The Rockies announced that they have selected the contract of infielder/outfielder Cole Tucker, with first baseman/outfielder Michael Toglia optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque in a corresponding move. To open a spot for Tucker on the 40-man, infielder Coco Montes was designated for assignment.
Tucker, 27, signed a minor league deal with the Rockies in the offseason. He was added to the big league roster last month but was designated for assignment just one week later, having taken just eight plate appearances over three games. He was outrighted to Albuquerque after clearing waivers and could have rejected that assignment based on having a previous career outright, but accepted and is now back with the big league club.
Around that brief stint in the majors, he’s taken 321 trips to the plate in 70 Triple-A games. He walked in 15.3% of those, leading to a batting line of .280/.391/.407 and 101 wRC+. Once a highly-touted prospect with the Pirates, he’s hit just .214/.263/.316 in 477 major league plate appearances thus far. At the very least, he should provide the Rox with defensive versatility, having played each infield and outfield position in his career. He can be controlled for four more seasons beyond this one but is out of options.
Montes, 26, hit .321/.401/.560 through his first 59 Triple-A games this year and got selected to the big league roster in June. But he then hit just .184/.244/.316 in his first 41 plate appearances at the major league level and has now been bounced from the roster.
Since the trade deadline has passed, the Rockies will place Montes on waivers in the coming days. His first taste of the majors didn’t go well but he’s generally produced solid numbers in the minors and spent significant time at the three infield positions to the left of first base. He will still have two option years beyond this one and has less than a year of service time.
I would take Coco Montes over Cole Tucker by a mile
Go ahead, hopefully the Pirates claim him. Montes is just a product of the hitter friendly PCL.
Pirates don’t need him, he can’t hit.
So why would you take Coco Montes then?
I personally don’t really like Cole Tucker, nothing against the guy just he’s not good, I would take Montes. Oh and by the way I meant Pirates don’t need Tucker not Montes
I gotcha. The Rockies don’t really need Montes. He is probably #4 on the 2B depth chart and their #1 prospect right now is also a 2B. I think Tucker’s OF flexibility is what gave him the spot here. I know he will never win a batting title or anything, but I think he can be a versatile bench spot.
He’s quite a bit better than the average hitter in the PCL. For a team as bad as the Rockies weird to give up on a guy for a proven mediocre outfielder.
There are only so many roster spots. He was godawful at the plate in his callup. Looked like the very definition of a AAAA hitter. They needed an outfielder and didn’t need an infielder. Easy call in my book.
Probably trying to sneak him off the 40 now before 2024. They have Alan Trejo already. Both are backup infielders. Won’t be surprised if he goes unclaimed but there’s gotta be a few bad teams who have someone worse or with less upside at 2B or SS currently.
Replacement level for replacement level at best. This is an audition for tucker and nothing more.
Tucker will strike out at alarming numbers at the major league level if history is a guide
Neither Montes or Tucker are going anywhere professionally.
He’ll be dfa in 3 days
The weather is W-A-Y TOO HOT for COCO !!
Cole Tucker makes a lot of sense for the Rockies. I think he’s got a chance to make the bench next year. He’s a good guy, which Rockies love as a team ran as a business instead of a sports club. Also has the CF/middle IF utility they seem to value. From what I’ve seen, he can put the play in play, even if it’s in the infield.
Although they should have a new manager next year, and they may want to bring in a FA utility guy.