Hawkins struck out two and walked a batter during a scoreless ninth against the Giants on Monday for his 21st save of the year.

Hawkins is closing in on his career high 28 saves from his days with the Twins. He needed 37 opportunities in 2001 to get that number. Hawkins is more more efficient in 2014, going 21-for-22 thus far.

Hawkins pitched a perfect ninth inning en route to his 20th save of the season in Sunday's 7-4 victory over the Marlins.

Save opportunities have been limited for Hawkins in the second half, but he's made the most of his chances by converting 20-of-21 save attempts. While his strikeout rate lags far behind the game's top closers, his 2.80 ERA and 1.13 WHIP over 45 innings have still given him plenty of value.

Hawkins pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning Wednesday to claim his 19th save of the season.

Hawkins once again managed to turn in another save opportunity without much drama, yielding a groundout and two flyouts. Despite his woeful strikeout rate, he's been far and away the most consistent performer out of the bullpen this season for the Rockies. Setup men Adam Ottavino and Rex Brothers don't pose a threat to usurp him of closing duties.

Hawkins struck out the side en route to claiming his 18th save of the season Sunday vs. the Diamondbacks.

The three strikeouts were an extreme surprise, considering Hawkins owns a measly 5.1 K/9 rate on the season. Hawkins has defied expectations and held on to the closer's role all season despite declining stuff, but the Rockies' losing ways have allowed him to pick up just seven saves since the beginning of June.

Hawkins isn't expected to be traded by the Rockies before the July 31 deadline, CBSSports.com reports.

Signed to a one-year deal in the offseason, Hawkins has been indispensable out of the bullpen for the Rockies, who have gotten precious few good performances from their relievers this season. After tossing two scoreless innings in Tuesday's 16-inning loss to the Cubs, Hawkins sports a 2.92 ERA and 1.16 WHIP to go along with 17 saves. While he would certainly represent an upgrade in middle relief for several contenders, Hawkins carries an affordable $2.25 million club option for 2015, when the Rockies will hope to be more competitive in the NL West race.

Hawkins pitched two scoreless innings Tuesday, allowing one hit and striking out one batter in a non-save situation in the Rockies' 4-3 loss to the Cubs in 16 innings.

After giving up three runs on six hits in his two post All-Star-break appearances, Hawkins got back on track Tuesday. He continues to defy the odds with 17 saves (only one blown save) to go with a 2.92 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in 37 innings pitched. With his name continually being brought up in trade talks, Hawkins could perhaps have played his last game with the Rockies Tuesday.

CBS Sports' Jon Heyman reports that the Rockies are expected to hang on to LaTroy Hawkins.

Hawkins is 41 and would have some value on a contending team in a middle relief role, but the Rockies like his veteran presence and plan to pick up his $2.25 club option for 2015. Hawkins has saved 17-of-18 chances this season while sporting a 3.09 ERA. The Pirates and a couple other clubs had expressed interest.

According to MLB.com's Thomas Harding, the Pirates have interest in Rockies closer LaTroy Hawkins.

The Bucs are looking for some easy and inexpensive ways to upgrade their bullpen, and the 41-year-old Hawkins fits that mold. He has posted a 3.09 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in 35 innings this season out of the Colorado bullpen on a salary of just $2.25 million. Hawkins also carries a $2.25 million club option for the 2015 campaign.

LaTroy Hawkins allowed two runs and stranded the bases loaded in a non-save situation against the Nationals on Wednesday.

Hawkins entered the game with a four-run lead and got two quick outs before the Nationals strung together four straight hits. A fielding error loaded the bases with the winning run at first, but Ian Desmond struck out to end the threat. Hawkins has a 3.09 ERA after Wednesday's outing, and the struggles of Rex Brothers and Adam Ottavino have given the 41-year-old some job protection in his hold on the Rockies' closer role.

LaTroy Hawkins collected his 17th save of the season in Wednesday's defeat of the Padres.

