The Rockies have signed 37-year old righty swinging 3B Melvin Mora to a 1-year, $1.3 million dollar deal. Mora played in 125 games for the Orioles last season and he was 117 for 450 (.260 avg, .679 OPS) with 44 runs scored, 8 homers and 48 RBIs. He has now played in 1,401 games in his major league career and he is 1,384 for 4,979 (.278 avg, .788 OPS) with 750 runs scored, 164 homers, 693 RBIs and 91 stolen bases. Mora will serve as a super sub for the Rockies this season and I love this move for them.

Righty starting pitcher Pedro Astacio pitched prior to the use of the humidor at Coors Field. Astacio pitched five years for the Rockies appearing in 130 games (129 starts) in which he was 53-48 with a 5.43 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. To show you what pitching at Coors Field was like Astacio pitched in 262 games (214 starts) with other teams and he was 76-76 with a 4.21 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. Astacio’s best season with the Rockies came in 1999 when he pitched in 34 games (all starts) in which he was 17-11 with a 5.04 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. Astacio is still all over the Rockies’ record books as he is the all-time leader in Rockies’ history in complete games (14) and strikeouts (749). He is also #5 all-time in games started (129), #3 in wins (53), #10 in ERA (5.43), tied for #7 in shutouts (1) and he is #3 in innings pitched (827 1/3). Astacio had the bad luck of pitching with the Rockies early in their inception but he did a good job.

36-year old lefty swinging Todd Helton will be the starting 1B for the Rockies again in 2010. They hope his backs holds up because his bat returned last season. He played in 151 games for the Rockies last season and he was 177 for 544 (.325 avg, .905 OPS) with 79 runs scored, 15 homers and 86 RBIs. Helton appears to have lost some of the power from his swing but he is still a huge asset for the Rockies. He is still a good defensive player too as he only made 3 errors in 149 games at 1B for the Rockies last season.

39-year old lefty swinging Jason Giambi will be Helton’s back-up and a often used pinch-hitter in 2010. Giambi played in 19 games for the Rockies last season and he was 7 for 24 (.292 avg, 1.035 OPS) with 4 runs scored, 2 homers and 11 RBIs. Overall, though his 2009 season wasn’t that great. He played in 102 games with the Rockies & A’s last season and he was 59 for 293 (.201 avg, .725 OPS) with 43 runs scored, 13 homers and 51 RBIs. I think Giambi will be a asset for the Rockies off the bench in 2010.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 1B IN 2010: A-

28-year old lefty reliever Jimmy Gobble to a minor league deal. Gobble pitched in 12 games (0 starts) for the White Sox last season and he was 0-0 with a 7.50 ERA and a 1.75 WHIP. He has now pitched in 247 games (43 starts) in his major league career and he is 22-23 with 4 saves, a 5.29 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. You can never have enough lefties in the pen so it doesn’t hurt the Rockies at all to give Gobble a chance this spring.

The Rockies have brought back 36-year old righty reliever Justin Speier on a minor league deal. He pitched in 41 games (0 starts) for the Angels last season and he was 4-2 with a 5.18 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP. Speier has now pitched in 613 games (0 starts) in his major league career and he is 35-33 with 17 saves, a 4.11 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. Speier will not be intimidated by Coors Field as he was pretty good his first time around with the Rockies pre-humidor. He pitched in 177 games (0 starts) in his three years with the Rockies and he was 12-5 with 17 saves, a 4.04 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. I really like this signing for the Rockies as Speier will likely give them some good innings in middle relief in 2010 if he makes the pitching staff.