Rockies GM Jeff Bridich spoke to reporters on a conference call on Tuesday, covering a wide range of topics pertaining to both the short- and long-term look of his team’s roster. Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post and Thomas Harding of MLB.com were among those on-hand, and while I’d encourage readers to check out those pieces for full context and full quotes, here are some highlights from the general manager’s comments…
[Related: Rockies Depth Chart and Payroll Information via Roster Resource]
- The Rockies are still exploring both trades and free agency, per Bridich. “The focus now is pitching, specifically our bullpen, if possible,” said Bridich. The third-year general manager confirmed that the Rox have spoken to the representatives for righties Greg Holland and Joe Blanton, though he unsurprisingly declined to comment on the extent of Colorado’s interest in either free agent. Bridich also noted: “There are multiple teams interested in those types of guys.”
- Regarding the rumored extension for Carlos Gonzalez, Bridich acknowledged that the Rox have a desire to work out a new deal. “We’ve contemplated the possibility of an extension with him,” said the GM. “We’re hopeful we can at least explore that further. We feel like there’s a good chance we’ll be able to at least explore it further.” The 31-year-old Gonzalez is set to earn $20MM in 2017 — the final season of his seven-year, $80MM contract with the club.
- The Rockies “remain in touch” with free agent slugger Mark Trumbo, but Bridich explained that the team has other priorities at this time. Nonetheless, Bridich has never expressly ruled out a deal with Trumbo, whom he termed “a very good player” on Tuesday, so reports will likely continue to link the two sides. Signing Trumbo would obviously complicate the Rockies’ infield and outfield pictures, as it would likely force the Rockies to deal one of their left-handed-hitting outfielders in order to clear an outfield role for Ian Desmond, who currently occupies first base (where Trumbo would presumably play in Colorado).
- There haven’t been any substantial talks with third baseman Nolan Arenado about a contract extension, as Saunders notes in his column. Bridich said the first focus is on avoiding arbitration by agreeing to a one-year deal, “…and if things come up, just like anything else, we are going to keep an open mind to anything.” MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projects Arenado to earn a massive $13.1MM salary in his second trip through the arbitration process as a Super Two player. Arenado won’t turn 26 until April and has already cemented himself as one of the game’s truly elite players. His play to date has earned him plenty of financial security as well, so there’s little incentive for him to take any sort of discount.
- Bridich didn’t rule out adding a bat to his bench, either. Colorado is on the verge of one such addition, as they’ve reportedly agreed to a one-year deal with Alexi Amarista. That contract hasn’t been finalized just yet, but Amarista will be taking his physical for the club this week. Even with the addition of Amarista, inexperienced names like Cristhian Adames and Jordan Patterson are set to vie for bench roles with the Rockies, so an additional bench signing would indeed seem to make sense. Gerardo Parra looks to be the current fourth outfielder, and Amarista can bounce all over the infield. A utility option with experience in both the infield and the outfield would seem like a sound upgrade, and the Rockies could also reasonably add one of the many remaining first basemen on the market to their bench. Adames is out of minor league options, which may help his cause in Spring Training.
- Beyond the two columns linked above, Saunders tweets that Bridich “reaffirmed his faith in Tony Wolters and Tom Murphy as primary catchers.” Colorado has been speculatively listed as a landing spot for Matt Wieters, but the Rox do have an intriguing young platoon setup with the left-handed-hitting Wolters and the right-handed Murphy. Wolters draws excellent marks in pitch-framing, and each threw out better than 30 percent of attempted base thieves (40 percent, in Murphy’s case). Murphy also brings a track record of strong Triple-A production to the table, even if he’s rather inexperienced in the Majors.
This definitely is the team that always puzzles me and these comments do nothing but cloud to confusion on where they move forward
I have absolutely no doubt, that the Rockies don’t even know what the Rockies are doing.
What’s puzzling? Upcoming team with bad bullpen tries to improve bullpen, is ambivalent about signing an overvalued slugger, explores potentailly cheap extension of 3 win outfielder, decides to go with promising catching tandem instead of signing an expensive vet.
Seems pretty on-point to me.
I think the puzzling part is the ridiculousness surrounding these topics. Things like allowing CarGo to be dragged through the trade rumor mill for years – in that time watching his value decline – then coming out now and saying it’s “something they are exploring”. This exploring should have been done ages ago – and if it had been, they’d know whether it’s going to happen or not well before his walk year.
That, plus the crazy notion of Desmond playing first, and the belief that nothing is being done about their outfield logjam.
The Rockies are a magnet for criticism because they tread water while confusing everyone.
I dont feel their system is treading water anymore. What I perceive is a somewhat lack of knowledge of their current workings. They’ve earned the lack of respect, though, over the years. They have some interesting prospects.
Cargo hasn’t been a 3 fwar outfielder since 2013 and I don’t see that trend reversing, which is why signing an extension doesn’t make a lot of sense. Unless its real cheap or they plan to move him to 1b or do something other that allow him to continue play of.
I question if the potential CarGo extension and eventual move to 1B isn’t the reasoning for their ambiguous 1B situation. Still time this winter, and through the season. Righty pen arm will probably happen fairly soon. But I think down the road they probably deal for a front end starter. Maybe they could nab Sonny Gray and John Axford from Oakland and kill a couple birds. Brendan Rodgers keeps developing like that top 5 prospect tag….they could have LaMehieu to deal soon…maybe even Story. Just freeing Desmond off of 1B would create trade flexibility.