Hawkins allowed a walk but no hits in a mostly clean and efficient ninth inning. The 41-year-old was on the brink of losing his grip on the Rockies' closer gig at the end of May, but he has settled in since with a 2.53 overall ERA and 1.12 WHIP in 32 innings for the season.

LaTroy Hawkins earned his 14th save with a scoreless ninth inning against the Giants on Sunday.

Hawkins worked around a walk to close out the come-from-behind victory, facing the bottom of the order and Gregor Blanco. The 41-year-old has just an 11/6 K/BB ratio in 25 innings but owns a 2.88 ERA. Given the reliance on balls in play his ERA is likely to take a step back, but he needs to be owned while he's getting saves for the Rox.

LaTroy Hawkins earned his 13th save of 2014 in the Rockies' defeat of the Giants on Saturday.

The veteran right-hander made the Rockies' ninth-inning rally stick with a perfect bottom frame. Hawkins has not allowed a run since May 20, keeping talented young setup men Rex Brothers and Adam Ottavino at bay.

LaTroy Hawkins picked up his 11th save of the season as the Rockies beat the Braves on Saturday.

It was an important save conversion for Hawkins, who has struggled pretty mightily this season. He still has a rough 4.15 ERA and 1.44 WHIP, and Rex Brothers and Adam Ottavino remain worthwhile fantasy stashes.

Rockies manager Walt Weiss said late Wednesday that he's sticking with LaTroy Hawkins at closer.

Hawkins has a 4.41 ERA and 1.53 WHIP on the year, and opponents are hitting .314 against him. But the veteran right-hander is still somehow 10-for-11 in save opportunities. "I look at the body of work for the whole season," Weiss told reporters Wednesday. "He's had a couple of tough ones the last couple of times out, but I think his stuff is still intact." Rex Brothers remains an excellent fantasy stash.

LaTroy Hawkins blew his first save of the season, but the Rockies walked off in the tenth inning on Sunday against the Padres.

Hawkins came in with a 6-4 lead but served up a one-out, two-run home run to Everth Cabrera to knot the game up at six apiece. Despite the one blown save, Hawkins has been shaky since the calendar turned to May and now owns a 4.11 ERA with a 6/3 K/BB ratio in 15 1/3 innings.

LaTroy Hawkins picked up his 10th save of the season on Friday, allowing a run on three hits in his inning of work against the Padres.

It wasn't the smoothest of sailing, but as he has every time this season, Hawkins managed to get the job done. He has now converted each of his first 10 save chances on the season, though it comes with a 3.14 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 6/3 K/BB ratio in 14 1/3 innings.

LaTroy Hawkins recorded his eighth save by hurling a perfect ninth inning Monday against the Diamondbacks.

Not a bad start to the 41-year-old's Rockies' career, as he's now 8-for-8 in save conversions to go with a 2.61 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 5/2 K/BB rate over 10 1/3 innings. The Hawk won't blow anyone away, but he's learned all sorts of tricks over the years -- including his vaunted "quick pitch" -- and should be able to hold onto ninth-inning duties assuming his body doesn't betray him.

Despite giving up a two-run bomb to Adrian Gonzalez, LaTroy Hawkins recorded his seventh save Friday against the Dodgers.

It was the first homer and just the second and third runs allowed by Hawkins in 9 1/3 innings this season. He's yet to blow a save.

LaTroy Hawkins recorded his fourth save with a scoreless ninth Thursday against the Padres.

Rex Brothers has been wild in the early going and Hawkins has yet to experience a misstep, so it doesn't look like the Rockies' closer gig will change hands anytime soon. Hawkins thus far has allowed three hits and one run in 5 2/3 innings of work.

LaTroy Hawkins earned his third save of the season Tuesday in the Rockies' 3-2 win over the Padres.

So far, so good for Colorado's 41-year-old offseason import. Since allowing a run in his Rockies' debut, Hawkins has strung together four consecutive scoreless appearances. He's 3-for-3 in save conversions to go with a 1.93 ERA and 0.86 WHIP. He's outpitching Rex Brothers right now.