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The Rockies entered the winter with payroll already at franchise-record heights. That portended a quiet offseason, which finally proved to be the case. Colorado made a pair low-cost veteran free agent pickups to spherical out the roster in Spring Coaching.
Main League Signings
2023 spending: $17.25MMTotal spending: $18.25MM
Choice Choices
Trades and Claims
Notable Minor League Signings
Extensions
Signed RHPÂ Tyler Kinley to three-year extension price $6.25MM (deal additionally contains 2026 membership choice and doubtlessly buys out two free agent years)
Notable Losses
The Rockies missed the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season, falling to final place within the NL West for the primary time since 2015. It’s not a very good place for a corporation that additionally entered the offseason with a participant payroll projected at franchise-record heights. That was the case even earlier than Nolan Arenado declined his opt-out likelihood with the Cardinals, which kicked in one other $5MM yearly in funds from Colorado to St. Louis over the subsequent three seasons (on high of the reported $16MM the Rox had been paying this 12 months no matter whether or not Arenado opted out).
It pointed to a comparatively quiet offseason and that proved the case for a lot of the winter. Colorado made a pair early strikes on the pitching entrance. José Ureña returned on a $3.5MM deal to serve a back-of-the-rotation position. The best-hander had began 17 video games final season, permitting greater than 5 earned runs per 9 however producing a good variety of grounders. Colorado needed to deal with the beginning employees in some capability with Ureña and Chad Kuhl each hitting the open market and Antonio Senzatela nonetheless recovering from final summer season’s ACL tear.
They didn’t wind up doing a lot else on that entrance, maybe partially due to the rising price of mid-tier free agent starters. Colorado swung a small commerce for depth starter Connor Seabold from Boston however will in any other case depend on inside rotation arms. Germán Márquez and Kyle Freeland will likely be counted on to bounce again from disappointing 2022 seasons, as will Senzatela as soon as wholesome. Ureña grabs a back-end spot with Austin Gomber, whereas Ryan Feltner and Seabold may vie for depth appearances.
Colorado was a little bit extra aggressive in addressing the bullpen. Carlos Estévez and Alex Colomé walked in free company, leaving a pair holes in an already underwhelming aid corps. The Rockies focused hard-throwing righty (and Denver native) Pierce Johnson in free company, signing him to a $5MM deal. It was a little bit of a shocking sum for a pitcher who was restricted to fifteen appearances final 12 months by damage however he’s only a season faraway from placing out almost 32% of opponents with a 3.22 ERA over 58 2/3 innings. He’ll choose up some high-leverage work as a bridge to nearer Daniel Bard.
Tyler Kinley may finally return to setup work however he’ll miss a very good chunk of this season rehabbing from final 12 months’s elbow surgical procedure. Colorado positioned a present of religion in him this offseason, guaranteeing him $6.25MM to cowl his remaining two seasons of arbitration and doubtlessly purchase out a pair of free agent years.
If Johnson’s an upside play on the again finish, the Rox additionally introduced in a pair extra secure aid arms. Management specialist Brent Suter was claimed off waivers from Milwaukee. The Brewers had evidently decided to not tender the southpaw an arbitration contract within the $3MM vary however the Rox stepped in to assert his remaining season of crew management. He provides a multi-inning aid choice for skipper Bud Black. That’s additionally true of left-hander Ty Blach, who returned on a non-roster deal over the winter and can break camp with the membership.
Maybe the highest-leverage southpaw will likely be three-time All-Star Brad Hand. The Rockies signed Hand late within the offseason to a $2MM deal (with one other $1MM only for cracking the lively roster) shortly after dropping Lucas Gilbreath to Tommy John surgical procedure. Hand has continued to maintain runs off the board into his mid-30s however has seen his swing-and-miss numbers decline. He’s not the identical pitcher he was a pair seasons again however for $3MM, simply succesful center innings work can be a advantageous return on funding.
The buy-low method to free company additionally prolonged to the place participant aspect of issues. The Rockies had been loosely linked to some bigger-ticket upgrades, primarily within the outfield. A left-handed hitter (ideally one who may play some heart discipline) gave the impression to be on the goal record. But gamers like Cody Bellinger, Michael Conforto and significantly Brandon Nimmo all priced themselves nicely past the Rockies’ spending vary.
Colorado didn’t signal a single place participant to a serious league free agent deal till the offseason was all however over. The Rockies waited out the market however finally added an outfielder who may hit from the left aspect. Swap-hitting Jurickson Profar was the final unsigned participant from MLBTR’s high 50 free brokers. His market by no means materialized as he’d envisioned upon opting out of his cope with the Padres. He settles for a $7.75MM pillow deal in Colorado on the heels of a good .243/.331/.391 displaying with 15 homers. Profar brings a high-contact bat and stable offensive method to Coors Subject. He’s not a star, however the Rockies need to be happy with the worth they’re getting on a participant whom most anticipated to land the next annual wage over a minimum of two or three years.
Profar’s signing pushes Kris Bryant from left to proper discipline. Colorado will hope for higher well being from final winter’s $182MM signee. Randal Grichuk will begin the season on the injured record, leaving Yonathan Daza because the frontrunner for heart discipline work. Franchise stalwart Charlie Blackmon is again after making the apparent determination to train a $15MM participant choice; he may see some nook outfield reps however will spend most of his time at designated hitter.
