The Rockies’ Game 3 loss to the Brewers not only bounced them from the 2018 postseason but may also have marked the end of the Colorado tenure for a number of impending free agents, Kyle Newman of the Denver Post writes. Second baseman DJ LeMahieu and setup man Adam Ottavino could land with new cubs this winter, as could outfielders Carlos Gonzalez, Gerardo Parra and Matt Holliday. The 30-year-old LeMahieu said after the loss that he’d like to return, though there’s hardly any certainty that the Rox will make a concerted effort to retain him. Trevor Story has a firm grip on the shortstop role, while the Rockies have top middle-infield prospect Brendan Rodgers also looming in the upper minors and another young option in Garrett Hampson. And, as Newman points out with regard to Ottavino, the bullpen already has three large contracts in Wade Davis, Jake McGee and Bryan Shaw, even if each of those three relievers took a step back in 2018 after inking a three-year pact this past offseason. Meanwhile Scott Oberg stepped up as a cost-effective potential replacement for Ottavino.
Here’s more from the NL to kick off the week…
- Center field has been a position of extreme turnover for the Cardinals in recent seasons, writes Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, but Harrison Bader’s exceptional defensive prowess gives hope for some much-needed continuity. The last player to make consecutive Opening Day starts for the Cardinals in center field was Peter Bourjos, Goold notes, and no Cardinal has started 100-plus games in center in consecutive seasons since Jon Jay. “He’s sort of taken that job and run with it,” GM Mike Girsch tells Goold. “The way Harrison plays center field defensively makes it pretty obvious he’s the best defensive center fielder that we have, and he’s hit more than well enough to earn the first shot.” Bader still needs to improve his offensive consistency — specifically, his output against breaking balls — but after after being declared by Girsch as the team’s center fielder moving forward, the 24-year-old should have an extended chance to do so.
- After acquiring additional international bonus allotments in a weekend trade with the Reds, the Marlins are exploring the trade market for opportunities to further pad their bonus pool, reports MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro. It’s not yet clear how much money Miami added to what was already baseball’s second-largest bonus pool ($4.3MM) with their latest move, but they’re still looking up at the Orioles, who carry a reported $6.7MM. Miami and Baltimore have the most money available to sign Cuban outfielder Victor Victor Mesa and both are widely expected to make aggressive pitches to the 22-year-old.
Rockies need a C and 1B that can actually hit to stretch their line up out some.
Move Desmond to 4th OF/backup 1b, and figure it out. Pathetic display.
It’s really a shame the Rockies didn’t trade for Justin Smoak. He’s a perfect fit there. They could also look at Russ Martin if the Jays pay the majority of his salary.
Agreed, he would have been a big boost. Maybe they can make a play for Ramos this winter and find a 1b. Also, get Blackmon out of CF, he needs to go to a corner, or put him at first. His OF is slipping quickly.
Rockies are high on McMahon. To get Smoak would mean keeping McMahon in the minors until 2020. They want him to start in 2019.
McMahon has also drawn starts at 2B. With LeMahieu a pending FA it’s not out of the question that he could draw some starts there. A Hampson/McMahon platoon with smoak and Martin behind the dish is certainly an upgrade over what they trotted out this year. Any competent first baseman and catcher is a huge upgrade. Ian Desmond is bad.
Jbigz – If Colorado wants Smoak and Martin I hope they make an offer. They don’t figure in the future plans for the Jays but they’d help the Rockies if they want to make one more postseason run.
A deal highlighted by Realmuto for B. Rodgers would make sense for both team.s.
A while after the yelich trade, I mentioned Colorado for Realmuto. I had a couple of iterations thought out. Rogers was in 1 of them, but not the other. Not sure the same guys would be on the table now, with an extra year of development. Marquez definitely wouldnt be
Not giving up on Rodgers upside for 2 years of realmuto they hope he can be the face of the franchise is arenado leaves.
