December 20, 200322 yr Rockies agree to terms with Burnitz December 20, 2003 DENVER (AP) -- The Colorado Rockies agreed to a one-year contract with outfielder Jeromy Burnitz on Saturday and cut ties with Jay Payton. Burnitz split time last year between the New York Mets and the Los Angeles Dodgers, hitting a combined .239 with 31 home runs and 77 RBI. Burnitz was an All-Star in 1999 for Milwaukee and has hit at least 30 homers in five of his last six seasons. The contract, which has a mutual option for 2005, will be signed after Burnitz passes a physical. Burnitz will likely replace Payton in Colorado's outfield next season. The Rockies declined to offer Payton a contract by Saturday's deadline, making him a free agent. Payton had a career year in 2003, hitting .302 with 28 home runs and 89 RBIs. But the Rockies did not want to pay Payton what he would have been worth in salary arbitration. The Rockies also did not offer contracts to right-hander pitcher Scott Elarton and infielder Kit Pellow. Elarton made 10 starts and one relief appearance for the Rockies last season, going 4-4 with a 6.27 ERA. The Rockies called up Pellow from Triple-A Colorado Springs in September. He went 8-for-18 with a homer and four RBIs during his short stint with the Rockies.
December 20, 200322 yr The rockies should get better contact hitters. Mondesi would of been a better buy than burnitz in my honest opinion.
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