Footprints in the Snow is FanHouse's look at the paths to be forged by MLB teams this winter as they look ahead to 2010.After an awful start to 2009, the Rockies fired Clint Hurdle, promoted Jim Tracy and proceeded to play like the best team in the National League for the rest of the regular season. They lost an exciting playoff series to the eventual NL champion Phillies, but there is no reason to think the Rockies are going away with all their young talent.
In fact, the Rockies are in position to make themselves a candidate to be a dynasty. Seriously. They can move forward with a starting lineup of Todd Helton, Clint Barmes and six proven guys who are 27 or younger. The pitching staff and minor-league talent are equally as impressive. Now it's simply a matter of cultivating their young talent while making sure they don't halt any momentum.
Who Might Leave
Yorvit Torrealba, C; Jason Giambi, 1B; Jason Marquis, SP; Jose Contreras, P; Josh Fogg, P; Alan Embree, RP; Joe Beimel, RP; Rafael Betancourt, RP; Matt Herges, RP
Shopping List
The Rockies could realistically say their "shopping list" reads more like a post-Christmas visit to the mall. They will look to trade Garrett Atkins all winter. Also, they aren't necessarily actively trying to get rid of them, but they could stand to shed Huston Street and Brad Hawpe.
Atkins is an obvious candidate to trade, because he makes more than $7 million a year and the Rockies are ready to move forward with Ian Stewart at third base. Atkins is only 30 and hit .305 with 75 homers from 2006-2008, so he could be attractive to teams looking for a one-year fix at third.
Street is expendable because of the lofty price tag for a closer -- especially considering they could slot Franklin Morales into his role. With Street injured in early September last season, the 23-year-old Morales closed six consecutive games, not allowing a single run in those six outings. It's a small sample, but he definitely has what it takes to handle the job. Still, it couldn't hurt to hold onto Street if there aren't many suitors; this is a strong free agent class in terms of closers.
Hawpe would be a good candidate for a trade because he'd be a great complement to a right-handed hitter in a platoon situation (Hawpe kills righties and is sub-par against lefties). In Carlos Gonzalez, Dexter Fowler and Seth Smith -- in addition to some minor-league talent -- the Rockies have their outfield of the future, so Hawpe is virtually eating payroll space. If the Rockies do shed payroll, it wouldn't hurt them to add a solid starting pitcher, bullpen depth or even an upgrade at second base for Barmes (though they do have a young Eric Young Jr. waiting in the wings there).
The thing is, they don't have to do anything and they'll be ready to compete for the 2010 NL West title.
Money Matters
Ridding themselves of the aforementioned contracts would enable the Rockies to start working up early extensions on future stars like Gonzalez and Fowler, but, for now, the Rockies aren't in any sort of a financial quagmire. They could ride out the deals of Atkins, Hawpe and Street if they want.
Todd Helton has an albatross contract. He's set to make $16.6 million in 2010 and $19.1 million in 2011. There's no way anyone is trading for that, so the Rockies will move forward with him at first base. Still, it could be worse. He's a great leader and enjoyed a bounce-back 2009 (.325, 15 homers, 86 RBI, .904 OPS, solid defense).
Offseason Goals
They'll be looking to trade Atkins and will listen to offers for Hawpe and Street. In the meantime, the emphasis will be on how to make sure there is continued development of their youth. In addition to Gonzalez, Morales, Fowler, Stewart and Smith -- who we mentioned above -- Troy Tulowitzki, Chris Iannetta, Ubaldo Jimenez, Jason Hammel and Jhoulys Chacin are already major league ready players who appear to have at least six solid years ahead of them (and most have more than that). There is plenty of depth coming from their stacked farm system as well.
Basically, the Rockies are going to look to put themselves in position to win the World Series and not just in 2010. They are looking to put together a group that will compete for the title for the next five years and they appear to have many of those pieces in place. Any moves will be minimal and would involve plugging small holes without jeopardizing the rock-solid foundation already in place.
