Building a solid infrastructure is central to Dan O’Dowd’s grand plan. That’s why the Rockies general manager is eager to talk about the $30 million contract extension the club finalized with right-handed starter Aaron Cook on Monday.
“Aaron is one of our core group of players, the kind of guy you build upon,” O’Dowd said. “To me, Aaron represents everything we want in a player and in a person.”
Cook, the 2007 opening-day starter, would have been eligible for free agency after the 2008 season. Now he’s in the fold until at least 2011. Cook and the Rockies have a mutual buyout for 2012. It’s the biggest extension by the Rockies since Todd Helton agreed to a nine-year, $141 million deal before the 2001 season.
Cook went 8-7 with a 4.12 ERA in 25 starts for the Rockies in 2007. Colorado’s second-round selection in the 1997 June draft, Cook is 36-35 with a 4.47 ERA in 138 games/107 starts in his major-league career. With Cook’s career record just one victory above .500, some might question handing him $30 million.
“Aaron hasn’t reached his full potential yet,” O’Dowd said. “His arm is strong and healthy. We think Aaron’s best pitching is still to come.”
The sinkerballer’s two complete games in 2007 led the staff and his 2.78 groundball/flyball ratio ranked third among NL starters.
O’Dowd said securing Cook long term gives the Rockies a chance to establish a solid starting rotation. Rockies starters had a 4.58 ERA in 2007, ranking ninth in the National League, but still the best in franchise history.
The heart of the 2008 rotation will feature Cook, lefty Jeff Francis and fireball right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez. Cook, who turns 29 on Feb. 8, and Francis have long-term contracts. Francis (17-9, 4.22 ERA in 2007) accepted a four-year, $13.25 million contract last winter.
Manager Clint Hurdle predicts the duo will give the Rockies a solid one-two punch.
“They’ve made strides through their actions, through their preparation, and neither one of them are big-talk customers,” Hurdle said last week at baseball’s winter meetings. “They prepare so well. They have a lot of focus as far as doing things properly.”
In the hunt for the fourth and fifth spots are Jason Hirsh, Franklin Morales and, most likely, a yet-to-be-acquired veteran free agent. That could be right-hander Kip Wells, who’s moving closer to signing a one-year deal. Wells, 30, is 64-91 with a 4.63 ERA in his big-league career, but has gone 17-40 with 5.51 ERA the past four years.
Although Cook has never suffered arm problems, he has missed significant time in two of the past three seasons. In August 2004, he nearly died on the mound from a blood clot that moved into his lungs. He missed much of 2005 but returned strong and received the Tony Conigliaro Award from the Boston chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.
In 2007, Cook was pitching some of the best baseball of his career — 3-1, 2.41 in six starts in midsummer — before straining his left oblique muscle Aug. 10. He missed the remainder of the season, including the Rockies’ magical run to the National League pennant.
After lobbying to pitch in the postseason, he finally got his chance when he was added to the World Series roster. Cook made his postseason debut Oct. 28, starting Game 4 of the World Series vs. the Red Sox at Coors Field. He was charged with the loss, allowing three runs on six hits in six innings.
Cook’s deal
Right-hander starter Aaron Cook’s new contract with the Rockies guarantees him an additional $30 million over three seasons. A breakdown:
2008: $2.5 million signing bonus; an addition to the $4.5 million salary Cook will receive after the Rockies exercised his option in October.
2009: $8.75 million
2010: $9 million
2011: $9.25 million
2012: $11 million mutual option with a $500,000 buyout
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com
