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Colorado Rockies pitcher Jorge De La Rosa earned the 100th win of his career over the weekend by picking up the victory in Saturday’s 7-2 drubbing of the New York Mets, per Elias Sports Bureau (via ESPN.com).

He allowed two runs (both earned) on six hits and two walks over six innings, also striking out four batters in a solid performance that pushed his record to 7-7 for the season.

De La Rosa’s 5.51 ERA and 1.60 WHIP suggest he’s rather fortunate to have as many wins as losses, even after considering that six of his 15 starts (and all three of his relief appearances) have come at Coors Field.

In fact, the 35-year-old southpaw actually has a reputation for having mastered his difficult home ballpark, as he posted a 3.59 home ERA (235.2 innings) and 4.21 road ERA (265.1 innings) from 2013 to 2015.

The unusual split hasn’t shown up this year, with De La Rosa now struggling both at home (5.65 ERA) and on the road (5.40 ERA).

Per Elias, the lefty is just the sixth player in major league history to have both a winning record and career ERA above 4.50 at the time he earned his 100th career victory.

Saturday’s win left De La Rosa with a 100-82 career record and 4.61 ERA, which is actually quite good for a pitcher who’s spent the vast majority of his career with the Rockies.

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MLB free agency is in full swing with a lot of the top free agents already off the board.

Teams that missed out on the best available will be scouring the open market, looking for an extra bat or arm to give their team a boost. While the pickings are fairly slim at this point, there are still a couple of big names out there that could make an impact.

Of the available free agents, which are the best ones available?

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It has been a big week for the Colorado Rockies as they have extended Troy Tulowitzki through 2020 (for $157M, no less) and resigned free agent Jorge de la Rosa.  

It seems painfully obvious that staying in Denver is ideal for Tulo and not so much so for de la Rosa, but these are two players worth examining further heading into 2011.

Starting with Tulo, durability concerns are a big issue for the shortstop.  In four Major League seasons, Tulo has played over 150 games twice but fewer than 125 in the other two seasons. Torn quadriceps, lacerated palms and broken wrists have sidelined Tulo in his career. Whether that means he is injury prone or just unlucky—in that he has not had any recurring injuries—is debatable, but a concern for fantasy owners either way.  

However, shortstop is such a paper thin position that many will see Tulo as being worth the risk, and I am inclined to be one of those people.  With 162 game averages of .290 BA, 104 R, 99 RBI, 27 HR and 12 SB, you could certainly make the argument that if he remains healthy, Tulo could be the fantasy MVP in 2011 based on the woeful lack of depth at his position.

Tulo figures to be a borderline top 10 hitting option in next year’s fantasy drafts, so with Roy Halladay sure to fit somewhere into that mix it seems that Tulo will be an early second round, possibly late first round pick you can feel good about drafting.

As for de la Rosa….

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The already thin starting pitching market took a big hit this morning with the announcement that southpaw Jorge De La Rosa has re-signed with the Colorado Rockies for a deal estimated to be around the $30 million range for three years.

De La Rosa is the latest in a busy week for starting pitchers that saw Javier Vazquez, Jon Garland and Hiroki Kuroda all sign new deals.

In essence, a very thin starting pitching market just got a whole lot thinner, especially for teams like the Pirates.

General Manager Neal Huntington warned everyone before the offseason that a major starting pitching signing is not likely, because the available arms just aren’t there.

So what’s the next step for the Pirates in their search for quality starting pitching?  De La Rosa would have been a nice grab and someone I’d commit multiple years to, but the Pirates had no realistic chance there.

Cliff Lee is naturally out of the question, which makes Carl Pavano the top arm on the open market.  Pavano is coming off a very good 2010, but he’s someone the Pirates shouldn’t even look at.

The goal here is to stick to the plan.  Investing multiple years at $10 million-plus in a guy like Pavano would be straying very far away from the plan.

Which brings us to the next group of available arms.  These are all guys coming off injury that may be worth taking a shot on with a one-year deal.  That list includes the likes of Erik Bedard, Brandon Webb, Jeff Francis, Ben Sheets, Chris Young and Justin Duchscherer.

Any name in that list could be worth taking a shot on.  Roll the dice and hope you get lucky.  The Pirates have kicked the tires on Webb, but nothing seems likely.

