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MEDIA CLIPS – January 17, 2017

Marquez sets sights on permanent rotation role Young righty uses self-maintained database of outings to continue improving

By Thomas Harding / MLB.com | January 16, 2017

DENVER -- Rockies right-hander German Marquez's cellphone tells the story, in words and motion pictures, of a rapid climb that he hopes lands him in the big leagues for good when the 2017 season starts.

Two seasons ago, while still within the Rays' organization, Marquez would type notes from each start into his phone, and at times augment the entries with video clips. He continued last year, after he joined the Rockies in a four-player trade.

Marquez provided numerous highlights -- a standout season at Double-A Hartford (9-6, 2.85 ERA, 126 strikeouts in 135

2/3 innings) that earned him Eastern League Pitcher of the Year honors, five solid starts at Triple-A Albuquerque and a promising Major League debut -- 1-1, 5.23 ERA in six games (three starts).

"Every outing I had, I kind of jot down notes about the good things and bad things that I did so I can learn from it and kind of utilize that moving forward," Marquez said in Spanish through his agent, Daniel Szew. "At the end of the season, I check everything, but I also study video of other pitchers that remind me of myself to see how they attack hitters and try to learn from them as well."

Now Marquez, who turns 22 on Feb. 22, hopes to have a cellphone full of Major League highlights in 2017. Barring injury or other change in the Rockies' situation, Marquez, the Rockies' No. 5 prospect according to MLBPipeline.com -- is part of the competition for one open spot in the pitching rotation.

Also vying are some other highly regarded former first-round MLB Draft picks -- righty Jeff Hoffman (the No. 2 prospect), who also debuted last season, and lefty Kyle Freeland (No. 7), who spent last season at Albuquerque -- and veteran swingman Chris Rusin, who spent most of last year in the bullpen but will come to Spring Training stretched out and ready to start. Even if the Rockies add a starter via trade or a free-agent Major or Minor League signing, Marquez will find himself with a chance to earn a role with the big club.

To prepare, Marquez has turned down an invitation to pitch for his home country, Venezuela, in the World Baseball

Classic. Instead he will head to the Rockies' complex in Scottsdale, Ariz., about three weeks before the initial pitcher- catcher workout on Feb. 14.

"I'm going to go 100 percent in Spring Training," said Marquez, who joined the Rockies with lefty reliever Jake McGee in the trade that sent outfielder Corey Dickerson and infielder Kevin Padlo to the Rays on Jan. 28, 2016. "I wanted to go to the Classic, too, but I want to fight for the five-man rotation.

Marquez's debut, against the Padres on Sept. 8, was a nervous relief appearance -- he hadn't thrown out of the bullpen since a Class A Advanced game for the Charlotte Stone Crabs in August 2015 -- during which he gave up three runs on two hits and an uncharacteristic three walks in 2 1/3 innings. But he calmed down to toss two scoreless relief appearances.

In his first start, he held the Cardinals to one run and four hits in five innings of his first Major League win, an 11-1 Rockies victory on Sept. 21 at Coors Field. The Giants tagged him for 12 hits and six runs in 4 1/3 innings of a 12-3 road loss on

Sept. 27, but he pitched far better in a no-decision in the season finale against the Brewers -- six innings, six hits, two runs and seven strikeouts -- on Oct. 2.

Marquez's hallmark was easy power -- a four-seam fastball that topped out at 96.9 mph during a relief appearance but usually sat around 94.5 mph. He doesn't have the long fingers like many pitchers, but his wide-shouldered, 6-foot-1 frame naturally produces power. Marquez did not have a personal tutor growing up, but he displayed enough talent that he drew the eye of Venezuelan scout Mario Gonzalez -- whose son, Marwin Gonzalez, is an Astros infielder. From there, the

Rays ended up signing him.

Marquez offsets his fastball with his curve (79 mph) and changeup (83 mph). His fastball and curve were mostly responsible for a 54.9 percent Major League groundball rate that he can add to if he completes his offseason homework assignment.

"I need to work a little bit more on my changeup, and then the pitching coaches want me to work a little bit more on my slider, so I might start utilizing that if I get comfortable with it," said Marquez, who said he has not used a slider but had thrown a limited number of two-seam sinking fastballs."

Arenado excited for '17 with contract settled

By Thomas Harding / MLB.com | January 13, 2017

DENVER -- Nolan Arenado calls money "one of my least-favorite topics ever." And with the two-year contract worth

$29.5 million he signed on Friday to avoid arbitration, he doesn't have to worry about it as he prepares for 2017.

"Money doesn't do anything; I'm going to be putting pressure on myself because I want to be the best and be good at this game," Arenado said. "I take pride in it. I don't like to let the fans down, and I don't like to let my teammates down. That's why I'm my hardest critic."

Arenado's contract will pay him $11.75 million in 2017 and $17.75 million in '18, and it leaves a year of arbitration eligibility in '19.

"Over a couple days, each side kind of thought about it, without going into any specifics, and then we were able to quickly get things done today," Rockies general manager Jeff Bridich said.

Additionally, the Rockies signed their two other arbitration-eligible players -- center fielder Charlie Blackmon and right- handed starter Tyler Chatwood -- to one-year deals for 2017. The club already reached one-year deals earlier this offseason to avoid arbitration with relievers Jake McGee ($5.9 million) and Jordan Lyles ($3.18 million).

Arenado, who turns 26 on April 16 and is one of the game's top young stars, has tied for the National League home run crown each of the last two years -- 42 in 2015 to tie the Nationals' Bryce Harper and 41 last year to match Chris Carter -- and won a Rawlings Gold Glove Award in each of his first four Major League seasons.

Arenado also has led the Majors in RBIs the last two seasons -- 130 in 2015 and 133 last year. After hitting .287 in '14-15, he rasied his average to .294 last season, and his .362 on-base percentage was a career high.

He still seeks improvement, not only offensively, but also defensively -- even though he is the first third baseman in history to earn Gold Glove Awards each of his first four seasons. He made just one error before the All-Star break, and finished with 13.

"That's something that's been bothering me the whole offseason, how I went from that to that," Arenado said.

"My overall game needs to get better. You can find ways to get better. I could walk more. I could get more quality at-bats

… hitting different pitches better, having more quality at-bats against better pitching, those things.

Arenado said he heads into Spring Training with high hopes for a Rockies team that has a solid lineup and young starting pitching. The club has added right-handed-hitting Ian Desmond for five years and $70 million this offseason and left- hander Mike Dunn to the bullpen for three years and $19 million.

"I like our chances," Arenado said. "I think we're good. I thought we were good no matter what. We have the talent. We have young guys that are getting better. We have a solidified rotation, which is really nice to know. That's a good start.

