DENVER -- The Colorado Rockies on Monday agreed to terms
with right-hander Shawn Chacon on a one-year contract worth $1.85
million.
Chacon, designated as the Rockies' closer for 2004, earned
$300,000 last season.
The Rockies offered Chacon, who became arbitration-eligible this
offseason, a 2004 salary of $1.65 million. Chacon submitted a
figure of $2.1 million, leaving the midpoint at $1.875 million.
General manager Dan O'Dowd and Chacon's agent, Dan Horwits,
reached agreement without an arbitration hearing. The Rockies have
gone to a hearing only once in their history, with pitcher Dennys
Reyes in 2002.
Chacon, 26, earned an All-Star berth in 2003 but was unable to
pitch in the game because of an elbow injury. Chacon, who began the
season with an 11-3 record, finished the year at 11-8 with a 4.60
ERA and was placed on the disabled list Aug. 16.
Predominantly a starter since being drafted by Colorado in the
third round in 1996, Chacon was named the club's closer after the
winter meetings in New Orleans.