Rockies Close To Acquiring Jeremy Guthrie
http://tinyurl.com/7jvr28e
By Tim Dierkes [February 6, 2012 at 7:38am CST]
The Rockies and Orioles are nearing an agreement that would send starter
Jeremy Guthrie to Colorado, most likely for pitchers Jason Hammel and Matt
Lindstrom, reports Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun. Connolly believes a
third piece for the Orioles was discussed, but the sides settled on Hammel
and Lindstrom. Guthrie's arbitration hearing was scheduled for this morning,
but is believed to have been postponed. With a $3MM gap, the righty's
arbitration case has a sizeable spread.
Guthrie, 32, has been a regular in Baltimore's rotation since being claimed
off waivers from the Indians five years ago. Last year he posted a 4.33 ERA,
5.6 K/9, 2.9 BB/9, 1.13 HR/9, and 39.6% groundball rate in 208 innings for
the Orioles. His skills suggest a 200-inning, 4.50 ERA guy in the AL East.
Guthrie will be a useful addition for a Rockies rotation long on options but
short on stability, assuming his proclivity to surrender home runs doesn't
worsen.