"We've got to get better, got to keep growing. But this is the year where we've got to take that next step and start winning games."

Blackmon, Chatwood agree to deals for 2017 Duo, along with Arenado, avoids arbitration on Friday

By Thomas Harding / MLB.com | January 13, 2017

DENVER -- The Rockies reached one-year contract agreements on Friday with center fielder Charlie Blackmon and right-handed starter Tyler Chatwood to avoid arbitration, the club announced.

Blackmon signed for $7.3 million, while Chatwood signed for $4.4 million.

The deals mean the Rockies have avoided having to go to an arbitration hearing with any of their players. Earlier on

Friday, the Rockies announced a two-year contract worth $29.5 million with third baseman Nolan Arenado. Friday was the deadline for teams and players to exchange their filing numbers.

Earlier in the offseason, the Rockies avoided arbitration by reaching one-year agreements with left-hander Jake

McGee for $5.9 million and right-hander Jordan Lyles for $3.18 million.

Blackmon, 30, the Rockies' leadoff hitter, established career bests in runs (111, third in the National League), hits (187), doubles (35), home runs (29), RBIs (82), batting average (.324, fourth in the NL), on-base percentage (.381) and slugging percentage (.552) during a breakout season in 2016. His homers led all leadoff hitters in the Majors.

After missing the better part of two seasons because of Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, Chatwood, 27, returned in 2016 and went 12-9 with a 3.87 ERA, with 117 strikeouts against 70 walks in 158 innings. On the road, he went 8-1 with a 1.69 ERA -- a franchise record-low, and best in the Majors for a starter who logged as many road innings as his 80.

Rockies add veteran Denorfia to outfield mix Right-handed hitter played five years under Black in San Diego

By Thomas Harding / MLB.com | January 13, 2017

DENVER -- The Rockies have signed veteran right-handed-hitting outfielder Chris Denorfia to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Major League camp, Rockies general manager Jeff Bridich said Friday.

Denorfia, 36, who played for new Rockies manager Bud Black with the Padres from 2010-14, has also spent time in the

Majors with the Reds, Athletics, Mariners and Cubs during his 10-year career. He has a lifetime .272 batting average, .330 on-base percentage and .392 slugging percentage.

Denorfia last played in the Majors in 2015, when he hit .269 with three home runs and 18 RBIs in 103 games for the Cubs.

Last year, Denorfia attended Spring Training with the Yankees, opted out late in camp and underwent back surgery. He recovered in time to appear in 42 Minor League games with the Giants organization (.269, four homers, 16 RBIs) before setting his sights on being ready for 2017.

"Some of the familiarities are obvious -- the years that he played for Bud Black with the San Diego teams, however many years we've seen him play against us in a Padres uniform," Bridich said. "And he has dealt with some injuries over the last year, where his back was an issue, and he really had not felt 100 percent.

"That was one of the things that spurred us toward signing him, that he feels he has gone through a process where he's finally healthy for the first time in a number of years, and he really respects Buddy especially and is excited about that potential reunion there."

Bridich said with outfielders Carlos Gonzalez and possibly Gerardo Parra slated to play for Venezuela in the World

Baseball Classic, Denorfia is in line for a long look and time at all three outfield positions.

The expected signing of left-handed-hitting utility man Alexi Amarista for one year with a 2018 option, which could become official early next week once all information from his physical is evaluated, will put the Rockies' 40-man roster at

40. Denorfia, however, could still carve out a roster spot for himself. The projected outfielders from the Rockies' Major

League roster all bat left-handed, and Denorfia offers a right-handed option. 7

Zac Brown Band to play Coors Field in 2017

By Thomas Harding / MLB.com | January 13, 2017

DENVER -- The Zac Brown Band, following up on a successful stadium tour in 2016, will play at Coors Field on July 29,

AEG Live Rocky Mountain and the Rockies announced Friday.

Coors Field will be part of the band's 40-plus-date tour that will return to stadiums and amphitheaters across the United

States. Chicago's Wrigley Field will also be part of the tour.

Last year's series included a date at Fenway Park, which according to the band broke the record for tickets sold for a single concert at the venerable stadium.

Tickets will go on sale to the public on Jan. 21, while Zamily Fan Club presales begin on Jan. 17, each at 10 a.m. MT, and there are other special deals available.

Rockies betting Tony Wolters, Tom Murphy will grow up quickly behind the plate In show of faith, Rockies aren’t searching for a journeyman catcher at the moment

By Patrick Saunders / Denver Post | January 14, 2017

Rockies general manager Jeff Bridich was a catcher at Marquette University High School in Milwaukee, and later at

Harvard, where he was a tri-captain his senior season. He has cited St. Louis veteran Yadier Molina as one of his favorite players.

No wonder Bridich believes that the men behind the plate are the heart of a winning baseball team.

“As a catcher, you are the one who sees the entire field,” Bridich said shortly after he became Colorado’s general manager in October 2014. “It’s a cerebral position. You are in charge, and I like that.”

So his view of the Rockies’ current situation carries a lot of weight, and also raises a major offseason question: Do the

Rockies believe the inexperienced duo of Tony Wolters and Tom Murphy, along with Dustin Garneau as their likely backup, can get the job done in 2017?

“At this point, yes we do,” Bridich said last week. “We are certainly monitoring the catching market, but we are extremely high and positive on the group that we have and we feel like there is a good, young core there.”

The 24-year-old Wolters, a converted infielder, has started only 58 major-league games behind the plate; Murphy, 25, has started 19 games; Garneau, 29, just 37.

“There is still growth to be had,” Bridich said. “I mean, they are young and there is some inexperience there. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t talented, because they are extremely talented.”

The Rockies, who did not attempt to re-sign veteran catcher Nick Hundley, still could invite a journeyman catcher to spring training next month, but Wolters and Murphy enter camp as the club’s main catchers. And right now it appears they will share duties.

“I’m very excited for the opportunity and I know that we are all excited,” Wolters said. “My job is to go into spring training and work my tail off. I know Tom and Dustin will do the same. It’s all about winning — this year — that’s the name of the game. I honestly don’t think anybody is thinking about who will be starting.”

Wolters was a feel-good story last season. The former utility infielder with the Cleveland Indians organization arrived at spring training as a dark-horse candidate to make Colorado’s 25-man roster. By the end of the season he was drawing praise from pitchers for his game-calling ability and solid receiving skills. According to StatCorner,Wolters ranked ninth in the majors in pitch-framing metrics.

“I found my home at catcher,” said Wolters, adding that he believes he can handle the load of catching 100-plus games this season if called upon.

Offensively, Wolters still has a lot to prove. The left-handed hitter was a nonfactor at the plate in the first half of last season, batting .215 with a .296 on-base percentage. After the all-star break, however, he hit .321 with a .374 OBP, showing that he can adapt and adjust. But can Wolters contribute at the plate as his workload behind the plate increases?

