Morning Links: Rockies News 12/15

-USA TODAY Sports

Dare we say that there is optimism among the Colorado Rockies’ faithful? For years now our skepticism about the off-season moves to improve the pitching has been fueled by the fact that the organization continued to add over-the-hill guys. Finally they have bucked that trend, trading for 25-year-old starter Brett Anderson and signing workhorse relief pitcher Boone Logan. Even with the potential debacle that was the Dexter Fowler trade, there is a brand of optimism this December that is typically foreign to Colorado baseball fans this time of year.

Here’s what else is happening with the Rockies and around the rest of baseball:

From Drew Creasman: Sunday Rockpile: Rockies maybe, possibly geniuses? (Purple Row)

"This is the part of the Rockies current strategy I really like. I love Dexter Fowler more than most who were angry he was traded (I was not) but if moving him meant the ability to top off the deals for Brett Anderson, Justin Morneau, and Boone Logan then I think moving him made the team better.We can argue til the cows come home about what they got in return, but a big part of it was dumping the salary of one player in order to be able to get multiple warm bodies to Coors Field that dramatically improve upon the Rockies worst area as a team; drag."

From Troy Renck: Rockies needed help after another last-place finish; outlook for 2014 improved (Denver Post)

"Two months before spring training, the Rockies have addressed the needs they identified, save for filling a reserve slot, where infielder Michael Young is a target, and are left to see if they chose the right players to help revive a franchise that has frustrated its fans since the end of the 2010 season. The Rockies have spent $32 million on free agents (Boone Logan, Justin Morneau and LaTroy Hawkins), subtracted Dexter Fowler’s $7.3 million contract and added $7.5 million for starting pitcher Brett Anderson, with a $12 million club option for 2015."

From Steve Engbloom: James Loney to Return to Tampa Bay Rays (Call to the Pen)

"You know what you’re getting with Loney. You get durability as over the past six seasons, he has averaged 157 games played. You get decent offensive production. Over those same six seasons, Loney’s triple slash is .280/.336/.404. You get quality defense. Not only was Loney one of the three finalist for the AL Gold Glove for first baseman, he owns a career DRS of 37 and UZR of 8.6 (6.1 in ’13).Nothing spectacular, just steady play. Seems Loney is a guy that fits well into Joe Maddon‘s lineup."