Rockies Select Mark Reynolds

Mark Reynolds is once again an official member of the Rockies’ roster, as the team announced this afternoon that they’ve formally selected his contract. Reynolds’ addition brings Colorado’s 40-man roster to a total of 39 players. As MLB Network’s Jon Heyman reported at the time of Reynolds’ signing, he’ll now receive a $1MM base salary with the opportunity to earn an additional $1MM via incentives.

Reynolds, 35, spent the 2016-17 seasons with the Rockies before taking a one-year detour with the Nationals in 2018. Last season, the slugger posted a .248/.328/.476 slash that helped to prove his 2016-17 output with the Rox wasn’t merely fueled by Coors Field. As is the case with many veterans in their mid-30s in this age of baseball, however, Reynolds settled for a minor league contract this winter.

It was a rough spring for Reynolds, who hit just .133/.278/.333 in 54 plate appearances. The Rockies, though, weren’t swayed by the slow start and chose to instead bet on the productive three-year stretch Reynolds carried into camp. Dating back to Opening Day 2016, Reynolds has batted a combined .269/.349/.472 with 57 homers and 54 doubles. He’ll give the Rockies a right-handed bat off the bench who can occasionally spell Daniel Murphy at first base against left-handed pitching.

Reynolds will join catcher Tony Wolters and out-of-options outfielder Raimel Tapia in occupying three spots on the Rockies’ bench. It also now seems likely that both Ryan McMahon and Garrett Hampson, who have been thriving this spring as they battle for the second base job, will both break camp with the team, meaning one of that duo will be available in reserve on most days.

Although Reynolds’ role will be a limited one, there’s still a strong possibility that he’ll celebrate a milestone in Colorado this season. Reynolds, who has never hit fewer than 13 home runs in a season, will enter the year just six big flies shy of the 300 mark.