Dallas – Scott Boras, famous for delivering big contracts, landed a big bat before the winter meetings. Rockies slugger Matt Holliday hired the super-agent last week, a move that could influence planned discussions on a long-term contract extension.
Colorado general manager Dan O’Dowd approached agent Jot Hartley about a four-year deal after the season. Before the topic was broached, Holliday had planned to switch agents and chose Boras because of a past relationship with the outfielder’s brother.
“It’s flattering the Rockies would even consider a multiyear deal for me, but that had nothing do with (the change),” said Holliday, who hit .307 with 19 home runs and 87 RBIs. “It was something I had already planned.”
Hartley admitted the move stunned him, but said he had no animosity toward his former client and wished him well. Eager to create cost certainty around young cornerstone players, O’Dowd has discussed multiyear deals with closer Brian Fuentes and starter Aaron Cook.
O’Dowd said Boras’ representation “could change the pace of (potential) talks” the club might have with Holliday. The Rockies have worked successfully with Boras in the past, specifically when he helped convince Charles Johnson to waive his no-trade clause to complete the Mike Hampton deal.
Colorado, however, shipped out Juan Uribe two years ago, in part because they were concerned what Boras, no longer the shortstop’s agent, might win in an arbitration hearing.
Trade talks stall
The Rockies arrived at the winter meetings with a trade for a catcher high on their to-do list, but no deals have emerged. Discussions with Seattle about swapping Rockies outfielder Larry Bigbie for Seattle catcher Yorvit Torrealba have fizzled.
“Seattle seems to be in one of those wait-and-hold periods,” O’Dowd said. “That leads me to believe they are trying to do something of a bigger nature and he’s part of it.”
Bigbie expects to be traded
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“I think it’s pretty apparent they are going ahead with their plans, minus me,” said Bigbie, 28, who came to the Rockies in a trade with Baltimore on July 29. “They are going in a very young direction, so I think if you are going to go young, go all young.”
Pitching plans
All that stands between signing former Pittsburgh reliever Jose Mesa is the 39-year-old passing his physical. The Rockies project Mesa as a late-inning reliever and part-time closer.
However, the club’s pursuit of Brian Meadows, another former Pirates reliever, is nearing a dead end.
The Rockies also negotiated with Fuentes’ agents Tuesday as both sides try to hammer out a two-year deal for the closer.
Footnotes
The Rockies would like to trade Aaron Miles for a minor-league prospect, but the Kansas City Royals are no longer interested in the second baseman. … Starter Jason Jennings is expected to stop by the winter meetings today to visit with his agent, Casey Close. Jennings’ fractured right middle finger, which forced him to miss the final two months of the season, is healing well.
Patrick Saunders can be reached at 303-820-5459 or psaunders@denverpost.com.
