The Colorado Rockies made a significant addition to their rotation on Monday, acquiring right-hander Jeremy Guthrie from the Baltimore Orioles for right-handers Jason Hammel and Matt Lindstrom, according to a major league source.
Guthrie, 32, likely will be the Rockies' No. 1 starter. He was scheduled to go to a salary arbitration hearing Monday. He asked for $10.25 million; the Orioles offered $7.25 million. He is eligible for free agency at the end of the season.
Hammel, 29, will replace Guthrie in the Orioles' rotation, and Lindstrom, 31, will move into a late-inning role in their bullpen. Both are under club control for two more seasons, and their combined salaries in 2012 will be in the range of Guthrie's.
Guthrie spent the past five seasons with the Orioles, going 47-65 with a 4.12 ERA. He led the American League with 17 losses in both 2009 and '11, but those totals were largely attributable to pitching in the American League East for an inferior club.
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