TUCSON, Ariz.-
Colorado outfielder Steve Finley is trying for a new start with the Rockies, even though he has already played in two World Series and has been in the major leagues for 18 seasons.
The Rockies are looking for his experience to enhance a young team. If they get an everyday outfielder after signing him to a minor league contract on Saturday, so be it.
“I’m excited about him being here,” Colorado pitcher Jeff Francis said. “On a team with a core of guys that are really young, for a guy like that to come in here, he’s a good guy to have around. He knows what to do.”
Finley reported to camp Sunday and has a locker right next to projected starting center fielder Willy Taveras. Finley is a non-roster invitee—this after making $7 million with San Francisco a year ago.
The 41-year old veteran said he was waiting for the perfect deal to come about after becoming a free agent following last year with the Giants.
The Rockies proved to be the best-case scenario.
“We talked to the Rockies early in the off season. There was interest. I was looking to try to get out of the situation I was traded into with the Giants and nothing was really materializing. I was content to be patient,” Finley said. “I came down to the end wanting to be in camp. I didn’t want to sit there. People need to see what I can do.”
Finley has a career .272 average with 303 home runs, 1,165 RBI, with 446 doubles, 124 triples and 320 stolen bases.
Finley was a critical part of the 2001 Arizona Diamondback World Series championship team when he hit .368 with one homer against the Yankees. He also played in the 1998 World Series with San Diego against New York. “We are going to let it play out,” Colorado manager Clint Hurdle said. “He is well respected in the industry. He is a fierce competitor. He has some unfinished business he spoke to me about on the phone that he would like to take care. We are going to give him the opportunity.”
Finley never said he considered retirement, even though he hit only .246 with six homers last year for the Giants after being traded from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Finley said he was considering several options before picking Colorado.
“It is the love for the game of baseball. I love being in the uniform. That is what I have done every summer since I was 6 or 7 years old,” Finley said. “It is the life I know. If I didn’t want to still play baseball I would not work out like I do in the winter.”
He hit in the cages on his first day in camp and appeared in good enough shape to chase down even the deepest fly balls in Coors Field this season, if he makes the final squad.
He still has to show enough to beat out Taveras for some time in the outfield. Colorado already has Matt Holliday in left field and Brad Hawpe in right.
“I don’t need to prove anything to myself. There are always those naysayers out there,” Finley said. “That is part of my driving force. I play the game of baseball for myself. I just want to go to camp and show everybody what I can do.”
