Interview with MLB.com's Thomas Harding

I had the privilege to interview Thomas Harding, he covers the Colorado Rockies for MLB.com.

Baseball-Rumors: You had reported in early December that the Rockies had conversations with both David Eckstein and Mark Loretta. At what point did the Rockies move away from both of those players?

Thomas Harding: Mark Loretta was the Rockies' first choice, but he had a lucrative, $4M offer on the table from the Astros and the Rockies just weren't willing to give him that kind of money.

As far as David Eckstein, they were ok with a 2-year deal but not at the kind of money he was looking for.


Baseball-Rumors: I understand the Rockies also have interest in veteran 2nd baseman Todd Walker, where are those discussions at this point?

Thomas Harding: The Rockies actually have interest in both Walker as well as Marcus Giles and will probably offer both minor league deals, but you probably won't see anything on that until after the New Year.

If neither agree to minor league deals, the Rockies will fill the position internally.


Baseball-Rumors: Troy Tulowitzlki, we saw how good of a player he is on the field, but what kind of a leader is he off the field, especially for his young age?

Thomas Harding: He's a very confident kid, has been since he got the chance out of AA in Spring Training last year. The veterans in the clubhouse wanted him to come in and earn the shortstop position, they wanted to see what he could do and he did just that.

A leader doesn't mean he has to yell in the clubhouse or be the one to always face the media, but to show leadership on the field and Tulo has done a great job at that.


Baseball-Rumors: After all the years Helton has spent with the Rockies, how much fun was it to see him with this young team through the playoffs and that moment when they clinched the NLCS?

Thomas Harding: It was an absolute blast to watch. I talked to Helton prior to the the World Series and he told me he has shown more emotion this season then he ever has, which showed after the World Series because he was the most disappointed player in that clubhouse.

This season, though, I saw Helton play better defense than he has in the last 4-5 years.


Baseball-Rumors: Matt Holliday is a Rockie at least through the 2009 season, are the Rockies confident they can sign him long term and when do you expect the front office to approach him or his agent about that?

Thomas Harding: They'll approach Holliday and Scott Boras (Holliday's agent), every winter, but I think it's going to be a short conversation. I know there was a report that the Rockies had a 4-year $60M offer on the table, but Boras says that offer was never submitted to him.

Though Boras is going to tell the Rockies that the Mets, Yankees, Red Sox and Dodgers won't fold anytime soon and will be waiting when he hits free agency but the Rockies aren't resigned to losing Holliday to free agency.


Baseball-Rumors: Yorvit Torrealba was close to signing a deal with the NY Mets back in November. After that deal fell through, did Colorado approach him about coming back or vice versa?

Thomas Harding: Torrealba kept them in the running the entire time, he knew they had an offer on the table, but when the Mets made the offer they did, it was a no-brainer for him. When the deal fell through, he decided to take the Rockies' offer even though he did have a bigger offer from the Florida Marlins.

The way the Rockies' Front Office works is, they guage how much that player is worth, they make their offer and there isn't much negotiation after that.


Baseball-Rumors: With Torrealba coming back, is he the #1 guy when the '08 season starts or do the Rockies want Chris Ianetta to be that guy?

Thomas Harding: Torrealba will be the #1 guy going into next season. They wanted a guy that they know can help them both defensively and with the bat. Though he's going to be starter next season, you'll see Chris Ianetta get his share of playing time as well.


Baseball-Rumors: Final question for me, the NL West has gone from being called the “NL Worst” a few years ago to, arguably, being the best and deepest division in baseball. Is this division showing baseball that you can build from within and be successful?

Thomas Harding: Absolutely, I think you've seen that throughout the NL West. Look at the Giants, with exception to Barry Zito their pitching staff is all from their own system. The pitching in this division seems to have at least 1 or 2 guys that are home grown.