Can the Orioles sign Trumbo to wipe away attached comp pick then flip him to Colorado? Colorado previously asked for Gausman for Cargo. I was wondering if the Os give up Brach and take on Cargo salary if CO does that deal with knowing they can also have Trumbo without forfeiting pick. It seems these two teams were super close on a deal before the Gausman stalemate
It would require more than Brach
I don’t think players that signed off-season contracts can be traded until June.
I’m pretty sure they can still be traded, they just need the players approval (once June comes around though it’s fair game – no approval needed)
The commish office also has to approve, and they won’t for this very reason.
No, a free agent, even one signed by his former team, can not be traded until June. That’s to prevent gaming the FA compensation system.
Guys that sign free agent contracts can’t be traded until around June (not sure of the date, maybe after the draft). See De Aza and the Mets deal last year for an interesting case on how this rule isn’t always in everyone’s interest.
the rockies already forefitted their top pick (11) to sign desmond.
CarGo put up 15.4 bWAR over the first 6 years and 60 million. Definitely exceeds his contracts value, really wanna roll that dice again on an extension?
Why doesn’t the Rockies trade for Todd Frazier 1B & Nate Jones RP. Send them Freeland, Tapia & McMahon.
Too much IMO
That’s not enough to get Frazier and Jones
One year of declining Frazier and Nate Jones for 3 borderline if not sure thing top 100 prospects? I think chicago would be all over that
that is certainly enough to get frazier and jones
That WAY too much for Frazier and Jones. That’s 3 top tier prospects for a garbage 1B that is heavily declining and always falls apart in the second half and an aging relief pitcher. IMO, the sox would be lucky to get McMahon for both
What if Baltimore throws in Mancini for Colorado? If the Rockies send an outfielder to Baltimore, Desmond can stay in the outfield and Mancini can man First maybe in some sort of platoon with parra? Or someone else on a minor league deal?
Trumbo and Hammel could change things for Colorado. I like the squad but don’t think that it is playoff team. But Jon Gray, Trevor Story, Nolan Arenado are three standout players that rival any of the other 29 teams in the league. One day they will get back to the glory days that Clint Hurdle led them to.
Trevor Story is overrated and Gray is still a pitcher in Coors. They arent even the third best trio in their own division
But when the Rockies pitch at coors so do the oponents so all it really affects is their overall stat line. How is Story overrated, he’s a power hitting shortstop with good defense and it’s his first year. I would but Chatwood, Story, and Arenado over anything the dbacks or padres can field.
Please explain how Trevor Story is overrated and I am not even a Rockies fan. The kid is one of the up and coming elite shortstops in baseball. He would have probably locked up ROY also if it wasn’t for that season ending injury.
Rockies extending CarGo doesn’t make much sense. With the logjam in OF I’d consider trading him, and Blackmon for that matter, for pitching. Then they can move Desmond to the OF and sign Trumbo or Carter for 1B.
Not ideal perhaps but defensible to both teams
to the Rockies P Jerad Eickhoff and P Hector Neris
to the Phils OF David Dahl, 1B/3B Ryan McMahon and P Kyle Freeland
Gives Rockies scope to extend Cargo or sign Desmond for an OF slot;, gets pitching for the rotation and pen
for the Phils (with an abundance of potential starters in the rotation) it provides a needed left hand at for the OF in Dahl as an alternative to going the free agent route and adds another lefty pitcher and infielder with flexibility.
I give you Clayton Kershaw, Corey Seager, and Justin Turner from the Dodgers muah hahahaha
It seems almost too easy what the Rockies “should” do. I’d say they sign Trumbo, and then trade away Parra. Next, sign Hammel and Blanton, and then focus on trying to make a run at the Wild Card spot.
I think a line-up of the following players would be pretty stout, especially at Coors field.
Desmond
Blackmon
Arenado
Cargo
Trumbo
Story
DJL
Murphy/Wolters
However you want to order those guys, that’s a 1-8 that would rival every team in the NL, and most in the AL…
The Rockies have to know to win games, they are going to have to score runs, AND ALOT OF THEM!! By sending out that line-up they can do just that, and then adding in a vet like Blanton can somewhat help sure up a “rocky” pen..Hammel, if he can stay healthy, would hopefully add in a bunch of innings from a proven veteran, especially one with experience pitching at Coors which should help them a little as well…
Im not a huge Hammel in Colorado fan just due to park effect on him. Right now I’d like to seea front end starter like Chris Archer…but Sonny Gray intrigues me as well. I either want the ball out of the air or a high K rate to offset it. Im not sure they need to pay Mark Trumbo to get that much offense…go one year on Carter….or extend CarGo and move him to 1B. No matter what get Desmond off 1B. There’s potential to deal LaMehieu if they think Brendan Rodgers is a year off. Need a righty in the pen.
Yeah…the wishlist is there. Would love to see what they’d get done with even a league average staff on the bump
If the Rockies’ roster strategy were a movie script, it might be called “Bridich of Frankenstein”.
Bill James was on MLB network last night
he actually said he thinks the pendulum has swung too far on statistics
he said he is interested in trying to solve ( a formula) for a good club house guy vs a bad club house guy.
I believe most baseball people aren’t nearly as black and white in their approach to the game as the general fan base is. They value integration. Be interesting to figure out how a good/bad clubhouse player is measured statistically….how do you isolate that influence? Sure, some players are obvious…but some of it is basic team chemistry.