Talked to Brian Fuentes this morning. He tells me he has officially put his loss at the arbitration table behind him.
Just once, wouldn’t you like to tell someone that you’ve put your loss at the arbitration table behind you? There are, after all, no real losers in arbitration. Not when the average raise, even for losers, is enough to feed small countries.
Fuentes asked for $6.95 million, but had to settle for the Rockies” figure of $5.05 million. Either way, it’s good work if you can get it.
Five million bucks? That’s Yankee money for a setup man. But it underscores a fundamental need of the Rockies, the only team in the major leagues that has to contend with Mile High altitude.
Since they go through more relievers than other clubs, depth in the bullpen always has been and will be a prerequisite for any Rockies team.
Fortunately for them, Manny Corpas, who emerged last season as the closer, will make only pennies on the dollar compared to most ninth-inning specialists. That enabled the Rockies to keep Fuentes for what could be his final season in Colorado.
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He can be reached at 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com.
