The Rockies announced Tuesday that they’ve selected the contract of infielder Daniel Castro from Triple-A Albuquerque and optioned first baseman Ryan McMahon to Albuquerque in his place. To open a spot on the 40-man roster for Castro, lefty Zac Rosscup was moved from the 10-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list.
It’s been an ugly start to the season for the 23-year-old McMahon, who entered the year heralded as one of baseball’s best prospects but has been used sparingly in a crowded mix of position players in Denver. In 60 plate appearances over the life of 28 games, McMahon has batted just .180/.317/.200.
McMahon looked to be in line for regular at-bats before Colorado’s late and somewhat puzzling deal to bring Carlos Gonzalez back into the fold. That signing pushed Ian Desmond from the outfield back to the infield and cut into McMahon’s playing time substantially. He’ll be in line for regular at-bats down in Triple-A, where he he laid waste to opposing pitchers with a .374/.411/.612 batting line in 2017, as he looks to get his swing back on track.
Castro, meanwhile, will step into the infield mix and provide depth at multiple spots. The 25-year-old hit .217/.250/.265 in 239 plate appearances for the 2015-16 Braves but has enjoyed a productive run with Colorado’s Triple-A affiliate dating back to Opening Day 2017. Castro is primarily a middle infielder and should help to cover for the short-term loss of DJ LeMahieu, who went on the disabled list yesterday. He also has experience at third base should a brief need arise for any reason.
Is Ian Desmond out of options?
He has more than five years of service time and thus has the right to refuse any assignment to the minors.
He’d set a record for being the highest paid minor leaguer if he did have options.
Yasmany Thomas and Rusney Castillo are paid pretty well to ride the bus.
What a ridiculous comment. Whom would you have play 1B if not for Desmond? McMahon? He’s one of the few Rockies that’s hitting even worse than Desmond!
Rockies have got themselves in a bit of a quandary. They really don’t have a first baseman, let alone a power hitting first baseman.
Think McMahon would’ve got his bat going at some point if he got regular playing time. He is just not a bench player. Better that he got optioned. Not saying it’s much better, but parra has played a few games at first base
He didn’t fare much better in his September call up last season. He can still turn it around and become a productive major league player, but he is not ready for ML pitching right now.
Perhaps now is the time to move Cargo to 1B ( they’ve said the last couple years that he takes reps there). He could play in a left/right platoon with Desmond. Dahl then becomes a every day OFer.
It may be a crazy idea, but maybe they need to think outside the box.
I have McMahon on my fantasy team, do you guys think I should drop him now or stash him?
Depends on if you don’t need the spot. He has flopped in two different appearances thus far. I would drop and then try to pick him up again in the future if and when he gets on a mini streak. Otherwise, let someone else in the league waste a spot if they want to.
I’d drop. I actually did in both a 12 team and a 15 team league. You have to hold him in a NL only.
I can see the ChiSox trading Jose Abreu to the Rox for a package that includes Ryan McMahon.
As a Rockies fan, I would be okay with that…depending on how much was included in the rest of the package. A couple of low level lotto tickets with McMahon, sure. Anything else close to a top 10-15 prospect with McMahon, pass.
Doesn’t sound bad at all. Maybe they will take Desmond too.
I like that idea with Abreu, they need another strong bat.