The Rockies’ payroll will increase in 2017, owner Dick Monfort said today at the press conference to introduce new manager Bud Black (via Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post). “Our payroll will be higher this year,” said Monfort. “It will be a record this year.” Colorado already entered the 2016 season with a $112MM payroll that represented an all-time high for the team, but Monfort said that next year’s mark will further set a record high.
While Monfort doesn’t specify to what extent the payroll will rise, some level of increase looked evident even from a distance. As MLBTR’s Jason Martinez notes over at Roster Resource, Colorado already projects for a $112MM payroll next season before even making a single addition to the roster. While the team only has $66MM guaranteed to seven players (including Jose Reyes, who will spend 2017 with the Mets), the Rockies have a stacked arbitration class that is headlined by superstar third baseman Nolan Arenado and center fielder Charlie Blackmon; MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projects that between Arenado, Blackmon, Jake McGee, Tyler Chatwood and Jordan Lyles, the Rockies are looking at an additional $36.3MM. Rounding out the roster with pre-arbitration talent would add another $10.5MM to account for the remainder of that figure.
That Monfort indicated with confidence that an increase is likely, though, is notable due to the fact that it casts some doubt on the notion that the Rockies could entertain trades of well-compensated players like Blackmon (projected at $9MM) and Carlos Gonzalez ($20MM). Retaining both outfielders while also addressing the team’s needs in the bullpen, at first base and potentially behind the plate would indeed push the Rox into uncharted territory. Monfort’s comfort with that fact, plus the strides taken by young arms like Jon Gray and Tyler Anderson as well as the hiring of a veteran manager such as Black suggest that the Rockies could well feel that the time for them to push for contention in the National League West is at hand.
Hopefully that’s without Charlie Blackmon on their roster
2014 – Padres win the offseason
2015 – DBacks win the offseason
2016 -Rockies?
Kind of doubt they’re going to make any big time additions. Trumbo seems to be the biggest name they’ve been connected to at least, and that’s a tenuous connection since they’d have to give up the top unprotected pick.
To me this screams that they’re going to go after one of the big name closers on the market.
That’s what I thought too. That’s really all they need, good bullpen help
The problem is whether a big name closer would come to Colorado and inflate his ERA.
Sign Greg Holland and a trade for Nate Jones.?
I doubt they go after Trumbo but I see them going after Moss to play first. I could also see them going after Castro to become their new catcher, his pitch framing and defesive skills will help the young pitchers. I could also see them going after Dunn Ceicle and possibly try to bring back Logan. The Rockies rebuild is almost done
Thinking they need to make a play for Holland on a one year deal with incentives. I’d like to see Matt Holiday and they’re first baseman to bring in an experienced righty bat, but his defense is underpar. Still think they need to ship Parra out for a bullpen piece or let Butler try the relief role cause starting is obviously not working for him