The Philadelphia Phillies acquired
Ty Wigginton from the Colorado Rockies, adding a versatile
player to a team that will start the Major League Baseball
season with at least one All-Star on the disabled list.

The Rockies will receive either a player to be named or
cash for the 34-year-old infielder, the Phillies said on their
website. Philadelphia, which has won the National League East
division title for last five seasons, will pay him half of the
$4 million he is owed in the final year of his contract,
according to MLB.com, which didn’t list the source of its
information.

Wigginton played at least 20 games each at first base,
third base and left field last season. The Phillies’ starting
first baseman, three-time All-Star, Ryan Howard, will begin the
2012 campaign on the disabled list recovering from a torn
Achilles tendon, the team said on its website. Third baseman
Placido Polanco may also be sidelined as he recovers from
sports-hernia surgery.

Wigginton has hit .265 with 158 home runs and 548 runs
batted in during a 10-year career that began in 2002 with the
New York Mets. Last year, his only season in Colorado, he hit a
career-low .242 with 15 home runs and 52 runs scored.

To contact the reporter on this story:
Eben Novy-Williams in New York at
enovywilliam@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story:
Michael Sillup at
msillup@bloomberg.net

— First things first: what about second base?

The Rockies will have a new starting second baseman after losing Mark Ellis to the Dodgers on Monday. Ellis signed a two-year, $8.75-million deal with the National League West rival, creating a vacancy that Colorado would ideally like to fill by signing the Braves’ Martin Prado.

The Rockies have talked with Atlanta. Multiple executives said that the Braves are still in a fact-finding stage, trying to determine what they want in return a player who could start at second or third base for the Rockies. The discussions are expected to restart at the general manager’s meetings that begin Tuesday in Milwaukee.

Atlanta has interest in left fielder Seth Smith, but is looking for a center fielder. Colorado is reluctant to trade Charlie Blackmon or Tim Wheeler and Dexter Fowler, an Atlanta native, is not available.

The Rockies’ desire to keep Ellis had limits. They were comfortable bringing him back as their starting second baseman, but were seeking a one-year deal in the neighborhood of $3-million plus, with a club option. When the Miami Marlins signed Omar Infante to a two-year, $8-million deal in September, the landscape changed, decreasing the likelihood that Ellis would return. That played out today as the veteran agreed to the Dodgers’ offer in a deal first reported by ESPN.com. The Dodgers moved quickly to replace infielder Jamey Carroll, another Rockies’ target who landed in Minnesota on a two-year, $7-million contract over the weekend.

“We had interest in both players, but we have other things going on and there is a lot of winter left,” Rockies general manager Dan O’Dowd said. “We are very comfortable with our in-house options.”

If unable to acquire Prado, the Rockies have several second base candidates, including Chris Nelson, Jordan Pacheco, Jonathan Herrera and Eric Young Jr., who is playing second base this winter in Venezuela.

After being acquired from Oakland at midseason, Ellis hit .274 with 19 extra-base hits in 286 plate appearances. At 34, the Rockies view Ellis as a starter, but felt he would be more effective playing 135-140 games.

Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or

Read more: Colorado Rockies, Troy Tulowitzki, Tulo Nominated for Award, Hank Aaron Award, Tulo for Hank Aaron Award, Pro, MLB

DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Rockies have made shortstop Troy Tulowitzki their nominee for the Hank Aaron Award.

Each team has nominated someone for the award for most outstanding offensive player. Fans can vote through Sunday for an American League winner and a National League winner.

Winners will be announced during the World Series.

(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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Regardless of what happens this month, the Rockies will be a disappointment. They aren’t going to the playoffs for the third time in five years. They aren’t winning their first-ever National League West crown, those dreams eroding with an awful May.

The issue now is who’s got next? How are the Rockies going to clean up this mess and contend next season?

In a 5-3 loss to the Diamondbacks at coat-required Coors Field on Wednesday night, there were reasons for hope — see Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki — and concern. Will the Rockies have enough talent to offset their potential inexperience at key positions?

“It’s different. The pitchers are more consistent,” rookie catcher Wilin Rosario said. “The

game is faster.”

With youth comes enthusiasm, energy and mistakes.

Rosario hit his first home run — a 448-foot blast — one of three solo shots for the Rockies. He’s still learning the staff, unable to handle a pair of wild pitches. And he swung at a 2-0 changeup, making an easy out.

“They got me on that one,” Rosario said.

Rex Brothers, a potential closer of the future, saw his 11-game scoreless streak snapped when Justin Upton clobbered his 28th home run. Jordan Pacheco continues to show off a major-league swing, but he has committed errors in his first two games at third base.

“I have to learn fast,” Pacheco said. “If this is the best way to help the team and help my chances of staying, then I just need to keep working hard.”

The Rockies’ recovery, it could be argued, will be measured by Rosario, Brothers, Pacheco and rookie pitchers Alex White and Drew Pomeranz. If three have breakthrough seasons, the Rockies’ path back to contention becomes a lot smoother. If not? Then the Rockies are in danger of going 5-13 against the Diamondbacks, as they did this season. Despite his third career home run, Kevin Millwood was tagged for the latest loss.

Gonzalez hit his 25th

home run, a 442-foot shot to right field. Despite enduring a forgettable April and missing nearly three weeks because of a wrist injury, Gonzalez has a realistic chance at reaching 30 home runs and 100 RBIs.

“I just don’t like playing for (numbers). My reason to play is to be a champion,” Gonzalez said.

Tulowitzki is already there, becoming only the second shortstop in National League history to reach the 100-RBI milestone — joining Cubs Hall of Famer Ernie Banks.

“It’s hard to enjoy any individual stat right now,” said Tulo-witzki, whose 59-game errorless streak ended in the eighth inning. “The goal of every season is to make the playoffs. Without that, it’s a failure.”

The Rockies need victories in

15 of their remaining 19 games for a winning record.

The succession of failures from multiple players has shifted the Rockies’ focus from results to development.

“I didn’t expect this,” Gonzalez said. “But it’s important to finish strong to build toward next year.”

Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com

---

Upcoming pitching matchups

Thursday: Off

Friday: Reds’ Homer Bailey (7-7, 4.57 ERA) at Rockies’ Jhoulys Chacin (11-10, 3.60), 6:40 p.m., Root

Saturday: Reds’ Bronson Arroyo (8-11, 5.09) at Rockies’ Alex White (1-1, 7.41), 2:10 p.m., no TV

Sunday: Reds’ Dontrelle Willis (0-5, 4.21) at Rockies’ Drew Pomeranz (season debut), 1:10 p.m., Root