DENVER—The Colorado Rockies said Tuesday they avoided arbitration by signing one-year deals with five players, including reliever Huston Street, who got a $4.5 million contract.
The Rockies also agreed to deals with infielder Clint Barmes, right-handed pitchers Taylor Buchholz and Jason Grilli and left-handed pitcher Jorge De La Rosa.
Colorado’s only remaining arbitration-eligible player is third baseman Garrett Atkins.
De la Rosa signed for $2 million, Barmes for $1,625,000, Buchholz for $1,055,000 plus performance bonuses of $25,000 each for 40 and 50 games finished, and Grilli for $800,000.
Street was acquired in the offseason from Oakland in the deal that sent slugger Matt Holliday to the Athletics. Street, a right-hander, was demoted from his job as Oakland’s closer last season and finished 7-5 with a 3.73 ERA and 18 saves in 25 chances. He can become a free agent after the 2010 season.
Barmes hit .290 with 11 homers and 44 RBIs in 107 games for Colorado last year, when he spent the majority of his time at second base.
Buchholz was 6-6 last year with a 2.17 ERA in a career-best 63 appearances. His ERA was the fourth-lowest ever posted by a Colorado relief pitcher.
De La Rosa went 10-8 with a 4.92 ERA in 28 games, including 23 starts for Colorado last season after he was acquired from Kansas City on April 30. After the All-Star break, he was 7-3 with a 3.08 ERA.
Grilli was 3-3 with a 3.00 ERA in 60 games for the Rockies and Tigers last season.
