The Rockies have claimed 26-year old righty starter/reliever Adam Ottavino off waivers from the Cardinals. He pitched in 26 games (25 starts) in AAA-ball last year and he was 7-8 with a 4.85 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP. His only major league experience came back in 2010 with the Cardinals when he worked in 5 games (3 starts) in which he was 0-2 with a 8.46 ERA and a 2.06 WHIP. Ottavino will start his career with the Rockies in AAA-ball.

The Rockies have re-signed 31-year old lefty reliever Royce Ring. Ring pitched in 37 games (1 start) in Rookie+AAA-ball last year and he was 3-3 with 3 saves, a 5.30 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. Ring last pitched in the majors in 2010 for the Mets. Ring has pitched in 99 games (0 starts) in his first five years in the majors and he is 3-3 with a 5.29 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. Ring might get a shot this spring to make the Rockies’ bullpen.

The Rockies have signed 30-year old righty reliever Jared Wells to a minor league deal Jared Wells didn’t pitch anywhere in 2011. He pitched in the majors back in 2008 with the Padres and Mariners. Wells pitched in 8 games (0 starts) in the majors in 2008 and he was 0-0 with a 8.64 ERA and a 2.16 WHIP. Wells is going to be longshot to make the Rockies’ bullpen this spring.

The Rockies have signed 32-year old righty swinging catcher Steve Holm. Holm played in 6 games for the Twins last year and he was 2 for 17 (.118 avg, .343 OPS) with 1 run scored. He also played in AAA-ball last year appearing in 47 games in which he was 27 for 151 (.179 avg, .506 OPS) with 13 runs scored, 1 homer and 13 RBIs. Holm has played in 59 games in his first three years in the majors and he is 26 for 108 (.241 avg, .697 OPS) with 12 runs scored, 1 homer and 6 RBIs. The Rockies will likely stash Holm in AAA-ball in 2012.

The Colorado Rockies have acquired 32-year old righty starting pitcher Jeremy Guthrie from the Orioles for 29-year old righty starting pitcher Jason Hammel and 31-year old righty reliever Matt Lindstrom. Guthrie pitched in 34 games (32 starts) for the Orioles last year and he was 9-17 with a 4.33 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. He has now pitched in 177 games (154 starts) in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 47-65 with a 4.19 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. Guthrie will immediately become the Rockies’ #2 starter behind Jhoulys Chacin when the 2012 season starts, as he is that good. I think he can win around 15 games for the Rockies in 2012.

Jason Hammel pitched in 32 games (27 starts) for the Rockies last year and he was 7-13 with 1 save, a 4.76 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. He pitched in 96 games (87 starts) in his three years with the Rockies and he was 27-30 with 1 save, a 4.63 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. Guthrie will be a huge upgrade on Hammel in 2012. Matt Lindstrom pitched in 63 games (0 starts) for the Rockies last year and he was 2-2 with 2 saves, a 3.00 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. Lindstrom pitched pretty well for the Rockies last year, but the Rockies didn’t hesitate including him in this deal to secure getting Jeremy Guthrie.

This was a very good deal for the Rockies, as they have pretty much rebuilt the starting rotation for 2012.