Rockies’ reliever Taylor Buchholz easily settled his arbitration contract Tuesday for $1.055 million.
Settling his role in the bullpen may prove more difficult.
Statistically one of the best setup men last season, holding opponents to a .188 batting average, Buchholz is not a candidate to close and isn’t a lock to occupy his eighth-inning slot given the presence of Manuel Corpas, Huston Street and Alan Embree.
Buchholz enters spring training ready to embrace the competition.
“I talked to (pitching coach Bob Apodaca) about it, and he said they most likely will keep me in the same situation I was in last year, coming into the game in the eighth,” Buchholz said. “But you never know what’s going to happen in this game.”
Buchholz, who ended the season with a sore shoulder, has responded well to rest. He will begin throwing off a mound today as part of his workouts. Two teammates joined him in working out arbitration deals — Clint Barmes ($1.625 million) and Jason Grilli ($800,000) — leaving only infielder Garrett Atkins as the remaining case.
The infielder submitted a request for a $7.95 million hearing, with the club countering at $6.65 million. If a resolution can’t be reached between Atkins and the Rockies, the two sides will exchange figures and a hearing date will be set to determine his 2009 salary. An agreement can still be reached before the hearing next month.
Footnotes.
Former Rockies center fielder Cory Sullivan signed a one-year, $600,000 major-league deal with the Mets. . . . The Rockies’ coaching staff is meeting at Coors Field this week to prepare for spring training.
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