Arguably essentially the most important acquisition of the Colorado offseason may issue into the nook outfield rotation in some unspecified time in the future. As groups had been reshuffling their rosters prematurely of the Rule 5 draft in November, the Rockies lined up with the Guardians on a uncommon prospect for prospect swap. Energy-hitting nook bat Nolan Jones landed in Colorado, whereas the Rockies despatched Low-A center infielder Juan Brito to Cleveland. It wasn’t about roster machinations — each Jones and Brito occupied spots on the 40-man — however was a uncommon case of two golf equipment valuing the opposite’s unproven participant greater than their very own.
Jones gained’t begin the 12 months within the majors, as he’s been optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque on the heels of a tricky spring. He’s sure to get an MLB look in some unspecified time in the future within the subsequent few months. The Rockies are hopeful his mix of energy and endurance can offset massive strikeout totals and a few defensive questions to permit him to develop right into a middle-of-the-order drive. The 24-year-old is a .252/.361/.443 hitter in 655 Triple-A plate appearances and may be managed by means of a minimum of the 2028 season.
Colorado entered Spring Coaching with out a lot query about their infield. C.J. Cron is again at first base. Brendan Rodgers and Ryan McMahon are above-average second and third basemen, respectively. Rodgers was loosely floated in commerce rumors, particularly relating to younger Marlins righty Edward Cabrera. No deal got here collectively and the Fish as a substitute flipped Pablo López to Minnesota for Luis Arraez. The Rox made no effort to retain final 12 months’s shortstop José Iglesias, with high prospect Ezequiel Tovar ticketed for normal work there. Colorado introduced in bat-first utility participant Harold Castro on a minor league deal, and he finally cracked the MLB roster in a utility capability.
That appeared like sufficient infield depth, significantly with Jones and Elehuris Montero additionally within the combine for third base enjoying time. Sadly, Rodgers dislocated his shoulder throughout a spring sport. He underwent surgical procedure and may miss all the season. That pushed McMahon over to second base and led Colorado to look exterior the group. They rolled the cube on a bounceback from three-time All-Star Mike Moustakas, signing him to a minor league deal shortly after Rodgers’ damage.
Colorado has already knowledgeable Moustakas he’s breaking camp. He hasn’t carried out nicely over the previous two seasons, lacking a very good chunk of that point as he battled foot points. At 34, it’s doable he’s simply not an on a regular basis participant anymore. The acquisition price was minimal, because the Reds can pay all however the league minimal of the $22MM nonetheless remaining on the contract he signed with Cincinnati three offseasons again. Moustakas gives a left-handed complement to the righty-swinging Montero and Cron within the infield corners.
Catching was a catastrophe for the Rockies final season. They made no effort to deal with it over the winter, as a substitute counting on Elias DÃaz and Brian Serven for one more 12 months. Signing DÃaz to a three-year, $14.5MM extension two offseasons in the past was an odd transfer on the time, one that appears a very poor determination after he hit solely .228/.281/.368 through the first season of that deal. The Rockies are clearly of the opinion he can bounce again, however DÃaz has been a below-average hitter and gotten dreadful defensive grades from public metrics all through his profession.
Continuity has been a theme for the Rockies in recent times. Even because the losses have mounted, possession and the entrance workplace have broadcast confidence within the group. Colorado has refused to entertain the potential for rebuilding. They’ve dedicated to so many gamers on contract extensions (plus the Bryant megadeal) they most likely couldn’t pivot to a teardown even when they needed to at this level. That continued this winter, each within the type of an extension for skipper Bud Black to run by means of 2024 and feedback from proprietor Dick Monfort concerning the state of the roster.
Monfort has beforehand caught flak for optimistic projections of playoff competitiveness that haven’t borne out. He wasn’t fairly so bullish this offseason however once more discovered himself in headlines in January, when he prompt the crew could possibly be round .500. That’s not the loftiest purpose however once more appears unlikely. The Rockies have one of many sport’s thinnest beginning rotations and a lineup that was middle-of-the-road in on-base proportion and slugging final 12 months regardless of enjoying half its video games at Coors Subject.
The Rockies swapped out Dave Magadan for Hensley Meulens as hitting coach, hopeful a brand new voice can generate some extra offense. Apart from Profar, they didn’t add anybody from exterior the group who’s seemingly to offer above-average hitting. Even when Bryant stays wholesome and Tovar hits the bottom operating, Colorado is going through an uphill battle.
In Monfort’s protection, his proclamation of .500 ball got here earlier than Colorado misplaced certainly one of its greatest gamers (Rodgers) to damage. Nonetheless, even one other robust season from the Gold Glove second baseman would have been not possible to make this a mean roster. FanGraphs’ projections peg the Rockies and Nationals as the 2 worst groups within the majors; Baseball Prospectus has Colorado twenty sixth in MLB. Preseason projections could have misses, after all, however the Rox must win 15-20 extra video games than these retailers anticipate to get to .500.
In all probability, Colorado is headed for one more dropping season. There’s some room for optimism within the farm system. Tovar is already within the majors. The likes of Zac Veen, Drew Romo and Warming Bernabel are climbing the minor league ranks and have an opportunity to be essential core place gamers within the not too distant future. The main league crew continues to kind of spin its wheels, awaiting the arrival of a bulk of younger expertise from inside the system whereas the MLB roster falls in need of organizational expectations.
That was by no means going to be resolved in a single offseason, and Colorado’s transactions this winter are all justifiable. It stays arduous to discern the long-term plan, although, significantly as they once more run up in opposition to one of many sport’s hardest division rivals.
How would you grade the Rockies’ offseason? (ballot hyperlink for app customers)
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