TUCSON — Team president Keli McGregor is hopeful the Rockies can make a decision on their future Cactus League home by the end of spring training, but he’s not setting any arbitrary deadlines.
“I think everything is kind of up in the air right now because of the economy,” McGregor said. “We are in the process of gathering information. We should have that by the end of spring training, but I don’t know if we’ll be ready to make a decision by then.”
The Rockies have seen six proposals from communities outside Tucson. The club is considering sharing a complex with the Arizona Diamondbacks or perhaps with another team, McGregor said. The Rockies also are exploring building a new complex all their own.
McGregor said he’s sorting through the proposals that make the most economic sense and meet the team’s long-term goals.
“I think priority No. 1 for us comes from a development standpoint,” he said. “We’re looking to build a year-round facility where any of our players, at whatever level, could get in the kind of work they need.”
McGregor said that he understands that a bright, new, fan-friendly ballpark is important, but said it’s important to note a baseball facility is not just about six weeks of spring training.
“The community we build in will have a lot of say in it and about how it’s used year-round, be it for high school games or whatever else,” he said.
While the Rockies haven’t completely ruled out staying in Tucson, it’s doubtful that will happen.
The Rockies’ lease at Hi Corbett Field runs through 2011, but the contract allows the team to leave before the contract expires if there are fewer than three teams training in Tucson. The Chicago White Sox moved to Glendale, Ariz., this year, leaving only the Diamondbacks and Rockies in Tucson.
“I do think we will get a new proposal from Tucson and we’ll definitely look at it,” McGregor said.
Footnotes.
The Rockies won a “B game” on Wednesday, beating the Diamondbacks 5-0. The game doesn’t count in the Cactus League standings . . . Right-hander Jason Marquis, penciled in as the rotation’s third starter, pitched three scoreless innings and hasn’t been scored on this spring. His heavy sinker was working well. . . . Reliever Glendon Rusch surrendered two hits in two innings, his fastball clocking in at 89 mph. . . . Josh Fogg, who struggled in his first two spring outings, was throwing his fastball at 86-to-88 mph. His command was much better and he struck out two in two innings.
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com
