Monday came and went, and the Rockies’ free-agent stance remained the same.
At last week’s general managers meetings in Orlando, Fla., Dan O’Dowd made it clear he wanted to know by Monday whether second baseman Kazuo Matsui, catcher Yorvit Torrealba and relievers Matt Her- ges and LaTroy Hawkins would accept contract offers from the Rockies. None of them did, so the quartet officially begins exploring the free- agent market today.
“All of them are going to go out tomorrow and see what’s what,” O’Dowd said Monday night. “We are still open to signing them, but we’ll have to see what happens now.”
The Rockies would love to keep Torrealba, but he has some very interested suitors, led by the Mets, who are expected to offer a two-year deal worth $10 million. The Marlins also are expressing interest. The Rockies are offering a two-year, $7 million deal.
“We are going to go on the market and see what it brings,” said Torrealba’s agent, Melvin Roman. “I know there is at least one team that will make a serious offer.”
Roman and O’Dowd talked Monday morning, with Roman again promising to talk with the Rockies before Torrealba makes any move. The Rockies aren’t taking their offer off the table, but they will begin exploring other options. The Rockies have contacted the agents for catchers Michael Barrett, Jason Kendall and Paul Lo Duca.
The Rockies have offered Matsui a two-year deal in excess of $6 million, but the Cubs are prepared to give Matsui a three-year offer. Monday, the Cubs obtained utility player Omar Infante in a trade for outfielder Jacque Jones. Infante likely will play second base, shortstop and center field, but his addition will not preclude the Cubs from pursuing Matsui.
