TODAY: Koch and Blach have elected to become free agents, according to the MILB.com transactions tracker.
OCTOBER 18: The Rockies have outrighted three players off the 40-man roster, per their transactions tracker at MLB.com. Right-handers Karl Kauffmann and Matt Koch and southpaw Ty Blach all went unclaimed. The latter two will have the opportunity to test free agency. Kauffmann will remain in the organization without holding a 40-man spot.
Blach is the most well-known of the three. The former Giants starter has pitched parts of two seasons with his hometown club in Colorado. He threw 44 1/3 innings of 5.89 ERA ball a year ago and logged 78 innings across 20 appearances (including 13 starts) while allowing 5.54 earned runs per nine this year. The strike-throwing southpaw kept his walks to a modest 6.8% clip but struck out a below-average 14.2% of opponents.
With between three and four years of service, Blach would have been eligible for arbitration this winter. A projected $1.8MM salary always made a non-tender seem likely. The outright serves as an early equivalent. It’s possible the Rox could try to re-sign him on a minor league pact.
Koch inked a non-roster deal over the winter. Colorado selected him onto the major league team in June. The 32-year-old (33 next month) wound up logging 38 2/3 innings over 39 appearances down the stretch. He pitched to a 5.12 ERA with a modest 16.6% strikeout rate but an excellent 5.5% walk percentage. The former third-round pick has pitched in parts of six major league campaigns. This was his longest stint since he started 14 games for the 2018 Diamondbacks.
The Rockies selected Kauffmann with the 77th pick in the 2019 draft. The Michigan product made his debut this year, pitching 35 innings over 11 appearances. His initial look at big league hitters didn’t go well, as he allowed an 8.23 ERA with matching 10.1% strikeout and walk rates. Kauffmann spent the majority of the season at Triple-A Albuquerque. He started 19 games in that extremely hitter-friendly setting, posting a 6.43 ERA over 92 1/3 innings.
Colorado has taken six players off the roster since the regular season concluded. Barring additional changes in the next few weeks, their 40-man count will sit at 36 at the start of the offseason.
Forever Giant!
The kind of guys you end up with when you lose your top 7 starting pitchers to long term injury.
I thought both Koch and Blach were impressive for the most part. Blach is never going to be a star, but he is exactly the type of pitcher you want in your system. Koch at times looked like a potential set up man. I am kind of surprised they didn’t hang onto him.
I’m sure George, Jerry, and Elaine are thrilled that southpaw Todd Gack had a shot in MLB.
@BMFS,
I am a very aggressive baby.
Great minds think alike…and so do we!
Poor Matt, what a dick move.
It’s pronounced “cook”. Sounds like you’ve got koch and strictly left nuts on the brain.
Sure reads like something else.
Ah, the Rockies making some bold offseason moves, clearing out the roster to make room for…well, not much, really. Let’s talk about these thrilling transactions!
First up, Ty Blach. A hometown hero, they say. I mean, why keep a pitcher who’s been part of the team for two seasons when you can let him test free agency? That’s clearly the key to building a contender. And to think, we’ll all be eagerly watching to see if Blach might return on a minor league pact. Thoughts and Prayers for his future endeavors.
Then there’s Matt Koch, a seasoned 32-year-old who graced us with his presence in the Rockies bullpen. Sure, he logged a 5.12 ERA, but who needs impressive numbers? The real star was that 5.5% walk percentage. Impressive, I must say. I’m sure he’s off to greater things in free agency. Thoughts and Prayers.
Last but not least, Karl Kauffmann, the fresh face with a debut season for the books – an 8.23 ERA and matching 10.1% strikeout and walk rates. That’s what we call a memorable start, folks. Thoughts and Prayers for the future major league hitters who’ll face him.
All in all, it’s heartwarming to see the Rockies clearing out their roster in such a dramatic fashion. I can’t wait to see how these moves propel them into the postseason. Or not. But hey, who needs wins when you’ve got Thoughts and Prayers to rely on, right?