Another name currently being linked to the Pirates is Washington Nationals SP Scott Olsen.  He’s nothing special and is coming off an injury as well, but if healthy could likely suck up some innings for the Pirates.

Unless Huntington can swing a deal for a quality arm, these are likely the candidates and truthfully, most of them are likely not to be pursued anyways.

That brings us to a list of arms headed by the Brewers’ Dave Bush. Quite frankly, if the Pirates wanted to go that route, they already have Brian Burres and other journeymen arms. 

If the Pirates don’t significantly improve the starting rotation, there is absolutely no need to throw money at a guy that won’t help the current club or fit into the long-term plans. 

It’s not like the Pirates will improve 50-plus games in the standings next season.  Signing an arm or two is a luxury and not a necessity.

It’s more important that the club sticks to the plan.  Continue to draft well and get young arms throughout the system.

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The Colorado Rockies watched the San Francisco Giants celebrate a World Series championship, then watched the Los Angeles Dodgers solidify their pitching staff and second base spot within the month since the season ended. Now, they are doing their own moving and shaking.

The Rockies, according to multiple reports, have agreed to a contract extension with shortstop Troy Tulowitzki through the 2020 season, and have also agreed to pay roughly $32 million over three years to retain the services of free-agent starting pitcher Jorge de la Rosa. Both men will return to a Rockies club that made a strong, desperate September run in the NL West and Wild Card races last year before falling just short.

If it seems at all insignificant next to the outside acquisitions (notably Jon Garland and Juan Uribe) that the Dodgers have made this winter, or if it seems insufficient to overtake the stellar pitching staff of the Giants, then this pair of moves at least clears the way for Colorado to get serious about adding a solid hitter for one of their corner outfield spots, and gives them enough certainty in the starting rotation to aggressively pursue the closer or other relief ace they badly need to compete.

Tulowitzki is perhaps the best shortstop in baseball, and certainly the most well-rounded. He has hit .305/.379/.560 over the past two seasons, averaging 30 homers, 94 RBI and 16 steals in those campaigns. More importantly, he is perhaps the best defensive shortstop in baseball, and certainly one of the top five in that respect. Hanley Ramirez is as good a hitter, but not in Tulowitzki’s league defensively.

De la Rosa figures to be a solid complement to Ubaldo Jimenez in Colorado’s rotation for the foreseeable future. Though he struggles with control at times and battled finger injuries in 2010, he strikes out about a batter per inning and is one of the league’s most prolific ground-ball pitchers. That has obvious and tremendous value in an environment like Colorado, and de la Rosa’s ability (as a left-handed hurler) to get both right-handed and left-handed batters out is a huge bonus.

The Rockies overpaid a bit for him in what is becoming a player’s market for pitching salaries, but if he can stay healthy, he will offer plenty of return on their investment.

The next step for the Rockies is to beef up their corner outfield and/or first base spots.

Carlos Gonzalez is a monster in left field, but may move to center eventually if the team feels it can do better than Dexter Fowler by adding a left fielder. Still, the team has taken big strides toward seriously contending in 2011 just by locking down its two big contributors. Here is a look at all five NL West teams, and who would reign supreme if the season began tomorrow:

1. San Francisco Giants

Yes, the Giants still sit atop the heap for now, although their lack of offense is becoming conspicuous and the rumor mills are not friendly to the team’s insistence that it will add a big bat like Carl Crawford. They need a shortstop better than Edgar Renteria to balance the loss of Uribe to the division-rival Dodgers, but there are ample options out there for them in that respect.

If they can add even one impact bat (and it need not be an elite bat, just a better one than Renteria’s or Mark DeRosa’s), the pitching staff that so dominated the playoffs will be able to carry the team to another division crown.

2. Colorado Rockies

They were almost as good as the Giants in the second half, and they have a pair of aces to match anyone but the Giants in this division. Tulowitzki and Gonzalez are not merely great hitters, but versatile contributors on both offense and defense, with speed, power and range. No offensive duo in the division can match them. In fact, only Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday are a better top tandem in the entire league.

3. Los Angeles Dodgers

Hot on the trail of San Francisco and Colorado, the Dodgers still have holes to fill. Catcher and left field remain very much in limbo, and even if Ned Colletti swings a clever deal of James Loney to address one of those spots, they will need to open the wallets wide enough for first baseman like Adam Dunn.

