It’s been a quiet offseason for the Rockies, whose free-agent additions to this point consist of right-handers Pierce Johnson (one year, $5MM) and Jose Urena (one year, $3.5MM). The Rox have also claimed Brent Suter from the Brewers, signed Tyler Kinley to an extension and issued a handful of minor league deals, and they were reportedly interested in several free-agent outfielders before those players landed elsewhere (Michael Conforto, Cody Bellinger, Brandon Nimmo among them).
They’ve clearly been linked to a number of left-handed-hitting outfielders since the offseason began but have also appeared limited in the extent to which they’re comfortable paying those players. Jon Heyman of the New York Post wrote recently that the Rockies are indeed trying to add a lefty-swinging outfielder to their group, adding that they “may consider” a reunion with Corey Dickerson, who spent the first three seasons of his career calling Coors Field home. The Rox shipped Dickerson to the Rays in the trade that brough German Marquez to Colorado, and Dickerson has since bounced to six teams while settling in as a productive, if somewhat limited corner outfielder.
Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post, however, throws some cold water on the possibility of a Dickerson reunion, writing in his latest mailbag column that he’s not heard of any real interest expressed by the Rockies. Dickerson would indeed be something of a tough fit with the Rockies’ roster, as currently constructed. While names like Bellinger and Nimmo could’ve been plugged into center field, Dickerson has been primarily a left fielder in recent seasons. Bryant is expected to man that position when healthy, and across the outfield, Randal Grichuk has been at least comparable to Dickerson from an offensive standpoint over the past few years. Playing Dickerson in right and Grichuk in center is a stretch, too; Dickerson ranked last among MLB outfielders in arm strength last season, according to Statcast.
The Athletic’s Jim Bowden echoes Heyman’s sentiment that the Rox are prioritizing the addition of a left-handed-hitting outfielder, calling free agent switch-hitter Jurickson Profar a “real possibility” for the club. That said, many of the limitations that apply to Dickerson also apply to Profar. He’s primarily been a left fielder since a pair of shoulder surgeries and a case of the yips pushed him from shortstop, to second base, to the outfield. He’s also not a demonstrably better offensive player than in-house options like Yonathan Daza and the aforementioned Grichuk, although his .244/.333/.375 slash over the past three seasons (103 wRC+) would be a slight improvement. That said, both Daza and Grichuk can play center field, while Profar has just 156 career innings at the position — none in 2022.
It’s fair to question just how much the Rockies are willing to spend to acquire the lefty outfield bat they reportedly covet. It never seemed likely that the Rox would match last year’s spending — not after they inked Kris Bryant to a $182MM contract and subsequently pushed their projected 2023 payroll (currently about $163MM) up into franchise-record territory. But the team’s activity thus far, or lack thereof, doesn’t paint a portrait of a club that is planning to win many bidding wars in free agency this time around.
Whether due to a desire to shed payroll or simply to free up time for younger players, it appears the Rockies have at least been willing to listen to offers on first baseman C.J. Cron. Saunders writes in his mailbag that Colorado hasn’t received much trade interest in Cron, however.
Given Cron’s status as a productive hitter and solid defender at first base, there’s little reason to simply attempt to dump his $7.25MM salary, even if the Rox would eventually like to take a longer look at 24-year-old Michael Toglia at first base. Toglia, the team’s first-round pick in 2019, has had strikeout troubles in the upper minors but also walked at a 12% clip, slugged 32 homers between the minors and a brief MLB debut in ’22, and has drawn praise as an above-average defender at first base. Given Toglia’s proximity to the Majors and Cron’s status as an impending free agent (following the 2023 season), it stands to reason that the latter could yet be a trade candidate — be it later in the offseason or as the summer deadline approaches.
