Stubbs, Nicasio agree to one-year deals with Rockies
With two signings, Colorado has avoided arbitration with all eligible players
DENVER -- The Rockies reached one-year agreements with outfielder Drew Stubbs and right-handed pitcher Juan Nicasio on Friday, and they have avoided arbitration with all their eligible players.
According to Major League sources, Stubbs, acquired last month from the Indians, signed for $4.1 million. Nicasio, a Super Two player (meaning he has fewer than three years' service time but his time ranks in the top 22 percent of sub-three-year players), signed for $2.025 million.
The club has not confirmed the deals.
The Rockies are counting on the right-handed-hitting Stubbs as part of their right-field approach. Left-handed hitters Charlie Blackmon and Corey Dickerson also figure into the picture, but Colorado is counting on Stubbs' speed and power. Stubbs is a natural center fielder, but the Rockies have committed to switching three-time National League Gold Glove Award winner Carlos Gonzalez from left field to center, a position he played previously.
Stubbs, 29, batted .233 with 10 home runs, 45 RBIs and 17 stolen bases last year for the Indians, who traded him to the Rockies for lefty reliever Josh Outman. Stubbs stole 100 bases for the Reds from 2010-12.
Nicasio, 27, went 9-9 with a 5.14 ERA in 31 starts last season. He is penciled into the rotation but will have competition from left-hander Franklin Morales, who will go to the bullpen if he's not in the rotation, righty Jordan Lyles, who came in a trade with the Astros, and lefty Christian Friedrich, who didn't pitch in the Majors last season because of a back injury. Nicasio could go to the bullpen if he isn't in the rotation, but club officials believe he can succeed as a starter.
Earlier this week, Colorado signed Morales for $1.7125 million and righty reliever Wilton Lopez for $2.2 million.