The Rockies have requested release waivers on relievers Bryan Shaw and Jake McGee, per Jeff Passan of ESPN.com (via Twitter) and Thomas Harding of MLB.com (Twitter link). Barring the extremely unlikely event of a claim, both players will return to the open market.
When last these veteran hurlers tested the waters, they found irresistible bait dangling from the Rockies’ line. Both were lured to Denver with three-year, $27MM deals in December of 2017. Closer Wade Davis followed soon after with a three-year, $52MM pact.
At the time, the hope was that installing a trio of established late-inning arms would put the Rox over the top. It’s not as if any of the hurlers took down much more than was anticipated entering the offseason. But it was a significant risk to add all three. The Rockies were obviously prepared to accept the downside scenario, but surely didn’t think it could work out as poorly as it did.
Shaw, long a high-quality setup man, has limped to a 5.61 ERA with 8.0 K/9 and 4.1 BB/9 over 126 2/3 innings in Colorado. The 32-year-old struggled in Cactus League action this spring. McGee, soon to turn 34, carries a 5.54 ERA in his 92 2/3 frames since re-signing. While he owns a sturdy-enough combination of 8.0 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9, he has allowed two dingers per nine over the past two years.
So, is Coors Field to blame? Shaw was actually quite a lot better at home than on the road last year, so it doesn’t seem to explain much in his case. The opposite is true of McGee. Then again, the more revealing split may be in the platoon department. He was tuned up by right-handed hitters (.326/.390/.663) in 2019.
This move won’t really save the Rockies any money, but it’ll clear the deck for other players and wipe out some final earning possibilities for each of the two veterans.
Shaw’s deal promised him $9MM this year, so he’s still due the pro-rated portion of that. He’ll also get a $2MM buyout on a $9MM option, which would’ve been guaranteed with just forty appearances (had it been a full 2020 season). McGee needed 65 appearances (full season) for his $9MM option to vest. Instead, he’ll earn a pro-rated portion of his $9.5MM salary for 2020 and will also still be due a $2MM buyout.
Wow. Daniel Bard must be making the squad. Good for him.
on the subject of the Rox, any word on why Brian Mundell was placed on the restricted list yesterday? seemed like a good 1B/DH split candidate after the spring he had.
No reason was announced, but it’s likely that he either opted out or failed a drug test. I’m hoping it is the former.
McGee has been awful since leaving T Bay.
Colorado and pitchers, amirght?
Actually he was very good in 16 and 17, which is why they re-signed him, do your homework.
He was okay in ’16 and ’17–he made more appearances for the Rays than he did as a Rockie, pitched more innings, and had two sub-2 ERA years; His WHIP was below one each of his last two years there, which he never came close to with Colorado. Instead of being somewhat nasty (“do your homework”?), maybe acknowledge there is another view here. He was definitely better with the Rays when considering everything (K, BB, HR rates, etc.).
Let’s go get em Cashman!
I highly doubt it
Their vest options still would apply , for that reason , I don’t think any team would pick them up
Nvm , I just saw that they vest option will no longer be a thing , so yes , I can see one of those two in the Yankees bullpen
nobody let francona know that shaw released
Shaw will be in Cleveland by Monday
By Monday? Shaw is probably already there
Shaw was great in Cleveland, but that heavy use probably led to some of his problems in Denver.
With the players receiving a fraction of their salaries, the Rox probably felt more comfortable cutting these guys who haven’t pitched particularly well since arriving in Colorado, to make room for younger arms to tryout for the 60 game season which The Rockies didn’t appear to be contending in.
I agree can a great addition to Yankees BP but who do you take off. Who do you consider not worthy. I’m thinking Cessa.
Probably Cessa
I think the Rockies were concerned about vesting options being attained by pitchers that were overvalued and overpriced.
That was probably the main reason.
Incoming everyone saying their team should be going out and signing them
Hahahaha yes!
LOL! Just like the other day about Brandon Morrow even though he is still not a 100%.
I thought this would happen…taking no chances on options vesting….smart, rather than cut mid-way thru the season and face the heat and (maybe) grievances to later follow-
Ida done the same if I was Col
Kc made bullpens in Vogue but Col is showing the risk in signing these guys…. Kinda goes along with the post I made on Ken Giles yesterday
Cardinals will sign one of them I bet!