All in all, though, the Dodgers have taken some huge steps forward by locking up their pitchers for 2011 and adding Juan Uribe for a bit more pop in a lineup that needed it badly.

4. San Diego Padres

The Padres have been conspicuously quiet this winter, and not moving at all is about the same as going backward in the current climate of the NL West. Adrian Gonzalez may now be a true goner, since GM Jed Hoyer’s staff seems highly pessimistic about the team’s ability to sign Gonzalez beyond this season and since the Padres (who lost Garland to Los Angeles) are a fistful of moves from viable contention in 2011.

5. Arizona Diamondbacks

Kevin Towers is a great team-builder, but he has more than one winter’s worth of construction ahead of him. Even if Rome were built in a day, Towers would be at a loss. The organization he inherits looks more like Chicago circa 1800, a vast swamp with only the barest signs of potential. Trade rumors abound around this team, with Mark Reynolds and Justin Upton the hottest commodities.

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Dear Doug,

I understand that you are a creature of habit. Sometimes that can be a good thing, but in 2010 it was a fatal flaw to the success of the Brewers. Strictly relying on offense to win games at the expense of solid pitching does not work. The San Francisco Giants went with solid pitching over offense, and you saw what happened. If you continue to solely rely on your offense, striking out at a pace reminiscent of a Bugs Bunny cartoon is totally unacceptable. These habits must be broken now if you are serious about winning and not just merely competing. The status quo will lead you to the unemployment line.  

Be Aggressive

You cannot sit back and wait for trade offers to pour in. Last season you admittedly waited for teams to call about Prince Fielder. Why? You knew there were interested parties. Everyone knew that. Sitting back waiting for the elusive perfect offer is a loser’s modus operandi. According to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Brewers could “probably” have had Daniel Hudson from the White Sox for Prince in a one for one deal. But you wanted more. Now it seems Arizona has an ace in the making. Recently there have been rumors linking a trade of Fielder again to the White Sox for Edwin Jackson and Gordon Beckham. This would probably make the most sense if Rickie Weeks is traded. Beckham could step into Weeks’ spot at second base. I have always believed that if there is a player you covet, go ahead and overpay a little.You have to give to get what you want. I’m pretty sure that’s how it works anyway.

Don’t Rely on Old Veterans to Make Significant Contributions

Now there is a difference between a seasoned veteran and an old one. A seasoned veteran is similar to a Vladimir Guerrero, Aubrey Huff or even Melvin Mora. They may be past their prime, but they can still bring it. One name I would have to look closely at this off-season is Brandon Webb. An injury history yes. A chip on his shoulder? Most likely. He’s going to want to prove that he’s still got his old mojo working. While I don’t know what his contract demands will be, he should have little leverage since he has not pitched in almost two years. If you recall,l he’s got that heavy sinker which results in ground balls galore. Ground balls make me smile.

Old veterans include players like Gregg Zaun, Mike Sweeney and Jason Giambi. Relying on them for anything significant is pure foolishness. Offering a contract to Eric Hinske is a start. You might want to take a look at Adam LaRoche if you move Prince or even at Brad Hawpe. LaRoche would significantly upgrade the defense at first base and is a solid hitter. In Hawpe’s case, Corey Hart could move to first base with Hawpe taking over in right or Hawpe could just stay at first. He played 9 games there in 2010. Brad Hawpe had an off year in 2010 but is primed to bounce back.

Be Willing to Trade Prospects for Established Players

You did it with C.C. Sabathia, but why not since? How have Matt LaPorta and Michael Brantley panned out for the Indians? That’s what I thought. There may be a couple of prospects you prefer not to part with and that’s understandable, but keep an open mind. If certain players become available, you should be willing to consider making Brett Lawrie, Jake Odorizzi, Amaury Rivas or Jeremy Jeffress available in a deal. A young veteran with a proven track record is worth much more than a couple of top prospects. You need to not only realize that, but be willing to make it happen when the right deal comes along. Even if one of those prospects becomes a really good player for someone else, you still have the player you wanted and he’s helping the team right now.

Don’t Overvalue Mediocre Talent in the Free Agent Market

Did you overpay for Randy Wolf last year? Probably, but at least he’s been relatively durable and consistently pitched a lot of innings. He has had six seasons of 30 plus starts and five seasons throwing 200 plus innings. His career ERA is more than respectable at 4.13.