I like the concept of making Desmond a role player who can come off the bench. He is a good athlete and clutch hitter. The Rox have more than enough infielders with Rodgers, Hampson and McMahon coming up-so something has to give. It was pathetic and painful to watch them score only 2 runs in 3 games vs Milwaukee. I wish they could find a catcher who can actually hit. I am annoyed with the rather nonchalant and laid back style of Bud Black. How about some emotion/anger dude? Hopefully they can find a way to dump one or more of their overpaid relief (Dunn, McGee, Shaw, Rusin and even Ottavino makes me nervous) corps. Bye bye Holliday. It was nice knowing you, but it’s time to move on.
Is Desmond clutch though? Career .272/.323/.399 hitter w/ RISP, and it gets worse during “clutch” situations:
2 outs RISP – .239/.306/.361
Late & close – .228/.275/.336
By the numbers, he’s actually pretty brutal.
Ian hit only .236 this year but knocked in 88 runs, and I saw him get many key hits this year. A good clutch guy with speed and versatility.
I think the Rockies should try and make a trade with the team that eliminated them. Domingo Santana would look good in a Rockies uniform and they are both superfluous in Milwaukee. Perhaps swapping one of the Rox young starters like Jeff Hoffman that doesn’t work well at Coors would help both teams.
Santana chases bad balls and strikes out a lot. Plus he is below average in the field, and that would not work out well in the spacious Coors outfield. I would like to trade some pitching to the Chisox for 1b Jose Abreu. He is a proven hitter who would do very well at Coors. Then move Desmond to the outfield.
That could work too, but I feel that would be a lot more expensive. I was talking about bargain hunting. You are not getting Abreu with Jeff Hoffman. Santana could thrive in Coors. Eric Thames might work as well if you’d rather have Desmond in the OF. I think the Rockies proved this year that you need more than just the ability to hold a bat to be a good hitter in Coors. Aside from a summer bullpen meltdown, offense was the weak point for this team for the majority of the season. Desmond, CarGo, the catcher duo, and Parra were all below average starters. And the bench was so awful that a 38 year old that hadn’t played in nearly a year became the #1 option for the last month plus. Even DJ and Blackmon were a bit disappointing. We just needed better hitters. Have Dahl and Blackmon in CF and RF and use a Santana type in left.
Personally I’d rather just see Desmond traded. Since his salary is coming down over the next three years on his contract, he might be a decent trade chip. Not great one, but he is past the point of being a complete contractual burden. His remaining contract is 3/40 guaranteed including a 4th year buyout of $2 million. Not great value, but not that big a burden either. I think you could move him if you market Desmond as a super utility guy instead of a first baseman.
For what? Ian Desmond is nowhere near a 42 million dollar player. He performs below replacement level. You’re talking about a bad money swap if you’re moving Desmond. He has absolutely no value. the guarantee Desmond would get on a FA contract today is certainly south of 10MM.
That is pretty funny. Finished 9 games above the 82 they were expected to win, made 2 straight playoff berths for the 1st time in franchise history, and you are complaining about the team.
I would say that you are displaying pretty pathetic fanhood.
Rockies need to let Ottavino and LeMahieu leave and try to use that money to resign Arenado or another free agent.
Any chance Ottavino and LeMahieu will land with the old Cubs?
Freudian slip.
I wouldn’t mind Ottavino as a Cub. LeMahieu not so much.
LeMahieu is excellent defensively and at the plate, and because he should have 5+ good years remaining I would work hard to keep him around. I’d also try to retain Ottavino who, outside of a bad 2017, has been consistently good and seems to be one of the few pitchers who knows how to be successful in Colorado. I like Parra and Holiday but it is difficult to see them returning; the evaporation of Gonzalez’s power means he will also not return. So that’s two keeps, three removals, and a better-than-good chance the Rockies can field a competitive team in 2019.
Pirates need to go after Parra. They need a conventional 4th outfielder, and not use super utility guys to fill that role.
The Rockies have a pretty solid crop entering free agency this off-season and then Arenado next year. However, if the Rockies play their cards right, they have the pieces in both the majors and minors for sustained success.
@SteveAdams New Cubs? Is that a typo or a premonition of who they will sign with?