Murphy does not have the same soft hands and nimble footwork behind the plate as Wolters does, but he’s working to get better. What he does possess is raw power from the right side of the plate. After a bad spring training and early struggles at Triple-A Albuquerque, Murphy caught fire and earned his second September call-up to the majors. In 21 games,

Murphy hit .273 (12-for-44) with five homers, 13 RBIs and a 1.006 OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage).

Despite the optimism and promise surrounding Murphy and Wolters, they must lead a relatively young pitching staff, something that makes their task even tougher.

The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants, once again favorites to win the National League West, have no such issues. They not only have solid starting rotations and beefed-up bullpens, they also have have two of the best catchers in baseball.

Manning the plate for the Giants is Buster Posey. He’s a four-time all-star, been named NL rookie of the year and MVP, and owns three championship rings. The Dodgers have Yasmani Grandal, a switch-hitter who slugged 27 home runs last season. Both catchers take good care of their pitchers. According to Statcorner.com, Posey ranked No. 1 in the majors in pitch framing last season, with Grandal coming in second.

So, while the Dodgers and Giants are set behind the plate, the Rockies will enter the 2017 season counting on a gamble paying off.

“It can be done with two young guys, but they’ll have to learn on the job,” former Rockies manager Walt Weiss said at the end of last season. “I think Tony got a lot of valuable experience this year and he’s a talented kid. Murphy, obviously, has all the makings of a good (catcher), but they’re going to need some on-the-job training.

“They will need to learn some things on the fly — managing a game from behind the plate, managing a pitching staff, being able to slow the game down. Those types of things are next-level stuff, and that will take some time. But it can be done.”

Nolan Arenado signs 2-year, $29.5 million deal with Rockies, avoids arbitration The deal leaves the Rockies third baseman with one year of arbitration remaining for the 2019 season

By Patrick Saunders / Denver Post | January 14, 2017

Rockies all-star third baseman Nolan Arenado became a very wealthy young man Friday when he signed a two-year contract worth $29.5 million, avoiding salary arbitration.

“I’m just happy to be over this, to be honest with you,” said Arenado, who will make $11.75 million in 2017 and $17.75 million in 2018. “Money is one of my least-favorite topics, and I don’t like talking about it, so it’s nice to get it over with. I’m just happy that it worked out for both sides.”

The Rockies also avoided arbitration with center fielder Charlie Blackmon and right-handed starter Tyler Chatwood, signing them to one-year contracts. Blackmon will get $7.3 million, up from the $3.5 million he made in 2016. Chatwood gets a raise from $1 million to $4.4 million.

Arenado, who has won a Gold Glove in each of his first four seasons in the majors and bashed 83 home runs over the last two seasons, is a tough self-critic but said his new contract will not put more pressure on him to play well.

“Money doesn’t do anything; I’m going to be putting pressure on myself because I want to be the best and be good at this game,” Arenado said. “I take pride in it. I don’t like to let the fans down, and I don’t like to let my teammates down. That’s why I’m my hardest critic.”

His new contract leaves Arenado with one year of arbitration remaining for the 2019 season, after which he is scheduled to become a free agent. There was never any real discussion about a long-term deal, or even a three-year deal that would have taken Arenado through his final year of arbitration.

“The topic has really not come up as of late,” Arenado said. “I’m locked up for two years, and our focus was on that.

Honestly, I think the (Rockies’) focus is on pitching, and I think it should be. I am here for another three years … So I think the concern is getting the team better in different categories. Maybe one day we can get back to this and work something out. … Right now, we are focused on winning and other things, and that’s OK.”

Arenado’s agent, Joel Wolfe, said: “Nolan earned his contract, and the club treated him right.”

Rockies general manager Jeff Bridich said negotiations went smoothly.

“Over a couple days, each side kind of thought about it, without going into any specifics, and then we were able to quickly get things done (Friday),” Bridich said. “I felt like this was a good deal for him and a good deal for us. We are excited for

Nolan.”

Footnotes. The Rockies are done signing all of their arbitration-eligible players. Earlier in the offseason, the club finalized one-year deals with relievers Jake McGee ($5.9 million) and Jordan Lyles ($3.18 million). … The Rockies on Friday signed veteran outfielder Chris Denorfia to a minor-league contract with an invitation to major-league camp. The right- handed Denorfia, 36, played for new Rockies manager Bud Black with San Diego from 2010-14. … Jerry Weinstein, who has been in college and professional baseball since 1966 and is managing Team Israel for the 2017 World Baseball

Classic, has been named manager of the Double-A Hartford (Conn.) Yard Goats. Weinstein, 73, is beginning his 11th season in the Rockies’ system.

Colorado Rockies prospect Robert Tyler has the stuff to start Purple Row Prospect No. 18, Robert Tyler

By Jeff Aberle / Purple Row | January 17, 2017

18. Robert Tyler (374 points, 34 ballots)

When the midseason PuRPs list was released, Robert Tyler had yet to make a professional appearance. Colorado’s

Competitive Balance Round A pick in 2016 was signed to a $1.7 million bonus and had at times leading up to his draft year been projected as high as a top 10 pick. The 21-year-old righty pitcher, who boasts an elite fastball and pitched for team USA, showed flashes at the University of Georgia. He became an elite starter, but his time in Athens was marred by injuries over the last couple of years, including a forearm strain in 2015 that limited him to just six starts.

Midseason Rank: 19

High Ballot: 12

Mode Ballot: 18

Future Value: 45+, end of rotation starter or MLB set-up man

Contract Status: 2016 Competitive Balance Round A, not Rule 5 eligible, three options remaining

MLB ETA: Late 2019

Tyler was healthy in 2016 though, when he posted a 10.73 K/9 and 4.10 ERA in 73⅔ innings for Georgia—unfortunately he struggled with control (5.54 BB/9) there, a problem that continued into the summer. In a seven inning professional cameo in Short Season A Boise, Tyler had a Nikorakian debut, walking 16 in his seven innings of work and allowing 11 runs (five earned) while striking out five.

MLB.com's 25th overall draft prospect (and 15th-best Rockies prospect currently) has, nevertheless, received a nice review from scouts:

Tyler has no trouble sitting in the mid 90s and hitting triple digits with his fastball as a starter, and on a down day he'll work at 92-95 mph. In addition to its velocity, his heater is nasty because it runs and sinks and he delivers it on a steep downhill plane. He also can flash a plus changeup with fade and sink, but he hasn't shown much feel for spinning the ball and now uses a knuckle-curve as his breaking pitch.