Now on the other hand take a guy like Jorge de la Rosa. He has been touted by many as being in the next tier of pitchers in this free agent class after Cliff Lee. The former Brewer has had one season of 30 plus starts and the most innings he has ever pitched in a season is 185. Don’t even entertain the idea Mr. Melvin. He’s an average pitcher at best. You’ve had enough of those. You need to do better.

Seriously Consider Trading Rickie Weeks

This may be an unpopular idea to many, but hear me out. Yes he is a unique player, but he has significant flaws in his game, his free agency is fast approaching, and his injury history is significant. Those lasers he hits all over the field have a tendency to obscure the fact that a contract extension could be quite dangerous to the franchise.

Rickie has only played more than 130 games in a season one time which was in 2010. He struck out 184 times last season good for third in the National League. He did improve turning the double play and led the league in put outs. Unfortunately he was third in the N.L. in errors for second basemen and his fielding percentage of .980 was eighth. His fielding is still an adventure. I still cringe every time a ball is hit his way.I have a feeling you do as well.

Despite those shortcomings, his trade value may never be higher than it is right now, and his unique skill set is bound to interest a number of teams. At least dangle that carrot out there. There are at least 13 teams in need of a quality second baseman. Eric Farris, Brett Lawrie and Cutter Dykstra are all stacked up in the Brewer’s system just waiting for their chance. You have options.

 Build a Balanced and Competent Bench

You might want to have both right-handed and left-handed hitters on your bench this year. Maybe it’s just me, but that seems to make sense. It’s also imperative to have seasoned veterans on the bench that have been there and done that. Some players who make sense include Eric Hinske, David Eckstein, Reed Johnson, Gerald Laird and Ty Wiggington. All of them can still play and aren’t going to kill you if they have to start for period of time. I’m sure you recall just how productive Jody Gerut, Brad Nelson, Chris Duffy and Trent Durrington were. Don’t go there again. Brandon Boggs and Chris Dickerson are NOT the kind of players you should be looking for.

The Bottom Line

This Brewers team will not fix itself. That’s why you have your job. It may be helpful to keep this letter with you wherever you go. You never know when someone might give you a call. Better yet lay it down on your desk, give it a once over and dial some digits. Who knows? Something good may actually happen.

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The 2010 World Series begins today between the Rangers and Giants, but this also signals the end of the 2010 MLB season and a start to the 2010-2011 offseason.

There are many notable free agents this offseason. Cliff Lee, Carl Crawford, Paul Konerko, Victor Martiniez, you name it! Here are my picks for the offseason.

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Let’s take a look at some of the biggest stories from yesterday’s games:

American League:

• Michael Brantley  – Cleveland Indians – He went 1-4 with one run, but the bigger thing to note was his stolen base, his second straight game with a steal. He’s taken over the leadoff duties and is playing virtually everyday, certainly making him worth stashing in five-outfielder formats. While he hasn’t shown off the speed much this season, he is just a year removed from a 50 SB campaign between Triple-A and the Majors.
• Josh Bell – Baltimore Orioles – He has struggled since assuming regular third base duties, but he may be finally coming around. He went 1-3 with one RBI yesterday, giving him a modest three-game hitting streak. Still, it’s the strikeouts that are holding him back, currently with a strikeout rate of 37.9 percent (as well as a fly ball rate of just 16.7 percent). He’s better than this. These last few games could be the sign that he’s started adjusting to the Major Leagues. Just keep him stashed away for now.
• Jacoby Ellsbury – Boston Red Sox – The ball was flying all over the field in Texas, with nine home runs being hit (including a pair for J.D. Drew), but the biggest story was Ellsbury being forced out early. He apparently was “re-injured in the first inning when he hit a slow grounder up the first-base line and collided with Texas starter Tommy Hunter, who raced to the bag to make the play. Ellsbury tumbled over Hunter,” according to Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe (click here for the post). He will have an MRI, but there appears to be concern that he aggravated the injury that kept him out earlier this season. At this point, all you can do is cross your fingers and hope for the best.
• Ryan Raburn – Detroit Tigers – He went 3-4 with one HR, his second straight game with a HR and his fourth multi-hit game in his last five. He’s getting regular playing time now and is finally starting to look like the player who hit 16 HR in 261 AB a year ago. He’s a low-end option, but if you are in a daily league and need a short-term fix, you can plug him in there for a couple of days while he’s hot. There is a chance this hot streak extends, so everyone should monitor him for now.
• Gregor Blanco – Kansas City Royals – He’s taken over the leadoff spot since being acquired from the Braves and showed why yesterday, stealing three bases while going 2-4. He has never proven to be able to hit for a good average, so consider him a low-end option, at best, unless he proves capable. If he can’t get on, the speed won’t matter.
• Marc Rzepczynski – Toronto Blue Jays – Those who followed Rotoprofessor preseason know that I was high on him, but injuries and inability pulled the plug on that early on. Performances like this certainly put him back on the map. He showed an ability for strikeouts (six Ks in 7.0 innings). He didn’t walk a batter. Of his 21 outs, 12 were via groundball (and only three in the air). He allowed just two hits and should have earned himself another start. He has the potential to be a solid option in all formats, as the Blue Jays have become notorious for developing young pitchers of late.

