By KYLE KEOUGH
Double Day AP
The Colorado Grizzlies seem convinced that they can challenge this season. That's the message that acquisitions of SP John Ray and 1B Barry Broadhurst is sending to their division.
It was no secret that as of late, the Anaheim Robins were hoping to cut payroll and move some of their more valuable veteran pieces. As was noted in Rumor Mill #2, the Robins' firesale had officially com,menced, and among the names for sale was Barry Broadhurst, the first baseman with a tremendous bat. His 53-home-run, 166-run-batted-in season-one effort for Vancouver still remains one of the gold standards for single-season performances in Double Day.
Broadhurst (29 HR, 72 RBI, .322 AVG) has been one of the best hitters in the game in season three and is the top vote-getter thus far to represent the AL at first base in the All-Star Game. It is expected that Broadhurst will team with ML RBI leader Houston Henry to form one of the league's most devastating one-two punches. It'll also be Broadhurst's job to help buoy a Colorado team that is 33-42 and needs to reel off a lot of victories to enter back into playoff contention.
Joining Broadhurst in Colorado is Ray, the 28-year-old SP who will immediately move into Colorado's rotation as perhaps their best starter. While Coors has never been kind to pitchers from either clubhouse, Ray won a career-high 14 games last year and has this season split time between starting and closing. The do-it-all lefty will add a sorely needed arm to Colorado's pen.
Colorado gave up three prospects for Ray (LF Eugene Prince, RP Dizzy Fowler, SP Quinn Torres) and parted with 2B Vicente Pena (15 HR, 51 RBI) and utility CF Don Wagner for Broadhurst. As per league trading rules, both deals are subject to league approval.
Colorado's payroll has now been upped to $110 million, while Anaheim's has been lowered to $106 million.
Monday, January 19, 2009
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