Is it time for Todd Helton to go?

Is it time? Like moving away from ‘Puppy Love’ it will not be easy on people. 

Statistically Todd Helton is playing All-Star baseball. He is batting .324 and has 10 dingers just past the midway point of season. This, in part, is due to his good health. Back spasms do get to the 37 year old at times, but not like last year or in 2008. His 14 years in Colorado are nothing, not even close, short of a Hall of Fame career.

Dan O’Dowd must do it like a band-aid “Right off”.

Helton is making $20.275 million in 2011, but only makes $9.9 million over the next two seasons. There are only 6 players that are making more than the Toddfather this year. 

 

The Rockies sit 10 games out of first place in the National League West and 6 games under .500. It would take another Mile High Miracle for Colorado to even get back in the race. I mean it would take something truly special, and I definitely haven’t seen Nuns lining up for Rockpile tickets just yet.

This has all the makings for a potential trade. It makes sense.

Take a cut in team salary. Get some flexibility that’ll give you the potential to go make a move in the future that is crucial for a stretch run. Find some good, professional, players (not pitchers) in return. Get players that will blossom in this system next year and years to come. And finally, trade Todd to a team with a chance to make a run deep into October. Give the man whom you would give anything to trim his beard, shine his cleats and pick the bugs of his sunglasses the chance at a ring to solidify his place in baseball lore.

No other Rockie will ever wear #17 in Colorado, but moving Todd Helton would be in the best interest of both parties.

Rockies Extensions

Who all loves the extensions signed by Tulo and CarGo?? Every purple hearted, Venezuelan, mullet-loving sports fan in Denver…. And yes, that includes me.

But be weary Mile High faithful. By the time 2017, for CarGo, and 2020, for Tulo, rolls around people may be asking for their heads.

Todd Helton was awarded, and rightly so, a contract very similar to these guys. He was once the fable only option for numerous All-Star games and the face of the franchise for many years. Now he’s making too much money and not producing enough. (Should have listened to me 5 years ago, when I said I love Helton but it was time to get a trade when his stock was at an all time high. And Ryan Shealy was there to fill the role.) And I know this could be a bad example, but the Rockies and the contract are eerily identical.

And people undoubtedly will put ridiculously high expectations on these 2 up-and-coming stars and the Rockies organization as a whole which will pack the stands. But will it do the most important thing of all, win championships? Doubtful.

[These extensions had to happen, they are good for the team and the city, but we’ll see what happens. Damn you Mike Hampton for making every Rockies fan, especially Dan O’Dowd, scared of giving a good/hefty contract to a pitcher.]