With a passion for teaching still in his blood, former Rockies manager Clint Hurdle was introduced as the Texas Rangers’ hitting coach Thursday.
“At the end of the day, I’m 52 and I’m still looking for another challenge,” Hurdle said on a conference call. “The bottom line is that I still don’t have a World Series ring. I think I can help the Rangers reach that goal.”
Hurdle served as the Rockies’ manager from April 26, 2002 through May 29, 2009. He was fired after the team’s 18-28 start, replaced by Jim Tracy. Hurdle worked as a commentator for the MLB Network, but said that time away from his role as manager gave him a new perspective.
“Over the last five months I’ve learned that maybe I was a little bit numbed by the daily grind, and maybe that obscured my passion a little bit,” he said.
Hurdle, who instructed Rockies hitters from 1997 to early 2002, beat out Thad Bosley, Gerald Perry and Rusty Greer for the Rangers’ job.
“I’m ecstatic for Clint,” Rockies general manager Dan O’Dowd said. “I will certainly miss being around Clint, but absolutely this is a good move for him. Teaching baseball is his passion.”
Hurdle and his family will continue to live in Colorado.
Signings.
The Rockies announced they have agreed to terms on major-league contracts with right-hander Matt Belisle and left-handed reliever Randy Flores. Belisle signed a one-year, $850,000 contract with $275,000 in potential incentives for games pitched, starting at 55 appearances. Flores signed a one-year, $650,000 contract with $100,000 in incentives beginning at 60 games.
By retaining Flores, it is unlikely the Rockies will try to re-sign free agent left-hander Joe Beimel. That leaves Franklin Morales and Flores as the Rockies’ left-handers out of the bullpen.
The team still must decide within the next nine days if it will pick up the $5.4 million club option for setup man Rafael Betancourt. The Rockies could offer Betancourt a two-year deal, spreading out his salary over two years.
Belisle, 29, emerged as a reliable bullpen presence late in the season. Flores, 34, was 0-1 with a 5.25 ERA in 27 games.
Footnotes.
The Rockies outrighted righty reliever Joel Peralta and infielder Omar Quintanilla off the 40-man roster. Thursday’s moves leave the Rockies with 38 players on their 40-man roster.
Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post
