The Rockies have signed 31-year old righty starter/reliever Tim Redding to a 1-year deal. He pitched in 30 games (17 starts) for the Mets last season and he was 3-6 with a 5.10 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. Redding has now pitched in 179 games (144 starts) in his major league career and he is 37-57 with a 4.95 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. Redding will likely be the long reliever for the Rockies in 2010 and he will likely make some spot starts if needed.

The Rockies have re-signed 39-year old lefty swinging 1B Jason Giambi to a 1-year, $1.75 million dollar deal. He 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. Giambi played in 102 games overall for the Rockies & A’s in which he was 59 for 293 (.201 avg, .725 OPS) with 43 runs scored, 13 homers and 51 RBIs. He has now played in 1,951 games in his major league career and he is 1,871 for 6,625 (.282 avg, .932 OPS) with 1,159 runs scored, 409 homers and 1,330 RBIs. The Rockies will use Giambi as one of their main pinch hitters off the bench and he could give Todd Helton a day off every once in a while at 1B.

26-year old righty swinging Chris Iannetta likes to think that he will be the starting catcher in 2010 for the Rockies but he will have to beat out Miguel Olivo for that job. Iannetta played in 93 games for the Rockies last season and he was 66 for 289 (.228 avg, .804 OPS) with 41 runs scored, 16 homers and 52 RBIs. If he doesn’t hit better this season I just don’t see him playing more than 81 games in 2010 for the Rockies. He made 5 errors and had 2 passed balls in 89 games behind the plate for the Rockies last season. Iannetta also threw out 23% of the runners trying to steal against him last year and Rockies’ pitchers had a 4.21 ERA with him behind the plate.

31-year old righty swinging Miguel Olivo has his eyes on beating out Chris Iannetta this spring for the starting job behind the plate. Olivo played in 114 games for the Royals last season and he was 97 for 390 (.249 avg, .782 OPS) with 51 runs scored, 23 homers, 65 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. Olivo is a hacker however as he whiffed 126 times last season so it might be hard for him to maintain a average like he had last season. Olivo does have issues behind the plate as he made 8 errors and had 10 passed balls in 103 games behind the plate last year. But, he also threw out 24% of the runners trying to steal on him last season and Royals’ pitchers had a 4.49 ERA with him behind the plate which was pretty darn good when you consider the pitching staff he was working with.

32-year old righty swinging Paul Phillips will likely start the year in AAA and get a call if the need arises for the Rockies. He played in 17 games for the Rockies last season and he was 14 for 45 (.311 avg, .818 OPS) with 5 runs scored, 1 homer and 9 RBIs. Phillips had 1 error and 2 passed balls in 111 1/3 innings behind the plate for the Rockies last season. He only threw out 1 of 17 (6%) base runners trying to steal on him last season but pitchers had a 4.12 ERA with him behind the plate. It’s always great to have a solid vet like Phillips in the minors waiting for a call because he can also help out the pitchers in AAA who are getting ready to pitch for the Rockies.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE CATCHERS IN 2010: B-

The Rockies have signed 37-year old righty swinging outfielder Jay Payton to a minor league deal. Payton last played in the majors during the 2008 season with the Orioles. He missed all of last season after having to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his shoulder last April. He has played in 1,239 games in his major league career and he is 1,145 for 4,119 (.278 avg, .747 OPS) with 558 runs scored, 119 homers, 521 RBIs and 46 stolen bases. He will have a uphill battle this spring trying to make the opening day roster for the Rockies who have a deep and talented outfield.

The Rockies have signed 37-year old righty swinging catcher Paul LoDuca to a minor league deal. He last played in the majors in 2008 with the Nationals & Marlins. LoDuca has played in 1,082 games in his 11 years in the majors and he is 1,112 for 3,892 (.286 avg, .746 OPS) with 483 runs scored, 80 homers, 481 RBIs and 20 stolen bases. He is a 4-time all-star in the N.L. LoDuca has played for manager Jim Tracy when they were both with the Dodgers so he will likely give him a chance to earn a spot on the Rockies’ roster this spring.