Depending on Colorado’s appetite for spending, the trade market ought to present various avenues to acquire a lefty bat — whether a true center fielder or perhaps another corner option (with Grichuk and Daza then being relied upon as the primary options in center). The Twins (Max Kepler), Orioles (Anthony Santander), A’s (Seth Brown), Pirates (Bryan Reynolds) and division-rival D-backs (Jake McCarthy) all have lefty or switch-hitting outfielders who’ve come up in trade rumblings, to varying extents, this offseason.
I would love for the Rockies to acquire Jake McCarthy simply because that is the only way to guarantee he won’t be facing the team anymore. That guy absolutely killed the Rox last year.
Had us in the first half, not gonna lie lol. Fortunately, McCarthy isn’t going anywhere, though; DBacks are higher on him than anybody else is (which is saying quite a bit after he placed 4th in RotY), especially after dealing Varsho.
I hope you peak on in some DBacks games that aren’t against the Rox, so you can actually enjoy watching them play lol.
I don’t understand why Cron is consistently undervalued. The Rays just let him go for nothing years ago and are still dying for a first baseman. I hope they make an offer.
It’s because he isn’t that good. His defense is subpar and he only batted .214 away from Coors. He only put up decent numbers because of Coors field.
That didn’t make teams shy away from Trevor Story (but maybe they’re wiser now).
Yikes. Yeah, his home/away splits are ugly.
Nonsense, the Coors argument is tired. People said the same about Arenado. He’s hit well enough in TB, Minn and now Col. Guy deserves a bit more credit than what he is getting.
He was a cheap signing for a reason. Typical off season for Rocks, they are primed to win 70-75 games again, yet draw huge crowds.
Crib was a cheap signing for a reason. Team looks to be mediocre again, winning 70 games and drawing huge crowds in the process making money for Montfort. If fans want a winner stay away till it happens.
“Bryant is expected to man that position when healthy…….” Reality setting in for Rox fans. Any time Bryant spends on the field is a limited engagement.
Today (Jan. 5) is C. J. Cron’s 33rd birthday. It could be a nice present for him to be traded to a contender.
33? That’s why there’s no interest. He will be benched or moved to dh to make room for former 1st rounder
Rox – what do u offer for Gavin Sheets?
As a Sox fan I like Sheets as much as I like Vaughn, but Sheets would fit well with the Rockies, big lefty power hitter in Coors Field would be a nice addition.
Sheets soon may not have an everyday job with Sox if/when Colas takes over.
I like Sheets, too, but he is expendable.
Have to trade something of value to get same.
They didn’t want to trade Cron at the deadline when they were in last place and teams had interest. But now they’re listening to offers after Cron had a terrible second half and nobody wants him. Go Rockies.
Sounds bout right for Colorado management
AL West – A’s
AL Central – Royals
AL East – Red Sox
NL West – Rockies
NL Central – Reds
NL East – Nationals
Preseason Cellar Dwellers
Profar should have opted into his option, might not get a good contact. He takes a lot of pitches and play fair defense. The Yankees would be smart to take look
He’s gonna get WAY more than 7.5 guaranteed. He made the right choice
I don’t think any GM is in alignment with Profar or his agent in terms of valuation or he’d be signed by now. Time will tell, but I can’t see him getting more than 2 or 3 years with a max AAV of $12M.
I would think that getting a prolonged look at Nolan Jones would be better than paying veteran money to Profar or Dickerson.
Agreed. The power potential is there and while Jones is probably not a 3B anymore the Rox need a LF and Bryant is better off as a DH to at least try to keep his bat in the lineup
Seems like a Rockies kind of move… look to dump the relatively cheap contract of your most productive player to see, hmmm what else have we got? Cron is very underrated and should have another great year. That’s more than can be said about the guy filling the other corner IF spot.
“Playing Dickerson in right and Grichuk in center is a stretch too”
FIFY. Learn how commas work with “too,” in that you never need them.
I don’t see the Rockies giving up much to get an outfield bat when a few of their top prospects are outfielders at this point and capable of playing center. They are also only a year maybe two out. They are once again focused in the wrong area when the starting rotation is the glaring weakness going forward. We don’t even have that much in terms of prospects there either.