Us and Them

A quote in the footnotes of Troy Renck's column Saturday in the Denver Post troubled me. It's been no secret that the rockies have been in contact with Jason Jennings' agent about a contract extension. Here was JJ's response:

I would have to think long and hard about (a multiyear offer). I like the city and the core of young players, but I would like to see what players we are going to add.

Thus far during the existence of the rockies organization, the first choice of potential free-agents was almost always to remain in Colorado. That may not be the case anymore. In 2007, JJ will be entering his sixth full season with the rockies and hasn't been on a team that won more than 76 games. The competitor in him might be tired of losing. JJ is obviously content to ride out the last year of his current contract at $5.5MM and test free agency for 2008. The list of teams willing to overpay, especially for pitching, seems to grow each season (them). The rox will not be showing up on that list anytime soon (us). If teams such as the Yankees and Red Sox will pay the likes of Jaret Wright and Carl Pavano, respectively, $7MM they will certainly a pitcher the caliber of JJ $8-9MM. If not the Yankees or Red Sox, then someone else. It seems that 2007 may very well be the last we see of Jennings in a rockies uniform. If the rockies are not in contention come late July, Jennings will be highly sought after at the trade deadline. Sadly, my gut tells me that we may have only three more months of JJ in our beloved team's rotation. Eventually, the rox are going to have to extend their resources and overpay for somebody, if not JJ or Matt Holliday, then an impact free agent or two. If not, then the organization will once again enter into a rebuilding phase while the losing and excuses will continue to flow like the nearby Platte River.

For those keeping score at home, the rox lost Justin Hampson and J.D. Closser on waivers. Hampson was claimed by the Padres while Closser was claimed by the Brewers.