As the Rockies continue down an encouraging path in contract talks with second baseman Kaz Matsui, they are quickly reaching a crossroads with former closer Chin-Hui Tsao.
Matsui, a free agent, has said repeatedly that he would like to remain a Rockie. Thus far negotiations have reflected as much as Colorado makes progress toward re-signing a player whose speed made the offense much more dynamic in September.
“I have had multiple conversations with his agent. They have been productive,” Rockies general manager Dan O’Dowd said Tuesday. “There hasn’t been anything negative as it relates to his desire to want to be here.”
Manager Clint Hurdle envisions using Matsui and Jamey Carroll at second base – Carroll is a candidate to win his first Gold Glove – while also freeing up Carroll for at-bats at shortstop or third base. Matsui hit .345 with eight stolen bases in 32 games with the Rockies.
Colorado also is looking to address its eighth-inning relief role, though Tsao no longer is considered a viable option. His future with the Rockies is in jeopardy with the team not expected to protect him on its 40-man roster. Nearly 17 months after undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum and biceps tendon, Tsao continues to have health issues. The club plans to look at him again in the first week of November before making a final decision.
Tsao, who received a $2.2 million signing bonus in 1999, was able to throw simulated games in September, but was shut down because of soreness in his biceps.
“That injury really does hurt us,” O’Dowd said. “There’s now concern if he will even pitch again.”
Footnotes
Alan Trammell had an impressive interview for the Rockies’ hitting instructor position. Trammell, who coached the Detroit Tigers’ hitters in 1999, is among several candidates for the job, joining Ron Jackson, the former hitting coach for the Boston Red Sox who was let go at season’s end. … The Rockies re-signed pitcher Miguel Asencio to a $550,000 split contract of which $110,000 is guaranteed. … Rockies bench coach Jamie Quirk, a candidate last year for the Oakland A’s managerial job, hopes to get an interview after Ken Macha’s firing.
