NASHVILLE, Tenn. — After four days of phone calls, interviews and number crunching, the 2008 Rockies remain a work in progress.
The defending National League champions arrived at the winter meetings shopping for a veteran second baseman, a veteran starting pitcher and bullpen depth. They arrived back home Thursday without making any major trades or free-agent signings, but with intriguing possibilities remaining.
The Rockies are emerging as the front-runners for free-agent second baseman Tadahito Iguchi and have spoken with David Eckstein’s agent now that Mark Loretta is returning to Houston.
“Iguchi is a player we like very much, but we’ve said that all along,” manager Clint Hurdle said Thursday before flying back to Denver.
A pending trade of popular veteran infielder Jamey Carroll to Cleveland could free up money to sign Iguchi and bullpen reinforcements. General manager Dan O’Dowd said Thursday he has no intention of eating any money on Carroll’s $2.3 million contract. Carroll is seeking a trade to gain more playing time.
A Cleveland source with direct knowledge of the talks said a deal was being negotiated late Thursday, but that Triple-A pitcher Sean Smith would not be included. If the Indians trade fizzles out, Cincinnati is prepared to get involved.
Although stumbling blocks remain, agent Rocky Hall replied “absolutely” Thursday when asked if Colorado was still in the running for Iguchi. Iguchi is looking for Kazuo Matsui money. The former Rockie got three years and $16.5 million to sign with Houston. The Rockies won’t offer that, but they may not have to. That offer hasn’t materialized for Iguchi and Colorado is attractive because it is the only team pursuing him as a second baseman. Other teams with interest include the Giants, Phillies and, to a lesser degree, the Dodgers.
Loretta has been crossed off the Rockies’ list, and Eckstein is a viable option if they are unable to strike a deal with Iguchi.
“It looks like Mark is going to remain with the Astros,” Loretta’s agent, Bob Garber, said Thursday.
The Rockies continue to insist they will be fine entering the 2008 season with in-house youngsters filling second base, led by rookie Jayson Nix.
Colorado’s biggest success at the meetings was building a solid framework for a three-year, $30 million deal with starting pitcher Aaron Cook. O’Dowd said he believes Cook’s extension “will get done. There’s too much momentum going in that direction for it not to.” The deal would cover the 2009-2011 seasons, with an option for 2012 that is still being ironed out.
With Cook all but locked up, O’Dowd can turn his attention to other matters.
“The next couple of weeks will be busy for us,” O’Dowd said. “We have got some things in place, but these things take time. There is never a reason to panic because we didn’t announce anything here.”
Topping his to-do list is signing a veteran pitcher for either the starting rotation or one who could either start or swing to the bullpen. Left-hander Mark Redman, who finished last season with the Rockies, and righties Victor Zambrano, Kip Wells, Brett Tomko and Steve Trachsel top that list. Lefties Glendon Rusch and Brian Anderson, both coming back from injury, are also possibilities.
Other updates from the winter meetings:
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com
