort of
Larry Bigbie’s center-field tryout may be painfully brief, with his Achilles injury preventing him from playing back-to-back games.
“It’s frustrating,” Bigbie said. “But it would be even more frustrating if I go out there and hurt it, and it lingers all winter and into spring training.”
Footnotes
Ryan Shealy returned to the Rockies as a realistic prospect. He knows this year has been an audition as much for Colorado as other interested trade partners.
“Ever since I got into that organization, it’s always been about Todd Helton. That’s how it should be; he’s the guy,” Shealy said. “I set a goal that I wanted to get in the big leagues at some point this season. To already get up there two times, it was gravy for me.”
