Morning Links: Rockies News 11/6

Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

It’s November. Snow is starting to show up in the weekly weather forecast on a regular basis. We are just barely removed from the end of the 2013 baseball season and we are a long, long way from the start of the 2014 baseball season. To fill that time, we indulge rumors, grumblings, and what the baseball folks call the “hot stove:”

From Troy Renck: Rockies pursue free-agent catcher Carlos Ruiz, mainly for defense (Denver Post)

"Rockies owner Dick Monfort has identified landing an impact bat as a priority this winter. Ruiz would not be expected to help on offense as much as on defense, where Rosario has struggled. Colorado has also expressed interest in free-agent catcher Brian McCann, but he could be the highest-paid player on the market, leaving the veteran Ruiz a more realistic target.“Ruiz, 34, has multiple suitors, including the Phillies, whose pitchers want him back. He makes sense for the Rockies given his playoff experience, proven ability to handle a pitching staff and steady offense. Colorado has shown a willingness to spend this offseason. It made a six-year, $63 million offer for Cuban slugger Jose Abreu, who accepted a $68 million deal from the White Sox.”"

From Mike Oz: Miguel Cabrera, Andrew McCutchen among finalists for baseball’s postseason awards (Yahoo!)

"There weren’t any huge surprises. The biggest: Hisashi Iwakuma of the Seattle Mariners and Jose Fernandez of the Miami Marlins being named Cy Young finalists. They’re both deserving. It just wasn’t clear who would get the third nod in each category.“Winners, as voted by the Baseball Writers Association of America, will be announced over four days beginning Monday, Nov.11. Here are the top three finalists in each category.”"

From Peter Gammons: Industry sources; Dodgers’ strategy to acquire Price and Tanaka (Gammons Daily)

"Because pitchers like Ricky Nolasco and Matt Garza were traded in mid-season, they are not subject to draft compensation. “So they’re going to do better than an Ervin Santana, if the Royals make the qualifying offer.”“But, suggests several general managers, the Dodgers can avoid the loss of their number one pick and the slot money if they trade for David Price and get Masahiro Tanaka from Japan.”"

From Steve Engbloom: Qualifying Offers Extended to 13 Players (Call to the Pen)

"Curtis Granderson, New York YankeesThere’s a chance Granderson takes this. He’s 33 and the $14.1MM is a raise over the $13MM he got for the 2013 season.“Ubaldo Jimenez, Cleveland IndiansJimenez declined an option of $8MM from the Tribe. We know why, don’t we? As I stated the other day, Ubaldo saw the deal Tim Lincecum got from the Giants and figures he can make a little extra dough as well.”"