National League:

• Jay Bruce – Cincinnati Reds – He was overshadowed by Mike Stanton (3-4, two HR), the beating Josh Johnson (3.2 IP, six ER, 10 H, two BB, zero K) and the strong start from Edison Volquez (6.0 IP, one ER, eight hits, two BB, six K). Don’t ignore Bruce’s performance, as he went 2-4 with one HR, three RBI and one run himself. He has not lived up to preseason expectations at this point, but make no mistake, he has the potential and could produce big numbers over the final few weeks of the season. It was his first home run since June 30 and hopefully is just the start. While he’s not going to reach the preseason projections, he still should be a usable option down the stretch.
• R.A. Dickey – New York Mets – The knuckleballer allowed just one-hit in a complete game shutout, and that came courtesy of Cole Hamels. That’s right, the pitcher had the only hit. Does anyone else believe in the curse of Nolan Ryan yet? The Mets may never get a no-hitter, but no one is complaining about Dickey’s performance. He proved here that you shouldn’t be concerned if he hits a bump in the road (he struggled in his previous start), he’s worth using in all formats. Yes, the Phillies did go without Chase Utley and Ryan Howard, but there are rumblings that both could be back as soon as next week.
• Tim Hudson – Atlanta Braves – He was fantastic yet again, tossing 8.0 shutout innings, allowing three hits and one BB while striking out six. It’s hard to be worried about the results (2.13 ERA and 1.07 WHIP), but we’ve seen from guys like Josh Johnson and Ubaldo Jimenez that rough spots happen. Hudson has benefited from a .231 BABIP and 84.6 percent strand rate, so a turn in fortunes is certainly possible. I’m not suggesting not using him, but if your trade deadline hasn’t passed yet, selling high on him is worth exploring.
• Jonathan Broxton – Los Angeles Dodgers – He found his name in the news, coming in to pitch the eighth inning last night. After a disastrous outing, he has “temporarily” been removed as the Dodgers closer, according to Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times (click here for the article).  Hong-Chih Kuo will assume closing duties for the time being… really? Seems odd, considering the acquisition of Octavio Dotel and the presence of George Sherrill, but if you are desperate for saves grabbing Kuo will be worth it.
• Jake Westbrook – St. Louis Cardinals – He picked up his first win for the Cardinals, allowing two ER on six hits and one walk, striking out three, over six innings. In three starts since the trade, he’s allowed seven ER on 16 hits and two walks, striking out 19, over 19 innings. Maybe the move to the NL will significantly help, but I would still consider him a low-end option and play matchups with him for now.
• Evan Meek – Pittsburgh Pirates – Just when it looked like he could move into the closer’s role with a strong outing, Meek got bombed for four ER on five hits an one BB in just 0.1 innings. Not that the Pirates have been giving many save opportunities of late, but it looks like Joel Hanrahan should remain in the closer’s role for now.
• Jorge De La Rosa – Colorado Rockies – We have to love the strikeout potential, but he’s a killer on the WHIP right now. Yesterday he went 5.2 innings allowing three ER on six hits and three BB, striking out five. He is sporting a 1.48 WHIP on the season. He does have a .317 BABIP and 65.3 percent strand rate, so there is some upside there.  If he can ever reduce his current 4.8 BB/9, he’ll really be something. He got hot down the stretch last season and remember, he is still recently off the DL. Keep him stashed for now, but I’d expect him to develop into a must use option before the year is out.

What are your thoughts from yesterday’s games?

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