The Rockies Bolster Their Bullpen with Veteran Minor League Deals

The Colorado Rockies are looking to beef up the back end of their bullpen by signing two veteran relievers who are not far removed from having stellar seasons as closers. The Denver Post reports that John Axford and Rafael Betancourt will head to spring training hoping to lock down a spot in the Rockies bullpen. There is currently much uncertainty in the Rockies bullpen, so to see one, or quite possibly both players head to Opening Day would not be a surprise.

Axfrod blew up on the major league baseball scene in 2010 when he stepped in for an aging Trevor Hoffman. He recorded 24 saves down the stretch and the Milwaukee Brewers named him their closer of the future. The hulking righty, who stands at 6-foot-5 and weighs 220 pounds, had a season for the ages in 2011 finishing in the Top 20 in both Most Valuable Player and Cy Young voting. He went 2-2 with a 1.95 ERA while mowing down 10.5 batters per inning en route to racking up a league leading 46 saves.

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Axford, who was drafted by two teams before signing as a minor league free agent with the New York Yankees back in 2006, appeared to be one of baseball’s premier closers. Following his 2011 breakout campaign, the wheels seemingly came off the Axford train. He has posted 45 saves in the three years since his 46-save campaign and has watched his ERA rise (he hasn’t had it below 3.95 since) and his home run rate rise continually each season. Now just 31-years old, Axford is being given another chance to right the ship.

Betancourt’s career began way back in 1993 when he was signed as an amateur free agent by the Boston Red Sox at 18 years of age. It took the righty 10 years in the minor leagues to make his way to the big show, but when he finally did he became one of baseball’s premier set-up men. Starting with the Cleveland Indians and then with the Rockies, Betancourt went 36-33 over 11 years with a 3.19 ERA and a 9.5 strikeout per nine rate. When he was finally called upon to close in 2012, he answered the call with 31 saves.

Now 40-years old, Betancourt spent 2014 recovering from Tommy John surgery. He did not appear in the majors at all, but hurled 19.1 innings over two levels of the Rockies farm system. He may seem like a long shot, but if Betancourt can get back to where he was, he may have a spot calling his name.

LaTroy Hawkins, the 42-year old journey man, is currently inked in at closer for the Rockies heading into 2015. There are several arms poised to make a move like Rex Brothers, Boone Logan and Tommy Kahnle, but there is certainly room for a veteran arm. Axford seems like he should be able to step in and walk out of spring training with a 2015 spot on the Opening Day roster, while Betancourt seems like more of a long shot. If both have a solid spring, the Rockies will suddenly find themselves with a bunch of decisions to make in the pen.

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