Rockin 'N Rollin

Colorado Rockies 2007 Record: 90-73 (2nd in NL West; Wild Card winner; National League Champion)
2008 Prediction: 4th in NL West


In

• Marcus Giles (SD) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/8/08
  
• Kip Wells (STL) - signed a 1 year, $3.1 million contract - 12/19/07
  
• Mark Redman (COL) - signed a 1 year, $1 million contract - 12/19/07
  
• Luis Vizcaino (NYY) - signed a 2 year, $7.5 million contract with club option for 2010 - 12/21/07
  
• Yorvit Torrealba (COL) - signed a 2 year, $7.25 million contract with mutual option for 2010 - 11/29/07
  
• Micah Bowie (WAS) - signed to a minor league contract - 12/21/07
  
• Matt Kata (PIT) - signed to a minor league contract - 12/21/07
  
• Jose Capellan (DET) - acquired for Denny Bautista - 12/4/07
  
• Scott Podsednik (CHW) - signed to a minor league contract - 2/5/08
  

Out

• Denny Bautista(DET) - traded for Jose Capellan - 12/4/07
  
• Elmer Dessens (PIT) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/7/08
  
• Jamey Carroll (CLE) - traded for a player to be named later - 12/8/07
  
• Kazuo Matsui (HOU) - signed a 3 year, $16.5 million contract - 12/2/07
  
• Jeremy Affeldt (CIN) - signed to a 1 year, $3 million contract - 1/21/08
  
• Jorge Julio (CLE) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/31/08
  

Remaining Free Agents

• Josh Fogg
  
• Rodrigo Lopez
  
• Ramon Ortiz
  
• Steve Finley
  
• John Mabry
  
• Tom Martin
  

Projected Opening Day Starters
C - Yorvit Torrealba
1B - Todd Helton
2B - Jayson Nix/Marcus Giles
3B - Garrett Atkins
SS - Troy Tulowitzki
LF - Matt Holliday
CF - Willy Tavares
RF - Brad Hawpe

Projected Opening Day Rotation
Jeff Francis
Aaron Cook
Franklin Morales
Ubaldo Jimenez
Jason Hirsh/Kip Wells/Mark Redman

Projected Opening Day Closer
Manny Corpas

Improvements: The Rockies did add a couple of veterans to their club. They signed reliever Luis Vizcaino for assistance in their bullpen. Vizcaino should be huge for the Rocks, as he will provide depth, experience and stability in a rather inconsistent bullpen. And veterans Kip Wells and Mark Redman will provide insurance for an otherwise young rotation. Yorvit Torrealba, who was re-signed by the Rockies, played a vital role for the Rockies in 2007, and he will be expected to help develop a young pitching staff.
Lack of improvement: The Rockies lost Kaz Matsui to free agency (Houston Astros), and are replacing him and his 32 stolen bases with the combination of the inexperienced Jayson Nix and diminishing Marcus Giles (who recently signed a minor league contract).
Keys to success: Willy Tavares came back from an injury to face the Diamondbacks in the NLCS in 2007. But he will have show that he is completely healed and is ready to be the table setter/center fielder the Rockies are expecting him to be. The same can be said for right hander Aaron Cook in the rotation. Cook was instrumental in getting the Rockies to the playoffs, and then injured his oblique muscle, and didn't play after August 10. He is expected to be the right handed answer to lefty ace Jeff Francis, after signing a 4-year extension last month.