McGee could be good outside of Coors again.
Just looked at Shaw’s number. I bet he really wanted out of Colorado.
Think they’re both done but the Mets like collecting washed up has beers
Not as much as the Phillies. I see a bidding war.
Shaw should return with Cleveland and McGee with Tampa Bay.
good buy low options for any team. im sure escaping Coors will help them.
I definitely agree.
2 down, now they just need to be sure Wade Davis’ option doesn’t vest. Davis might actually return something at the trade deadline if he continues to be awful at Coors and decent on the road.
Shouldn’t Briddich and Co be able to isolate the ideal type of pitcher for Coors Field. It seems to me that certain pitch types, spin rates, velocities, locations, etc may be best suited for Denver. A full statistical examination could also identify the best type of players, including catchers, for defensive purposes given the thin air and expansive outfield.
Once identified, draft, sign and trade for players that exhibit those skill sets.
The Rox have smart people in their front office. They have to be doing this already. It just hasn’t felt like it the past few years.
I would chose any GM/Pres of BB Ops in the NL West over Briddich.
The ideal pitcher would have high ground ball and K rates. Unfortunately those pitchers are an extremely rare breed. Rockies have always employed a higher rate of ground ball pitchers compared to other teams. Even now. 3 outfielders with tremendous range would really help covering that expansive outfield. It doesn’t appear that has ever been a priority.
While that’s typically true, it has been said before that it is hard to get alot of sink on your pitches there in COL..Which of course a sinker is one of the better groundball pitches
If that’s the case though, then a sinker not sinking is just a meatball, and would spell trouble…
It is really hard because pitches are all effected differently due to the thin air…
They could sign stroman this off-season, it may help, I’d target anyone with a high worm burner rate and go from there…
Shaw has to be like 47 yrs old
Couple of interesting names.
I’m not sure they are actually anything more than that at this point.
Saw someone calling for the Yanks to get involved. Maybe?
I definitely felt another solid middle reliever would be an ideal finishing touch this winter.
It kinda felt like the Cole signing had an impact on the over-engineering we’ve seen in past BP iterations.
I really don’t think either of these guys are it, though.
I think Cole honestly made a mistake , he chose the money. I would of taken the deal to the dodgers. A pitchers ball park in sunnny LA , vs pitchers parks in the al east. We will see.
That’s certainly an opinion.
First though; more money is more money. I have a hard time labeling that as any kind of error.
Second; I personally don’t care for the city of Los Angeles at all. Dodgers & Angels would be the last teams I’d want to play for. Anywhere but there, man.
So. From my perspective? No mistake.
Boston’s probably calling McGee. Some Rockies pitchers just need a change of scenery.
Considering the Sox rotation both Fibber Mcgee and Molly are an upgrade….
Are we SURE a prorated vest won’t be involved here?
I’d like to see the Red Sox add McGee, I know he hasn’t been very effective the past couple of years but they could use all the pitching help they can get, and adding a lefty who was once ‘elite’ on a low-risk deal could potentially have good returns.
I mean, they try to make upgrades but end up just flushing money down the toilet. They invested a lot in the bullpen and got absolutely nothing while letting Ottavino leave. Rotation has been full of one year wonders for the last decade, at this point, what else can they do?
This was actually a great move by Bridich, who basically admitted he screwed up. They have som young guys who could be good.
I’d take either one on the Yankees. Yankees have had success with Rockies cast-offs. DJ, Otto and Tauchman very good team players. I do think however stated earlier Shaw probably goes back to Cleveland and MeGee possibly the Angels
I hope Bloom can pick up one if not both of these guys
McGee is probably finished… with him unable to get righties out and the 3-batter rule, fringe left handed relievers really have no place in the league anymore.
Shaw seems like he’d have a better shot of the two at reviving himself. He could be worth a small gamble for a non-contender, although, with no trades this season, there’s really not a whole lot of value to him even if he was lights out on a mediocre team. I don’t see a contender signing him. His career could be finished.
Philly should take a chance on these two guys, they need bullpen depth right now with Dominguez out, just too many question marks there.
San Diego .. this is why you don’t trade prospects for a middle relievers and set up men. They rarely have more than a couple of good years. Especially ones who have really only had one better than average year like the one you just got.
SMH
Cordero and Bolanos have done nothing in the big leagues