The Rockies have released outfielder Bradley Zimmer, the Denver Post’s Patrick Saunders reports (X link). Zimmer was in camp on a minor league deal, but became expendable when the Rox acquired another left-handed outfield option in Jake Cave via a trade with the Phillies earlier today.
While Cave’s numbers have been shaky at best over the last four seasons, Cave still bring more offensive upside than Zimmer, who has hit .213/.298/.333 over 975 career plate appearances in the bigs from 2017-22. Zimmer was a top-100 prospect during his time in Cleveland’s farm system, but his bat simply hasn’t translated against Major League pitching. Now entering his age-32 season, Zimmer has still carved out a niche for himself as a backup outfielder and pinch-runner due to his excellent speed (42 steals in 50 career chances) and all-fields defense.
This skillset gives Zimmer a pretty decent chance of catching on with another team in need of extra defensive help, whether as upper minors depth or on the bench of a big league roster. Zimmer last appeared in the majors in 2022 as a member of the Blue Jays, and he spent last season playing with the Triple-A affiliates of the Dodgers and Red Sox.
Attention CLE Front Office: I know you’re gonna give some thought to bringing this guy back because he’s cheap and you know him. Just a sledgehammer reminder that he CANNOT HIT – never has, never will. Everyone knows you need run producers – nothing changed there. You can sit there and lie to yourself that he’s due to start hitting any day now, but at his age his offensive skillset is set in stone. You already have a left handed Myles Straw on your roster, and his name is Estevan Florial. If you’re gonna blow your lunch money on a bust at least make sure he’s a right handed hitter. That is all.
Amen
Zimmer still holds the record for the 2 longest homeruns at Progressive field
Mark Shapiro has already contacted Zimmer’s agent.
Padres, Giants or A’s make some sense as a minor league gamble
Every time a crappy player gets cut someone gets on here and says that the A’s should sign him. In actuality Oakland has some pretty darned good hitters, more than Cleveland and have no use for a guy that, like solaris602 says, CANNOT HIT.
C – Naylor vs. Langeliers – Adv: Cleveland
1B – Naylor vs Noda – Adv Cleveland
2B – Gimenez vs Gelof – History says Gimenez but I really like Gelof so Adv Oakland
SS – Allen vs Rocchio – Tough, but Allen can’t hit so I guess Rocchio
3B – Ramirez vs Davis – Gonna lean Cleveland here
LF – Brown vs Kwan – Adv Cleveland
CF – Ruiz vs a mess – Adv Oakland
RF – Brennan vs….Butler? – Adv Cleveland
DH – Laureano (?) vs Rooker – Adv Oakland, though a bit skeptical on Rooker other than his 30 HR power
Amen
Makes more sense for the As than the padres or giants… the As like cheap
No they wouldn’t. Maybe for their Triple A teams if they have been ravished by injuries and they are desperate.
You’re going to like the way you dropped him, I guarantee it.
Bahahaha. That’s hilarious!
He batted .389 in spring training with 5 doubles, a homerun, 4 stolen bases, and led the Rockies in hits…
Spring training means little. Zimmer cannot hit ML pitching.
As a Jays fan I am still trying to erase the memory of him playing for Toronto.
It still gives me shudders.
Hitting against a bunch of stiffs. I saw him in person vs Diamondbacks last week and he stunk up the joint as usual. He looks like he should be a good player – great size and speed and nice batting stance – but nothing ever happens but popups and grounders.
How ironic that both Zimmer and Clint Frazier, touted as Cleveland’s can’t miss OF prospects just a few years ago, both failed to reach stardom or even average-Dom?
Draker – Actually, he’s 1 for 3 against the Diamondbacks this spring
That photo is awesome!