The corner outfield spots are currently in limbo for the Colorado Rockies. National League MVP candidate Charlie Blackmon will lock down center field in 2018, but who will be playing next to him on a daily basis is unknown. As Spring Training gets rolling, it’s looking like the Rockies will opt to platoon outfielders in left and right field with a pool of about five players vying for playing time; however, the Rockies could add a familiar face or two to help shore up the outfield in a season with expectations of making the playoffs.
As it stands, the Rockies have depth in the outfield, but there is indeed room for improvement. Outside of Gerardo Parra, who is sidelined for four to six weeks after undergoing hand surgery, the Rockies’ options for the corner outfield positions are a mix of utility players and young guns that may not be quite ready to make the full-time jump to the major leagues.
Ian Desmond is expected to play both first base and left field, while youngsters Raimel Tapia, David Dahl, and Mike Tauchman will all jockey for playing time throughout the season. The problem is, Tapia is one dimensional, Dahl has been unable to stay healthy, and Tauchman is probably not someone who will help fill the club’s needs both at the plate and in the field.
(Click here for a full preview of the Rockies’ internal options at the corner outfield positions.)
As the Rockies try to build on an 87-win campaign that ended in a Wild Card loss to the Diamondbacks, there are a few familiar faces the team could take a chance on to help solidify their outfield for the coming season.
Carlos Gonzalez
A of face of the franchise for nearly a decade, Carlos Gonzalez provided many memorable moments for fans over the years. After reportedly turning down a lucrative four-year extension last spring to roll the dice on himself entering a contract year, Gonzalez suffered the worst statistical season of his career as the three-time All-Star hit just .262 with 14 home runs and 57 RBI.
Last season was beyond disappointing for Gonzalez, who seemed lost at the plate for a majority of the campaign. Gonzalez was continually chasing pitches out of the strike zone and was consistently behind in counts last season, which resulted in 119 strikeouts and often times weak ground balls hit directly into the shift. That said, one poor season should not wipe out all the contributions Gonzalez made in previous seasons.
Gonzalez is just a season removed from being an All-Star; he hit .298 with 25 home runs and 100 RBI in 2016. The season before that Gonzalez had a power surge, blasting 40 home runs while logging 97 RBI. He has had good seasons recently and has been relatively consistent at the plate throughout the entirety of his career with last year being a funk through and through. One bad season should not keep the Rockies from considering bringing back one of the greatest players in franchise history; rather, it should make the opportunity to bring him back for one last go-around much more enticing. In addition, Gonzalez came on strong at the end of the season last year. He posted a batting average of .328 while driving in 31 runs in the final two months of the year.
The age argument against Gonzalez is undoubtedly relevant and a fair talking point, but he is the same age as Ian Desmond, 32, who just last offseason inked the largest contract in franchise history. Also, Gonzalez has done a great job of staying healthy in recent years, which had been a major knock previously in his career. Gonzalez has played in at least 100 games per season every year since 2010 with the exception of 2014 which was a bizarre season for him all around.
There has been little to no market for Gonzalez this offseason, largely due to his poor 2017 season. The Baltimore Orioles have been linked to the slugger, but there is no traction on a deal. With that, it seems like a reunion with the Rockies makes the most sense at this point in time if the money is right.
Because Gonzalez has minimal value on the open market, one last go in a Rockies uniform could be a smart play for both sides. A deal with a base salary of $8-$10 million could make sense for the Rockies, and if it’s loaded with incentives could be an intriguing option for Gonzalez. He likes Colorado and has spent nine of his 10 seasons as a member of the Rockies. He’s also a great clubhouse presence and has served as leader for the team in recent years. A one-year deal would give the Rockies familiarity in the outfield and would allow Gonzalez the opportunity to re-ignite his career, which could hopefully land him a better contract on the open market following 2018. There is no reason to believe Gonzalez is done and one mediocre season with the added pressure of playing in a contract year should not scare the Rockies away from rolling the dice one more time on a franchise legend who still has the potential to help the team in a big way.
Corey Dickerson
Another familiar face the Rockies could take a look at is Corey Dickerson. Colorado traded Dickerson to the Tampa Bay Rays in the deal that brought left-handed reliever Jake McGee to the Mile High City back in 2016. Dickerson was recently designated for assignment, which is a bit surprising considering he was an All-Star last season. Dickerson had an impressive season at the plate, posting a .282 batting average with 62 RBI and 27 home runs.
Although he is not a strong defender, his offensive production would certainly be a welcome addition to the Rockies. Dickerson hit .312 with 42 RBI and 17 home runs in the first half last season. He is also familiar with playing at altitude and has had success doing it. He owns a .360 lifetime batting average at Coors Field.
Dickerson is also relatively inexpensive, coming in at roughly half the projected cost for Gonzalez. Dickerson is slated to make just over $5 million in the coming season. As a platoon player, Dickerson makes a lot of sense for the Rockies. He’s a proven bat that could help provide more pop in Colorado’s lineup.
With expectations riding high entering the 2018 season, the Rockies would be wise to add a proven commodity to help round out the outfield and the lineup. Although some internal options are enticing, signing Gonzalez or Dickerson would be stronger moves.