Though Colorado plans on developing Tyler as a starter, many scouts believe he's destined for the bullpen. He has difficulty repeating his mechanics and battles his control and command on a regular basis. He stayed healthy throughout

2016 but had been shut down at times during each of the three previous years, missing three months in 2015 with a forearm strain.

Highlighting that report is the 75 grade slapped on Tyler's fastball (higher than Rockies first round pick Riley Pint and comparable to closer prospect Jairo Diaz). It’s a lottery pick profile, but Tyler has one of the highest ceilings in the system.

Eric Longenhagen of FanGraphs ranked Tyler 19th in the system:

This is the type of prospect who sparks discussion about curveball projection among scouts. Tyler doesn’t have a good one, throws mid-90s fastball, and flashes a plus changeup. If Tyler were to develop even an average curveball he’d instantly become a potential mid-rotation starter based on his stuff. But most scouts think that pitchers, especially college pitchers, either have a good breaking ball or they don’t and Tyler’s feel for his is very inconsistent. Tyler’s two-pitch mix is better on pure stuff than Ben Bowden‘s but Tyler’s lack of command makes him considerably more risky in my opinion.

He walked 16 in 7.0 pro innings after signing. That’s not a typo. He projects as a volatile but potentially electric reliever.

Notably, Longenhagen’s grade of Tyler’s fastball is just a 60 (to go along with a 60 FV changeup) and there is the aforementioned doubt about whether the curveball will become a usable pitch.

Tyler is a high-ceiling, low-floor player due to his struggle with mechanics and control in the midst of the explosiveness of the fastball/change combo. If the Rockies can smooth out his mechanics and improve the control profile, Tyler has the upside of a 2/3 starter. If he stays closer to where he is now developmentally, Tyler is an arm with closer potential but one that has a high flame-out likelihood.

If he can remain healthy, Tyler is my pick for breakout prospect in 2017. I think he will remain in the rotation and will iron out his command issues in Asheville and/or Lancaster next year. At that pace he'd be in the big leagues as soon as 2019 but more likely in 2020. That belief and the draft pedigree led me to rank Tyler 12th on my personal ballot, where he received a 45+ Future Value given his potential as a mid-rotation starter.

Colorado Rockies prospect Colton Welker needs his bat to carry him Purple Row Prospect No. 19, Colton Welker

By Jeff Aberle / Purple Row | January 17, 2017

19. Colton Welker (373 points, 34 ballots)

Colton Welker may have been Colorado’s fourth round pick in the 2016 draft, but his $855k signing bonus eclipsed that of fellow PuRP and third round pick Garrett Hampson. The Rockies converted the Florida high school product from a shortstop to a third baseman and sent to Grand Junction for his professional debut.

Midseason Rank: NR

High Ballot: 12

Mode Ballot: 13, 16, 17, 20, 26

Future Value: 40+, utility player with regular potential

Contract Status: 2016 4th round, not Rule 5 eligible, three options remaining

MLB ETA: Late 2020

With the GJ Rockies, the 19 year-old (18 at the time) righty faced pitchers who were on average 2.5 years older in the

Pioneer League. That didn’t stop Welker from assembling an impressive .329/.366/.490 line with 20 extra base hits in 227 plate appearances—good for a 114 wRC+. Furthermore, Welker dominated after the All-Star Break, hitting .373/.403/.569 in his final 108 PAs. That’s a strong debut season—albeit one boosted by a .356 BABIP.*

*Allow me a quick aside I found interesting: among Welker (114 wRC+ in 2016), Tyler Nevin (100 wRC+ in 2015), Kevin

Padlo (155 wRC+ in 2014), and Ryan McMahon (147 wRC+ in 2013), the Rockies are making it an annual tradition of having a high school third baseman tear up the Pioneer League over the last four years. In 2012 there wasn’t much of a prospect presence at third base, but in 2011 at the same level (in Casper) Rosell Herrera (106 wRC+) and Trevor

Story (104 wRC+) shared time at the position (and SS). 2010 also was a miss, but 2009 had Nolan Arenado and his 100 wRC+—whatever happened to that guy anyway? Keith Law wrote him off so I stopped paying attention.

I’m hopeful that Welker too will blossom into a strong hot corner prospect for the Rockies. Eric Longenhagen of

FanGraphs ranked him 20th in the system:

Welker has a big, power hitter’s body with an uppercut swing and could have plus raw power at maturity. His overall actions both offensively and defensively are stiff and he projects to first base for many. He’ll have the power to profile there if he has to move. This stiffness in the swing concerns scouts, but Welker showed inelegant bat control in his pro debut and scouts think he has a chance to hit for average. There’s extreme pressure on the bat, especially if Welker has to move to first. He’s far from Denver, but there’s an average regular here if you squint hard enough.

For Longenhagen, Welker’s carrying tool is his future 55 game power (60 raw power) tool. Combining that with a 50 hit tool and you have a dangerous player, even with a 20 future run tool.

MLB.com sees a solid third baseman in Welker and placed him 24th in the system:

An advanced hitter for a teenager, Welker has the potential to hit for power and average. He recognizes pitches well, has nice feel for the barrel and uses the entire field. He has good bat speed and leverage in his right-handed swing that should translate into home run pop as he gets stronger.

Though Welker has below-average speed, he has good instincts on the bases and in the field. He took to the hot corner immediately and has the arm strength and accuracy to make all the plays there.

Taken together, the scouting reports paint a picture of a dangerous hitter, though one who will be limited to a corner infield position defensively. That means he’ll have to prove he can hit all the way up the minor league ladder. I’ll be watching

Welker closely in full season ball next year, though he might have competition for reps at third base in Asheville from a now-healthy Nevin and Jose Gomez. A breakout performance like McMahon had at the Low A level would shoot Welker up my list—I placed him 26th this time around.

Larry Walker should be in the stupid freaking Hall of Fame already Get this guy a plaque!!! With some numbers and data on why.

By Connor Farrell / Purple Row | January 16, 2017

Once again it appears that former Rockies outfielder and Maple Ridge, British Columbia, native Larry Walker will be left out of the Hall of Fame. He’s currently polling at 25 percent of the 200 or so known ballots for the Hall of Fame, which is more than Jill Stein but less than the 75 percent needed to gain entry into the Cooperstown, NY, building. This is unfortunate.

Also once again, we’ve seen arguments for and against Larry. This happens every year because opinions have a time- stamp and if you don’t rehash your opinions on whether or not someone deserves to be in the Hall of Fame then you will be forgotten by the sands of time. You have to get every retweet you can these days and the best way to do that is saying opinions.

The opinions against Larry range from “He did most of his hitting in the bonkers pinball machine that is Coors Field” to

“He’s Canadian and the only Canadian I love is Ryan Reynolds.” The latter is a much more valid argument than the former; Ryan Reynolds is a delight and loving too many Canadians can cause toxic levels of maple in the bloodstream.

