With only a pair of notable signings, totaling $25 million over the next two years, the Colorado Rockies’ offseason was nearly silent.
In regards to players they lost in both Adam Ottavino and D.J. LeMahieu, with veterans Carlos Gonzalez and Gerardo Parra also moving on, the Rockies were also relatively stagnant.
On the field, the team will be nearly identical to last year, with their notable losses taking a subtle toll in the locker room, specifically the presence of Gonzalez.
“He was one of the best Rockies to play and he made me feel comfortable. He let me be myself and helped with advice with pitchers and outfield stuff,” David Dahl said in an interview with MLB.com’s Thomas Harding. “He was great in the clubhouse. He definitely will be missed.”
After an offseason filled with more loss than gain, the Rockies incurred the biggest deficit in three key areas.
Outfield Situation
The Rockies lost a pair of pivotal outfielders in both Parra and Gonzalez, with the loss of Matt Holliday, as small as it may be, also hurting their depth.
Dahl is set to man left field from the season’s onset after missing the early portion of the year to injury last year, with the biggest problem being the inclusion of Ian Desmond in the vast grounds of the Coors Field outfield. Desmond won’t just be relied on for a corner outfield spot, rather the club is placing him in center.
In the field, Desmond figures to actually be a slight upgrade over fan-favorite Charlie Blackmon. While the latter has been a force atop the lineup, even garnering a top-five National League Most Valuable Player finish in 2017, his fielding has lacked. Among the league’s bevy of outfielders, Blackmon finished last in defensive runs saved last year (-28). In 130 games as the Texas Rangers center fielder, Desmond was a -6, projecting a marginal upgrade defensively.
Desmond’s biggest deficiency for the Rockies is in the lineup.
After a .236/.307/.422 slash line last season, Desmond’s provided little for the team’s scoring attack thus far. While a bounceback is possible, his career line of .264/.315/.423 inspires little confidence in an 11th season breakout.
As the fourth-highest paid player on the roster, the Rockies had minimal options to replace Desmond, as benching him would sink a significant portion of their payroll.
Relying on the unlikely event of a failure to acquire more talent actually working out is a bold strategy, one the Rockies’ front office is currently set to endure.
Bullpen
As a club, the Rockies’ lack of a dominant bullpen isn’t for lack of trying.
Last offseason, Jeff Bridich and company handed out multiple exorbitant contracts including what is now the third-largest contract for a closer in Wade Davis’ $18 million price tag. The receipt also included a re-signing of Jake McGee and acquisition of Bryan Shaw, formerly of the Cleveland Indians.
Thus far, those moves haven’t worked.
Davis racked up 43 saves, the top mark in the NL, but McGee, Shaw and others took a step back. Fortunately for the club, their starting rotation carried the load with one of the best collective seasons in franchise history.
If the history at Coors has shown anything, it’s that pitching dominance is often muted, with long stretches of success being infrequent.
The team’s fellow saving grace was a breakout year from Ottavino, as well as a massive step forward from Scott Oberg. Now that Ottavino is with the New York Yankees, paired with an absence of a move in the offseason, the team will be forced to find a new superstar out of the ‘pen from within.
If Spring Training marks have any legitimacy to them, the club will have Oberg and Mike Dunn to rely upon. DJ Johnson and Harrison Musgrave have also had a friendly stint in Arizona, while Shaw, McGee and last year’s key deadline acquisition, Seunghwan Oh, have all been crushed.
The league’s exhibition season constantly produces stats, both good and bad, that turn out to be anomalous once the year starts. For the Rockies’ sake, due to their failure to make any impact moves, they’re hoping that sentiment holds true.
Catching Woes
Among the several teams in the league that has a lackluster situation behind the plate, the Rockies have amassed their fair share of appearances.
For the second consecutive year, Chris Iannetta, Tony Wolters and Tom Murphy holster the franchise’s hopes for a turnaround.
The club had several opportunities to better their chances. Wilson Ramos, Yasmani Grandal and Kurt Suzuki all headlined the market for catchers in the league’s free agency period. While Grandal’s one-year, $18.3 million deal was likely too much for the team’s payroll, both Ramos and Suzuki signed two-year pacts, both for under $10 million per year.
As a franchise, the Rockies have a guaranteed three-year window given Nolan Arenado’s contract structure. Of the aforementioned trio, all three have an All-Star appearance and would signal an upgrade for the club.
Murphy and Wolters have each shown flashes, with Wolters’ framing and defensive skills among the best in the league. Despite flashes, neither of the two eclipsed the .300 on-base mark, falling woefully short at a combined .279 mark, a total that would’ve tied the Kansas City Royals for 24th in the league.
The team may pursue a deadline move this year if the position continues to falter. For now, they’re merely relying on hope.