After weeks of watching the Colorado Rockies bring on mostly young and relatively inexpensive arms to hopefully bolster their pitching prowess, and a bout of mild depression over the non-tender of one of my favorites—Ryan Spilborghs—general manager Dan O’Dowd finally laid down some big bucks for an outfielder with a name, a big bat and the versatility to fit into a number of positions.

According to a Dec. 16 Denver Post article, the Rockies reached a three-year, $30 million agreement with former Minnesota Twins outfielder Michael Cuddyer. Though the team had expressed interest in Cuddyer at the end of last season, it found itself in a pool of other interested teams, including Philadelphia and Seattle. The acquisition wasn’t possible until $9 million was cleared off this year’s payroll with the trades of reliever Huston Street and third baseman Ian Stewart, the Post reported.

Cuddyer, 32, hit .284 last season, with 20 home runs and 70 RBIs. A first-round pick by the Twins in 1997, the new father of twin girls was offered $25 million to remain with the Twins, according to a Dec. 16 article from Yahoo! Sports. In his career, Cuddyer has played both corner outfield and corner infield positions, as well as second base.

One of the best endorsements I’ve seen of the Rockies’ willingness to take a chance on Cuddyer came from Mr. Big Bat himself, Troy Tulowitzki. In a Dec. 15 interview for the Denver Post, Tulowitzki said that it would be “huge” to get another bat and that he’s heard nothing but good things about Cuddyer.

Let’s hope Tulo is right and that this deal is, in fact, huge—$30 million huge. Best in the National League huge. Because it’s about time for that kind of huge.

Susan Culver-Graybeal is a longtime resident of the highly elevated land where the Colorado Rockies play.

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Read More: Huston Street (P – SDP), San Diego Padres, Colorado Rockies

The Colorado Rockies and San Diego Padres are deep into talks surrounding a trade involving current Rockies relief pitcher Huston Street, according to Buster Olney of ESPN.

Colorado has been shopping Street at the Winter Meetings, and have been talking to the Cincinnati Reds, Baltimore Orioles, and Boston Red Sox. These discussions with the Padres appear to be a new development, however, and these talks do make sense for both sides. San Diego recently saw closer Heath Bell sign a three year deal with the Florida Marlins, and they traded elite setup man Mike Adams to the Texas Rangers at the trade deadline this season. The Padres are desperate for elite bullpen help, and Street fits a need.

The return on this potential trade is less certain. It was reported on Tuesday that Colorado would reportedly eat some of Street’s $7.5mil contract for 2012 in exchange for prospects. The two teams have also discussed second baseman Orlando Hudson, so this could be a straight salary swap with each team filling a perceived hole on the MLB club.

Street has been one of the most common names thrown around during these meetings, so it is becoming likely that he gets moved in a deal.

The Colorado Rockies would be up for trading closer Huston Street(notes) this offseason and plenty of teams are rumored to be interested in snagging the 28-year-old with 178 career saves.

SI.com has it that the Boston Red Sox (now that Jonathan Papelbon(notes) has signed with the Philadelphia Phillies), Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, Baltimore Orioles, Cincinnati Reds, and, of course, the rebranding Miami Marlins are all interested in snagging Street. After all, the guy is scheduled to make $7.5 million next season, a much cheaper alternative than paying out bigger bucks to a free agent.

Street, the 2005 American League rookie of the year with the Oakland Athletics, was 1-4 with a 3.86 ERA in 62 games for the Rockies in 2011, converting 29 of his 33 chances for a save.

Let the rumors come to you. Follow Scoop du Jour on Twitter or Facebook.

Source: SI.com

Related: Huston Street, Jonathan Papelbon, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Colorado Rockies, New York Mets, Oakland Athletics, Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays

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By Tim Dierkes [October 10, 2011 at 9:28am CST]

The Rockies are next in our arbitration eligibles series.

Having signed Troy Tulowitzki, Jason Hammel, Matt Lindstrom, Chris Iannetta, and Carlos Gonzalez to multiyear deals, the Rockies are left with only four arbitration eligible players.

Stewart and Spilborghs are non-tender candidates.  Rockies GM Dan O’Dowd recently said he’s willing to give Stewart another opportunity, implying he will pay the $2MM or so that will be required if the third baseman is tendered a contract in December.  Two months remain until the non-tender deadline, however.  There is a case to keep Spilborghs at an approximate $2MM despite his 2011 struggles.  The 32-year-old had been a very useful fourth outfielder prior to this year and may have trade value at that price.

As a potential Super Two, Fowler projects to fall in the $2MM range as well.  Smith, who would be around $2.6MM, has been mentioned as potential trade bait should the Rockies sign an outfielder.

Cot’s Baseball Contracts shows the Rockies have about $61MM owed to players under contract for next year.  If all four arbitration eligibles are retained, they’d be around $70MM before accounting for minimum salary players.  The Rockies would have around $13MM in 2012 flexibility, though as much as $18MM more could be cleared if the team non-tenders or trades Stewart, Spilborghs, Smith, Huston Street, and Ty Wigginton.

Matt Swartz contributed to this post.