The Coors Field argument, however beaten into your brain it is, is actually a bad argument. Larry Walker was great everywhere. He was even great in Qualcomm Stadium, a concrete disaster that will be featured as propaganda in 1,000 years by the giant ape leadership that will control Earth as the Downfall of Humanity.

Larry’s dominance may have been centered in bonkers Coors Field, but it didn’t stay there. It traveled around the country like Bob Dylan or herpes. It went from New York to LA, from Detroit to Miami. Larry Walker’s dominance was great and it’s time to stop punishing him for existing in Coors Field.

Let’s examine the numbers, for anyone still unconvinced by that terrific logical argument.

72.6 Wins Above Replacement (according to Baseball Reference).

Larry Walker’s 72.6 WAR is 86th all time in Major League Baseball history. That means, of the thousands upon thousands of MLB players, Larry Walker is one of the 100 best players of all time.

Larry’s 72.6 WAR is higher than surefire Hall of Famers Derek Jeter, Tim Raines, Carlos Beltran, and Ivan Rodriguez.

Walker also stands above enshrined hall members Gary Carter, Carlton Fisk, and Ernie Banks.

Larry also offers a substantial gap in his WAR when compared to the entire animal kingdom or literally anyone reading this post (unless Barry Bonds is reading). That also includes all of our dads.

Basically, the argument is there that the value Walker provided over the length of his career is Hall-caliber. WAR is the go- to for any initial baseball argument, as well as being the go-to Edwin Starr song. Walker’s value is calculated and tabulated across his entire career for use as a better judge against different eras.

The fact Larry could accumulate over 70 wins while also being injured a lot (missing around 30 games per year) is pretty bonkers.

Imagine you were up for “Employee of the Year” and you worked every day but there was another guy who missed 30 days throughout the year. You’d think, “I totally beat that guy, he was sick all the time.” But, here’s the kicker, when that guy was in, he would absolutely embarrass you with his work load. Like you’d be struggling to get one report in a day and he’d be asking if you need help after he finished his fifth. He’d be fixing the printer in his spare time because he was just so much better than everyone else. Also, he gave great office Christmas presents and never engaged in water cooler gossip.

Basically, I’m saying that Larry should get that parking spot at the front of the lot. He’s earned it.

But you’ve all heard this before, I’m preaching to the choir.

385 dingers. 385 whoppers. Three hundred and eighty five smackers.

Larry Walker’s 385 home runs don’t really register among the all-time greats. He didn’t get to the nice round 400, he didn’t blow the world away with any 60 home run seasons. Honestly, this section was mostly just so I could write the word

“whopper”.

But, here are some graphs I made anyway:

Larry Walker absolutely decimates former President George H.W. Bush in career home runs.

And, here’s a graph I made for every home run Larry Walker hit compared to the number of times I’ve kissed a girl.

Wow, that’s a lot of kisses! I sure am popular with the ladies! Those are definite confirmed kisses, they are not to be questioned by any of the jokers and trolls online.

Larry Walker’s lucky number is 3. He wore 33 to double up the luck (which I don’t think is how luck works). In the end,

Larry finished a .313 hitter with 385 home runs, 1311 RBI, and 913 walks.

Spooky, man! That’s a lot of threes. I’m not saying I believe in the supernatural, but if I was a voter I wouldn’t want to tempt the vengeful spirits that made sure Larry got plenty of threes in his final numbers.

One.

Larry Walker high fived me one time.

In 2002, I was at a Rockies game and I was 13. Larry Walker, then an outfielder for the Rockies, walked past a group of us kids on the first baseline and high fived all of us.

Pretty cool moment, I still remember it nearly 15 years later, getting high fived by my man 33. Larry joins former Broncos running back Terrell Davis and NBA legend Nick Van Exel as the only pro athletes to have touched my hand. Walker, if elected to the Hall of Fame, would be the first Hall of Famer to have touched my hand.

Basically, like anything else online, I wanted to make this about me. My hand, specifically. But me, overall. You might’ve thought this was a post about Larry Walker’s Hall of Fame chances and it is, in a way. But mostly, I wanted to remind everyone the reason you are on this post. It’s because of me. I deserve this. I need this.

Zero.

As in, the arguments against Larry Walker being a Hall of Famer have zero legs to stand on.

I rest my case.

Colorado Rockies: DJ LeMahieu and More News and Notes

By Kevin Henry / Rox Pile | January 17, 2017

Here’s a look at some of the news and notes surrounding the Colorado Rockies you might have missed.

DJ gets a low vote

In case you missed it, MLB.com has been releasing their look at who are the best at their positions around the diamond.

We’ve already given you our thoughts on where Nolan Arenado ranked (you can read them here). However, he’s not the only Colorado Rockies player to receive a lower-than-should-be ranking in the series.

On the same day Arenado was ranked as the fourth-best third baseman in Major League Baseball, DJ LeMahieu was named as the league’s ninth-best second baseman. Despite finishing last season as MLB’s batting champion, LeMahieu received little love in the poll (check it out here). The main reason? They’re wondering if he’s a player who had a career year last season and will return to the pack in 2017. The site points out his home-road splits but certainly leaves the door open for LeMahieu to be ranked higher next season if he puts together another above-his-average campaign.

Of course, we saw LeMahieu make great strides last season and there’s little reason to think that he’ll regress in 2017.

However, there are certainly plenty of people who don’t watch the Rockies with regularity who think it’s possible.

Is now the time to trade LeMahieu? Nolan Lees tackled the subject in one of 2016’s most controversial articles. You can read it here.

Zac Brown Band coming back to LoDo

If you loved seeing the Zac Brown Band at Coors Field last year, or if you missed them during last year’s “Black Out the

Sun” tour, you have another chance to catch them at 20th and Blake in 2017.

The Zac Brown Band will return to Coors Field on Saturday, July 29. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on

Saturday, January 21 at 10 a.m. local time. The Zamily Fan Club pre-sales will begin on Tuesday, January 17 at 10 a.m. local time. Additionally, American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets in select markets before the general public beginning Tuesday, January 17 at 2 p.m.

Colorado Rockies Prospect Countdown – #7: Tom Murphy

By Nolan Lees / Rox Pile | January 17, 2017

Our Baseball America Top 10 countdown continues with the only catcher on the list, a guy who could end up being the Colorado Rockies starter behind the plate as soon as Opening Day.

#7: Tom Murphy

Position: Catcher

Bats/Throws: R/R

Age: 25 (April 3rd, 1991)

Height/Weight: 6’1″, 220 lbs

Highest Level Reached: MLB

Estimated Big League Arrival: N/A

One Sentence Summary: He’s probably never going to win a Gold Glove, but the Rockies won’t mind much if he keeps smashing the ball the way he has in the minor leagues.

