Colorado Rockies assessing options in Ronny Paulino and Russel Martin
The season in Colorado looked to pick up steam in the latter half of the regular season of 2010. Ranked third in the National League West, the side had the best time in the field and while there have been additions and subtractions in the off season period, they look to pounce on options for bullpen support. There is also a vacant catcher’s position to consider.
Yorvit Torrealba, who was a regular feature for the Rockies in the previous season, signed on with the Texas Rangers from the American League. That is a concern the club has to pay full attention to.
There have been indications made in the past that the Rockies were not going to fight for their prime catcher and that truly became the case when Yorvit was let go.
However, at the moment, two established catchers in Major League can potentially become Colorado’s support behind the plate.
Manager Jim Tracy has worked with these two catchers before and it has to be seen whether the Rockies will make their move for either one of these candidates. Ronny Paulino is one catcher, who has worked with Tracy before and the two operated as a team under the Pittsburgh Pirates between 2006 and 2008.
The catcher worked with the Florida Marlins last season and he punched up a batting average of .259, while driving home 37 RBIs (Runs Batted In).
If the Rockies decide to bring him on, they can utilize a home grown player, Michael McKenry, because Paulino will have to wait out for 50 games, due to a 50 game suspension for banned substance usage.
Another viable option can come in the form of, Russell Martin. Tracy and Martin worked with the Los Angeles Dodgers during 2005. Jim was a manager at the time and Martin was an upcoming player at the ball club. At the moment, Russell is free in the market due to the Dodgers’ decline to tender him after his tenure in rehab.
In 2010, the player managed to bring in a batting average of .248. His performance has dipped in the past two years and while that is a sound concern for the management the options look to be risky.
A safer option could come the Rockies way, if Bengie Molina decides to return from retirement. His plans are yet unknown and Colorado could be the ideal place for him to return if things develop in the future.
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