The Rockies have signed 29-year old righty swinging 1B Brad Eldred and 27-year old righty swinging 3B Travis Metcalf to minor league deals. Eldred played in 106 games last season in AAA-ball and he was 95 of 353 (.269 avg, .832 OPS) with 53 runs scored, 17 homers, 59 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. He last played in the majors in 2007 with the Pirates. He has played in 74 games in his major league career and he is 47 of 236 (.199 avg, .670 OPS) with 26 runs scored, 14 homers and 30 RBIs. Eldred does appear to have a huge hole in his swing as he has whiffed 93 times in his major league career.

Travis Metcalf played in 125 games in AAA-ball last season and he was 95 of 440 (.216 avg, .625 OPS) with 48 runs scored, 11 homers, 54 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. Metcalf last played in the majors in 2008 with the Rangers. He has played in 80 games in his major league career and he is 54 of 217 (.249 avg, .774 OPS) with 36 runs scored, 11 homers and 35 RBIs.

Eldred & Metcalf will provide depth in the minors in case the need arises in Denver. You can never have to many guys like these in your minor league system in case injuries hit.

30-year old righty swinging Brad Hawpe will be the starting RF once again in 2010 for the Rockies. Hawpe played in 145 games for the Rockies last season and he was 143 of 501 (.285 avg, .903 OPS) with 82 runs scored, 23 homers and 86 RBIs. Expect Hawpe to at least put up the same numbers as he did in 2009 for the Rockies in 2010. He made 5 errors in 141 games in RF for the Rockies last season while showing poor range. He only had 4 assists in RF which is not too many.

30-year old righty swinging Ryan Spilborghs will likely be Hawpe’s replacement late in games for defensive purposes. He played in 37 games in RF for the Rockies last season and he only made 1 error while showing poor range. He only had 1 assist in RF last season so he doesn’t really have the arm for the position.

27-year old lefty swinging Seth Smith could get some time in RF this season even though he didn’t play there at all in 2009.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE RF IN 2010: C+

The Rockies hope that 23-year old switch hitting Dexter Fowler grabs the full time gig in CF for them in 2010. Fowler played in 135 games for the Rockies last season and he was 115 of 433 (.266 avg, .770 OPS) with 73 runs scored, 4 homers, 34 RBIs and 27 stolen bases. Fowler definitely had the speed to steal 40+ bases in a season if he can hit enough. Fowler played in 127 games in CF for the Rockies last season and he made 4 errors while showing poor range. Fowler does have a good throwing arm as he had 5 assists in CF last year. With his speed, the Rockies expect Fowler to improve on defense in 2010.

30-year old righty swinging Ryan Spilborghs played in 133 games for the Rockies last season and he was 85 of 352 (.241 avg, .705 OPS) with 55 runs scored, 8 homers, 48 RBIs and 9 stolen bases. The Rockies expect Spilborghs to rebound with the bat in 2010 as he has a career batting average of .281 with a .793 OPS in 387 games in the show. Spilborghs made 2 errors in 16 games in CF for the Rockies last season while showing slightly below average range. He did have 2 assists in CF so he has a strong arm.

24-year old lefty swinging Carlos Gonzalez will likely be the Rockies’ starting LF in 2010. He played in 43 games in CF for the Rockies last seaosn and he made 2 errors there while showing below average range. Gonzalez had 3 assists in CF for the Rockies last season showing a decent throwing arm.

24-year old switch hitting Eric Young could also get some P.T. in CF for the Rockies in 2010. He played in 5 games in CF last season for the Rockies and he didn’t make any errors while showing poor range. Look for Young to improve in CF defensively because of his speed.

PROJECTED GRADE IN CF FOR 2010: B-

It appears as if 24-year old lefty swinging Carlos Gonzalez will be the starter in LF for the Rockies in 2010. Gonzalez played in 89 games for the Rockies last season and he was 79 of 278 (.284 avg, .878 OPS) with 53 runs scored, 13 homers, 29 RBIs and 16 stolen bases. The Rockies think that Gonzalez could develop into a 30/30 man as early as 2010 for them. Gonzalez didn’t make any errors in 47 games in LF last season while showing good range. He had 2 assists from LF last season as he has a decent throwing arm.

27-year old lefty swinging Seth Smith got a lot of action in LF last season for the Rockies. Smith played in 133 games for the Rockies last year and he was 98 of 335 (.293 avg, .889 OPS) with 61 runs scored, 15 homers, 55 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. Smith only made 1 error in 86 games in LF last season while showing slightly above average range. He does have a good throwing arm as he had 4 assists in LF last season.

30-year old righty swinging Ryan Spilborghs can also handle LF. He played in 65 games in LF for the Rockies last season and he only made 1 error while showing slightly above average range there. He also had 5 assists in LF last season for the Rockies so he has a good throwing arm. He can also play CF and RF which makes him very valuable to the Rockies.

38-year old righty swinging Melvin Mora could get some P.T. in LF for the Rockies in 2010. He hasn’t played in LF in a long time and he’s getting up there in age so it’s doubtful that he would even be a average defender in LF in 2010.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE LF IN 2010: B

24-year old lefty swinging Ian Stewart enters spring training as the Rockies’ starting 3B. He played in 147 games for the Rockies last season and he was 97 for 425 (.228 avg, .786 OPS) with 74 runs scored, 25 homers, 70 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. But, for him to have the starting job all to himself he will have to cut down on his whiffs (138 last year) and he will have to improve against lefty pitching as he only hit .178 against them (.664 OPS) in 101 at bats against them. Stewart made 7 errors in 121 games at 3B last season while showing below average range.

The Rockies signed 38-year old righty swinging Melvin Mora over the winter to play all over the place but he is a natural 3B. If Stewart continues to have issues with lefty pitching I can see Mora working into a platoon with him. 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, 48 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Mora is a better hitter than he showed last season as he has a career batting average of .278 with a .788 OPS. Mora made 11 errors in 124 games at 3B last season while showing outstanding range.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 3B IN 2010: B-