It’s no secret that we’re big fans of Tom Murphy around here. A third round pick from University at Buffalo in 2012,

Murphy has gone from a largely unknown prospect to a candidate for the Rockies everyday catching spot in 2017.

Murphy tore up High A-Ball in 2013, earning a call-up to Tulsa for 20 games at the end of the year. A shoulder injury wiped out nearly all of Murphy’s 2014, delaying his growth for a season, but when he returned, he looked no worse for wear, as he blasted 20 home runs in just 394 at-bats between Double and Triple-A.

Murphy’s power earned him a brief promotion to the big leagues at the end of 2015, but he was sent back to the minors for most of the 2016 season. Murphy responded by hitting like a peak-era version of Albert Pujols, posting a .327 batting average while crushing a ridiculous 52 extra base hits (including 19 bombs) in just 303 at-bats.

Murphy was called back up to Denver once again to close out the 2016 season, and he continued to look terrific, batting .273 with five home runs in just 44 at-bats. More than a few Rockies fans expressed frustration that a Colorado team that wasn’t in contention continued to give playing time to Nick Hundley rather than getting a better look at what

Murphy could do.

The biggest thing holding Murphy back right now is concern about his ability to handle a MLB pitching staff. Most scouts feel he’s a mediocre (at best) pitch receiver and blocker. However, Murphy has a decent arm that should allow him to keep base runners in check, and as FanGraphs once said about him, “he’s not fatally atrocious at any aspect of catching.”

Ultimately though, it’s not defense that’s going to make Murphy a big league player, it’s his bat. There are catchers in the major leagues right now that are worse defensive players than Murphy, and some of them don’t have the kind of power potential he does. If Murphy blasts 30 home runs in 2017 (not all that unrealistic if he gets the lion’s share of starts behind the plate for Colorado), the Rockies will be willing to put up with some minor defensive issues.

Of all the prospects on this countdown, Murphy is by far the oldest. He’ll be 26 years old just a few days into the 2017 season, an age where he won’t be considered a prospect for much longer. More than a few places have projected Tony

Wolters as the Rockies starting catcher (including the depth chart on the Rockies website) this season, but Murphy has far more upside with the bat.

We don’t know for sure if Murphy will work out for the Rockies, and fans who remember being burned by Wilin

Rosario may be skeptical about embracing another power-hitting catcher with defensive weaknesses. But I wrote it last

August, and it’s more true than ever: It’s time for the Rockies to see what they have in Tom Murphy.

The 100 Greatest Colorado Rockies: 91 Terry Shumpert

By Ben Macaluso / Rox Pile | January 17, 2017

We continue our look at the top 100 Colorado Rockies of all time in this article. Here, we look at No. 91 on our list, Terry

Shumpert.

The 2001 season was supposed to be a season where the Colorado Rockies were supposed to spend big. They spent plenty on pitching but they might have not spent enough on position players.

The Rockies started 12 players in left field that season. Terry Shumpert arguably was the best in his 24 appearances in left batting .394. But that wasn’t even Shumpert’s primary position. Shumpert was one of the first stand out utility players in Colorado Rockies franchise history. He played for the club from 1998 through 2002 slashing .282/.349/.463 with

30 home runs. Shumpert played everything but the battery positions in his time with the Rockies. He played mostly second and third base and some of left field.

He was able to show consistency although being moved around to many positions and seven teams over his 14-year career. His best season came in 1999 as a Rockies hitting .347/.413/.584. That was good enough for a 2.4 WAR which is simply incredible in only 92 games. Considering many position players didn’t earn that in their entire career with the

Rockies. He was part of offensive explosion that year when the entire club slashed .288/.348/.472. The last season of the millennium started to define the club as hitters first. This wasn’t a winning formula though as the team went 72-90.

Manager Jim Leyland quickly jumped ship. But the message was clear, if you want a good offense, you need someone who can come off the bench and fill in the gaps. Terry Shumpert set a blueprint for how to do it in Colorado.

Shumpert’s legacy of Colorado baseball continues in his son Nick Shumpert. A former middle infielder for Highlands

Ranch High School, Nick was set to play for his dad’s alma mater at the University of Kentucky. Instead, in 2015 he was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the seventh round. Singing with the club never materialized and he now plays for the

Atlanta Braves organization.

If Nick Shumpert shows any of the versatility and perseverance of his father, he will be playing in the majors for some time to come.

Colorado Rockies: Is Their Future the Brightest in Denver?

By Kevin Henry / Rox Pile | January 17, 2017

Yesterday, we tackled the subject of whether the Colorado Rockies made a better hire for their head coaching position than the Denver Broncos. You can read that story here. Today, we’ll dive into another quick poll that not only included the

Rockies and Broncos, but also the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche as well.

Again, while no means scientific, we think the answers to these two polls is a good barometer for the current feelings of

Denver sports fans.

It’s an interesting time in Denver. The Avalanche and Nuggets are both struggling while the Broncos seem to be building a new identity behind the hiring of Joseph and rebuilding of the coaching staff. Meanwhile, the Rockies are preparing for their first spring training under the watchful eye of new manager Bud Black and several publications are predicting this to be a breakout year for the Rockies and their young core of talent.

With all of that in mind, we asked a simple question in our Twitter poll … Over the next five years, which Denver team do you think has the best chance of continued success? We gave four choices in alphabetical order: Avalanche, Broncos,

Nuggets and Rockies. Apologies in advance to our friends with the Colorado Rapids and Colorado Mammoth.

So what did the Twitter universe say? In all, 57 votes were cast … and the Rockies were the runaway winners with 61 percent of the vote. The Broncos came in second at 37 percent while the Nuggets were third at 2 percent. The Avalanche didn’t earn a single vote in our poll. Ouch, tough times now and in the short-term future at the Pepsi Center it seems.

Looking ahead, two Super Bowl appearances in the last four seasons apparently wasn’t enough to overcome some of the uncertainty at the quarterback position and lack of experience for their new head coach. At least that’s what my friends who are Broncos fans keep telling me are the problems with “their team” right now.

Meanwhile, the Rockies have one of the best offensive lineups in baseball (Nolan Arenado, DJ LeMahieu, and Carlos

Gonzalez are just a sampling of the firepower) and a rotation that could be one of the best in LoDo in recent years.

What do you think? Do the Rockies have the brightest future of all Denver sports teams? Did the Twitterverse get it right?

Let us know your thoughts below.

