DENVER -- Rockies third baseman Garrett Atkins' chief goal is to start this season better than last. It's off to a lucrative start already.
Atkins and the Rockies avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $4.3875 million deal, with performance bonuses that could add another $92,500. Atkins, whose base salary will be at the midpoint between his filing for $4.65 million and the team's offer of $4.125 million, was one of three Rockies undergoing arbitration.
Atkins could earn $17,500 for reaching 600, 625 and 650 plate appearances, and $20,000 for 675 and 700 plate appearances. The last two years, Atkins has reached 680. There are also standard incentives that include $25,000 for being named to the All-Star Game, which is a possibility in a year in which manager Clint Hurdle will lead the National League.
Atkins batted .329 in 2006, but last season endured a .188 average in May to drop his overall batting average to .223 on June 1. However, Atkins returned to his consistent self, batting .338 the rest of the way to lift his final average to .301, with 25 home runs and 111 RBIs.
"I feel like the slow start last year, the first two months, was disappointing," Atkins said in a recent interview. "It's the hardest thing I've done since coming into the league, the most struggles I've had.
"Being able to come out of it and still putting together a good season kind of reaffirms my belief that I belong here, and this year if I can start hot early-on, there's no reason to believe I can't have my best season yet."
The Rockies and right fielder Brad Hawpe, in his first season of arbitration eligibility, also were close to an agreement that could be completed by the end of the day Monday, according to a source with knowledge of the negotiations. The deal is expected to be around $3.9625 million, the midpoint between his filing at $4.35 million and the team's offer of $3.575 million.
The Rockies and left-handed reliever Brian Fuentes have a hearing scheduled for Thursday, the day before pitchers and catchers must report to Spring Training in Tucson, Ariz., if they cannot reach an agreement. Fuentes, in his final season of arbitration, filed at $6.5 million, while the team offered $5.05 million. The midpoint is $5.775 million.
Before the 2006 season, his first year of arbitration, Fuentes and the club reached a two-year, $5.5 million contract.
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