Rockies to sign Lawrence

The Rockies agreed to a deal with Brian Lawrence, formerly of the Padres, who was with the Nationals in 2006 but didn't pitch thanks to a torn labrum.

Not a bad signing, though it does make the already-crowded field for the starting rotation even more so.  The contract is for one year at $500,000, with a buyout option for $250,000.  That's pretty low-risk, and, as pitchers go these days, it's very cheap.

Obviously, the risk is that he's not healthy (though he says he'll be ready for opening day) or that he's not the same pitcher he was in San Diego.  He was mostly an average starter for the Padres from 2001-05, with a 49-61 record and a career 4.10 ERA (while making half his starts in San Diego.)  That doesn't sound like it's going to translate well to Colorado.

The upside is that we get a steal like the Cardinals did with Chris Carpenter, when they gambled on a guy coming off surgery and he turned into the best pitcher in the National League.  Okay, that's probably a stretch, but stranger things have happened.  Carpenter, by the way, has a career 4.09 ERA -- and that's including three seasons in St. Louis when he's legitimately been one of the best pitchers in baseball.  Carpenter's strikeout numbers in his five years in Toronto were oddly very similar to Lawrence's in San Diego.  There was absolutely nothing to convince you that he'd turn into the pitcher he has.

Am I saying Lawrence is Carpenter waiting to happen?  No, but he could be a pleasant surprise.  The obvious issue, of course, is where he fits into the pitching equation.  Right now, with Cook and Francis penciled into the rotation, you've got nine starting pitchers on the roster and just three rotation spots.  Something has to give.  I wouldn't be surprised to see the Rockies trade a starter before Opening Day.

In other news, I'm thinking about going to spring training in March.  Fun stuff.