Colorado Rockies Prospect Countdown – #8: Kyle Freeland

By Nolan Lees / Rox Pile | January 17, 2017

We’re on day three of our countdown for the top 10 prospects in the Colorado Rockies farm system. Today, we’ll take a look at a Colorado native who appears to be on the verge of joining the team he rooted for growing up.

#8: Kyle Freeland

Position: Pitcher

Bats/Throws: L/L

Age: 23 (May 14th, 1993)

Height/Weight: 6’3″, 170 lbs

Highest Level Reached: Triple-A Albuquerque

Estimated Big League Arrival: 2017

One Sentence Summary: He may not have the stuff to be a future ace, but his command of the strike zone will likely get him a call up to Denver sooner rather than later.

In recent years, the MLB draft has become more of a spectacle in an attempt to match other professional sports. The draft used to be just one long conference call, but now it’s televised on MLB Network, with cameras capturing the reactions of the top prospects as they hear their name called.

Unless you’re a hardcore baseball fan, you’re probably not going to sit through the entire thing. Occasionally though, there are some moments worth watching. For the Rockies and their fans, one of those moments came in 2014.

Colorado had the 8th overall pick in the draft, and used it to select Freeland out of University of Evansville. Cameras cut to the Freeland household and the nation saw Freeland, a graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School in Denver (he still holds the state’s single-season strikeout record), sharing an emotional embrace with his dad.

Freeland had a strong debut in 2014, but his 2015 season was mostly a wash. He developed shoulder fatigue and bone chips in his elbow which pushed his season debut into late July. And when he finally got back on the mound, Freeland’s pitches lacked the command and sharp movement that had made him so effective in high school and college.

Freeland had a bounce back season in 2016 though. Colorado challenged him by assigning him to Double-A Hartford, and he responded with a 3.87 ERA in 88.1 innings. When the Rockies rewarded him with another promotion to Triple-A,

Freeland continued to throw the ball well, going 6-3 in 12 starts.

Freeland will likely start the 2017 season in Triple-A, but it doesn’t seem like there’s much left for him to learn there. His minor league track record, particularly the way he pitched last season, shows a guy who attacks the strike zone while also managing to keep the ball in the park. That’s an effective combination for a guy looking to make Coors Field his home stadium.

Of course, nearly every prospect has some flaws, and Freeland is no exception. One of the largest concerns is longevity; some scouts are less than enamored of Freeland’s mechanics, and the fact that he’s already experienced discomfort in both his elbow and his shoulder (maybe the two worst spots possible for a pitcher) is something the Rockies will have to monitor closely.

Freeland also doesn’t exactly have the explosive repertoire of a future MLB ace. Freeland is a four pitch guy (fastball, slider, curveball, change-up), and while they’re all decent offerings, none of them really stand out either.

But as previously stated, command is where Freeland really shines. Fangraphs wrote the following in their Rockies

Prospect round-up

Freeland probably doesn’t have ace potential, but he can still be a helpful piece of a starting rotation, and it’ll likely happen sooner rather than later. He seems like a long-shot to beat out Jeff Hoffman and German Marquez for the last spot in the rotation to start this season, but if there’s an injury, or if the Rockies just decide they want another southpaw in the mix, Freeland could be one of the first names to get the call in 2017.

Colorado Rockies Prospect Countdown – #8: Kyle Freeland

By Nolan Lees / Rox Pile | January 17, 2017

#8: Kyle Freeland

Position: Pitcher

Bats/Throws: L/L

Age: 23 (May 14th, 1993)

Height/Weight: 6’3″, 170 lbs

Highest Level Reached: Triple-A Albuquerque

Estimated Big League Arrival: 2017

One Sentence Summary: He may not have the stuff to be a future ace, but his command of the strike zone will likely get him a call up to Denver sooner rather than later.

Freeland continued to throw the ball well, going 6-3 in 12 starts.

But as previously stated, command is where Freeland really shines. Fangraphs wrote the following in their Rockies

Prospect round-up

Rockies ink Nolan Arenado to a 2-year contract, avoiding arbitration

By MHS Staff / MHS Staff | January 13, 2017

Arbitration can get ugly. Luckily, the Colorado Rockies were able to avoid the process with their star third baseman.

On Friday, the Rockies agreed to a two-year contract with Nolan Arenado worth $29.5 million. The pact will see the 25- year-old make $11.75 million in 2017 and $17.75 million in 2018. He will will be eligible for arbitration one final time, following the 2018 season.

Arenado has won a Gold Glove Award in each of his first four seasons in the majors. In 2016, he hit 41 home runs, which tied the National League lead in the category; a feat he as accomplished in two straight seasons. Playing in 160 games last season, he set career highs with 133 RBI and a batting average of .294.

With the deal, Arenado and the Rockies barely beat out the deadline for both sides to submit their figures for arbitration.

They were still scheduled to trade numbers with outfielder CHarlie Blackmon, starting pitcher Tyler Chatwood and second baseman D.J. LeMahieu.

The Rockies also agreed to a minor-league deal with veteran outfielder Chris Denorfia on Friday. The 36-year-old has played for the San Diego Padres, Cincinnati Reds, Oakland Athletics, Chicago Cubs and Seattle Mariners in his 10-year career, and owns a .272 career batting average. He provides a right-handed option in an outfield full of lefties.

Rockies sign Blackmon and Chatwood to one-year contracts

By MHS Staff / MHS Staff | January 13, 2017

GM Jeff Bridich and the Colorado Rockies were busy on Friday, locking up key players on contracts to avoid arbitration.

The biggest news of the day was a two-year, $29.5-million deal for All-Star and Gold Glove third baseman Nolan Arenado, but Bridich also secured one-year deals with centerfielder Charlie Blackmon and right-handed starter Tyler Chatwood.

Blackmon signed for $7.3 million, while Chatwood signed for $4.4 million, according to Thomas Harding of MLB.com.

Blackmon, 30, set career highs in runs (111), hits (187), doubles, (35), home runs (29), RBI (82), batting average (.324,

187-for-578), on-base percentage (.381) and slugging percentage (.552) in 2016. He ranked third in the National League in runs, fourth in batting average and hits, and fifth in slugging percentage and total bases (319). The 29 home runs as a leadoff hitter were the most in the Major Leagues.

Blackmon hit 10 leadoff home runs, which led the Major Leagues. He became just the fifth player in Major League history to record double-digit leadoff home runs in a season, and the third in National League history. He garnered NL Player of the Week honors twice in 2016, and won his first career Silver Slugger award.

Originally drafted by the Rockies in the second round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft, the Dallas, Tex., native has a career .298 batting average (667-for-2242) with 345 runs, 119 doubles, 19 triples, 74 home runs, 251 RBI, 134 walks, 384 strikeouts and 101 stolen bases.

