Ervin Santana. (Getty Images)
The Rockies on Saturday . They owe him a $1.5 million buyout. But Anderson is now a free-agent.
So what can the Rockies buy in free agency with that $12 million they’re saving on Brett Anderson when they try to replace him in their rotation?
On the surface, Colorado’s options are plenty. But there are plenty of restrictions. You can scratch Max Scherzer and Jon Lester and their ilk off the Rockies’ wish list. That’s too much wishing for the price.
Brett Anderson. (Justin K. Aller, Getty Images)
The Rockies also have to face perception. It’s more difficult for them to get many free-agent pitches to even consider pitching in Colorado.
That’s why Anderson’s real value with the Rockies wasn’t necessarily his ability — although he certainly has the potential to be a top-rotation pitcher (he could have been their ace next season). The best perk the Rockies had with Anderson was that he was under contract. And he actually seemed like he liked pitching in Denver.
It may have been wiser for the Rockies to pick up Anderson’s option, then try to trade him before spring training. If they struck out in trades, the Rox would at least still have a solid starter on the rolls.
But that’s in the past. And the Rockies now need a new starting-quality pitcher for their rotation. Otherwise, we’ll see the phrase “LHP starting pitcher Yohan Flande…” real soon.
So what are the Rockies’ options free-agent pitchers? Remember: They will pay Jorge De La Rosa, they’re current ace, $12.5 million per year for the next two. Use that as a guide post.
Here’s a list with some guesses, loosely ranked and categorized by the likelihood they’ll wear purple next season (estimates are guesses based on similar pitcher’s past deals):
Max Scherzer, RHP, 30
2014: 18-5, 3.15 ERA with Detroit
Estimate: 7 years, $170-80 million
Notes: Scherzer is all that his Cy Young award may indicate. The best the Rockies can hope is that he doesn’t land in the National League West. And he might.
Jon Lester, LHP, 30
2014: 6-4, 2.35 ERA with Boston/Oakland
Estimate: 6-7 years, $150 million
Notes: The Cubs might have a line on Lester with Theo Epstein’s connection to him in Boston. The Cubs are gonna be good next year.
James Shields, RHP, 32
2014: 14-8, 3.21 ERA with Kansas City
Estimate: 5 years, $100 million
Kenta Maeda, RHP, 27
2014: With the Hiroshima Carp in Japan
Estimate: It’s complicated
Notes: Teams will have to pay to even bid for him. Does that sound like the Rockies?
**BEST POSSIBLE SCENARIOS**
Ervin Santana, RHP, 31
2014: 14-10, 3.95 ERA with Atlanta
Estimate: 3 years, $45 million
Notes: He’s pitched more than 195 innings in four of his past seasons. That workhorse rate could be valuable for Colorado.
Brandon McCarthy, RHP, 31
2014: 10-15, 4.05 ERA with Arizona/N.Y. Yankees
Estimate: 3 years, $37 million
Notes: The Cheyenne Mountain High grad from Colorado Springs might not mind actually pitching in Colorado, which eliminates half the Rockies’ battle in wooing free-agent pitchers.
Francisco Liriano, LHP, 31
2014: 7-10, 3.38 ERA with Pittsburgh
Estimate: 3 years, $33-37 million
Notes: Might be the most get-able lefty available for the Rockies, if they really want another lefty. But considering they had an all-lefty rotation at one point in the second half of 2014, that’s probably not a big concern.
Justin Masterson, RHP, 29
2014: 7-9, 5.88 ERA with Cleveland/St. Louis
Estimate: 1-2 years, $7-15 million
Notes: He’s a tough one. His 2014 was bad. But he was excellent in 2011 (3.21 ERA) and ’13 (3.45) with Cleveland. He’s too obvious to really be undervalued. But at least there’s not likely to be a ridiculous bidding war.
**THE OTHER GUYS**
Jason Hammel, RHP, 32
2014: 10-11, 3.47 ERA with Chi. Cubs/Oakland
Estimate: 2-3 years, $10-15 million
Notes: He was a mid-rotation starter for the Rockies from 2009-11. But he’s really lowered his WHIP since then (1.427 in 2011 to 1.123 this season).
Jake Peavy, RHP, 33
2014: 7-13, 3.73 ERA with Boston/San Francisco
Estimate: 2-3 years, $26-40 million
Notes: In his career, he has a 5.00 ERA, 1.635 WHIP and 10 HRs allowed over 63.0 innings at Coors Field.
Hiroki Kuroda, RHP, 39
2014: 11-9, 3.71 ERA with N.Y. Yankees
Estimate: He’s 39, so who knows
Notes: He’s 39.
Edinson Volquez, RHP, 31
2014: 13-7, 3.04 with Pittsburgh
Estimate: 2-3 years, $10-15 million
Notes: Throws hard. Gets ground balls. Not a ton of walks. Not crazy expensive. Might be right up the Rox alley.
Tags: Brandon McCarthy, Brett Anderson, Edinson Volquez, Ervin Santana, Hiroki Kuroda, Jake Peavy, James Shields, Jason Hammel, Pittsburgh Pirates, Yohan Flande