Chatwood, 27, made 27 starts for the Rockies in 2016 after missing the entire 2015 season while recovering from Tommy

John surgery and went 12-9 with a 3.87 ERA (158.0 IP, 68 ER), 70 walks and 117 strikeouts. On the road, he went 8-1 with a 1.69 ERA (80.0 IP, 15 ER), the lowest road ERA in MLB for the season and the lowest in franchise history. He recorded a club-record 27.2-inning road scoreless streak from April 6-May 21, which was the longest by any Major

League pitcher since Wade Davis’ 28.2-inning stretch in 2014.

Originally acquired by the Rockies via trade with the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for catcher Chris Iannetta on Nov.

30, 2011, the Redlands, Calif., native is 32-31 with a 4.19 ERA (500 IP, 233 ER), 223 walks and 318 strikeouts across parts of five Major League seasons with the Angels (2011) and Rockies (2012-16).

Nolan Arenado still focused on improving despite big year, big contract

By Casey Light / Mile High Sports | January 14, 2017

Nolan Arenado is fresh off his best overall year as a professional, but he still says there’s room for improvement.

Arenado, 25, played in a career-high 160 games for the Rockies in 2016 and batted .294 (182-for-618) with 35 doubles, six triples, 41 home runs, 133 RBI, 68 walks, 103 strikeouts and two stolen bases. The 41 home runs were tied for most in the National League, tied for sixth-most in the Major Leagues and tied for the seventh-most in a single season in franchise history. It was his second consecutive season in which he surpassed the 40 home run plateau, having hit 42 home runs in

2015. The 133 RBI were the most in the Major Leagues (his second consecutive season leading the Major Leagues in

RBI), and were the most for a Rockies player in a single season since Matt Holliday’s 137 RBI in 2007.

But coming off an outstanding year and a new two-year, $29.5 million contract that helped avoid arbitration, Arenado isn’t taking anything for granted.

“I can drive in runs, hit home runs, but overall my game needs to get better. I can find ways to get better,” Arenado said on

MLB.com Friday. “I can walk more; I can have more quality at-bats … last year in the first half I only made one error, in the second half I made like 10 or 11, so that’s something that’s kind of been bothering me the whole offseason.”

The consummate perfectionist, Arenado says the money isn’t what’s driving him.

“I did a two-year deal, but really I’m going to be here for three years, so no, money doesn’t do anything. I’m going to be putting pressure on myself because I want to be the best,” he said.

It’s hard to imagine Arenado being much better than he was in 2016, but he’s fully intent on proving he can be.

“I want to be good at this game. I take a lot of pride in it. I don’t like to let the fans down and I don’t like to let my teammates down. That’s why I’m my hardest critic. When I found out I got this contract, all I could think about was getting into the cage and getting some work in because I need to get better.”

Rockies 3B Nolan Arenado agrees to 2-year deal worth $29.5M

By Associated Press / ESPN.com | January 13, 2017

DENVER -- Nolan Arenado shies away from talk about his big numbers, whether that topic is his gaudy statistics or his big, new contract.

"I'm just happy it's over with, to be honest with you. Money's like my least favorite topic ever," Arenado said Friday after he avoided arbitration by agreeing to a $29.5 million, two-year contract with the Colorado Rockies.

"I don't like talking about it, but it's part of the business. It's nice to get it over with. I'm happy I don't have to go through this for another two years and I'm happy it worked out for both sides."

Arenado will make $11.75 million this season and $17.75 million in 2018. He'll have one year of arbitration eligibility remaining for 2019, after which he would become eligible for free agency.

"It's a good number for him. It's a good number for the club," general manager Jeff Bridich said. "We're excited for him."

The Rockies also avoided arbitration with two other players, right-hander Tyler Chatwood, who got a $4.4 million deal in

2017, and outfielder Charlie Blackmon, who agreed to $7.3 million.

Arenado said neither his agent nor the Rockies have broached a long-term deal, and he's fine with that. He said the front office has rightfully been focused on solidifying the rotation and bolstering the bullpen to complement the Rockies' powerful lineup and make Colorado competitive again.

"We're focused on winning, we're focused other things. And that's OK," Arenado said. "I'm not really focused on my long- term deal. I'm going to be here for the next three years."

Arenado tied for the National League lead with 41 home runs last season and he drove in a major league-best 133 runs.

He also won his fourth consecutive Gold Glove and his second straight Silver Slugger.

The 25-year-old star scoffed at the notion his performance could suffer in 2017 under any added pressure from the big payday.

"No. Money doesn't change who I am. It never has. It's never been about the money with me," Arenado said. "It feels good to know that I have a deal in place and I don't have to worry about money ... or long-term deals, [but] those aren't my concerns.

"I'm going to put pressure on myself because I want to be the best and I want to be good at this game and I take a lot of pride in it. And I don't like to let the fans down and I don't like to let my teammates down. Money will not do one thing to change who I am."

Arenado said when he got wind of his new deal, "all I was thinking about was hitting in the cage and working because I need to get better."

Bridich also confirmed the Rockies signed 36-year-old veteran outfielder Chris Denorfia to a minor league contract with an invitation to major league camp in spring training. He said the signing of left-handed-hitting utility man Alexi Amarista was pending a physical, "so hopefully by early next week it will be finalized."

Denorfia played for new Rockies manager Bud Black in San Diego from 2010 to 2014. He's had back problems the past couple of years but "he feels like he's gone through a rehab process where he's finally healthy," Bridich said.

Rockies Not Interested In Jorge De La Rosa

By Mark Polishuk / MLB Trade Rumos | January 15, 2017

The Rockies aren’t interested in a reunion with Jorge de la Rosa, the Denver Post’s Patrick Saunders reports as part of a reader mailbag column. A longtime fixture of the Colorado rotation, de la Rosa has told teams he is willing to pitch as a starter, long reliever or swingman in order to increase his market. This flexibility doesn’t appear to appeal to the Rockies, though Saunders notes elsewhere in the mailbag that the team could use some rotation depth and more bullpen help.

Rockies Happy With Wolters, Murphy At Catcher

By Charlie Wilmoth / MLB Trade Rumos | January 14, 2017

The Rockies have been speculatively connected to various catchers this offseason (including, for example, Matt Wieters).

But the team is comfortable with its young duo of Tony Wolters and Tom Murphy, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post writes. “We are certainly monitoring the catching market, but we are extremely high and positive on the group that we have and we feel like there is a good, young core there,” says GM Jeff Bridich. Wolters entered the season with no big- league experience and a limited minor-league track record behind the plate, although he hit a reasonable .259/.327/.395 and received good marks for his framing. Murphy has played sparingly in the big leagues, but he batted .327/.361/.647 with 19 homers in 322 plate appearances in the admittedly hitter-friendly context of Triple-A Albuquerque last year.