The Rockies are going to designate outfielder Sam Hilliard for assignment, reports Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post. That will be the corresponding move to sign fellow outfielder Mickey Moniak, a move which was reported yesterday.
Hilliard, 31, was previously lined up a bench outfielder for Colorado. However, when the Angels released Moniak, they pounced to grab him, which nudged Hilliard down the depth chart by one peg. The regular outfield playing time figures to be split between Brenton Doyle, Jordan Beck, Nick Martini and Sean Bouchard, with Moniak perhaps having a chance to force his way in there as well.
That will squeeze out Hilliard, who has longstanding ties to the Rockies. Drafted by Colorado in 2015, he got to the big leagues in 2019 and was with the club through the 2022 season. He was traded to Atlanta prior to 2023. Ahead of 2024, he bounced around the waiver wire but wound up back with the Rockies.
Overall, he has shown some pop and some speed but has undercut those assets with too many strikeouts. In 875 career plate appearances, he has 42 home runs and 24 stolen bases but has been punched out at a huge 34.1% clip. His .219/.296/.438 batting line translates to an 84 wRC+.
Though Hilliard is out of options, the Rockies tendered him a contract for 2025. The two sides agreed to a $1MM salary for this year. He has at least three years of service time, meaning he has the right to reject an outright assignment and elect free agency. However, since he has less than five years of service, doing so would mean forfeiting the money that is still owed to him. If he clears waivers, he would like stick with the Rockies as non-roster depth.
Photo courtesy of Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images
Strikes out a ton but wouldn’t mind him seeing him at Albuquerque again. Moniak is 5 years younger and seemingly better. The Rox need all the help and depth they can get in this division.
I love how they made space for Moniak but not for Veen
So very Rockies
Yeah, but then they wouldn’t be able to roster a once-in-a-lifetime kind of player like Nick Martini
His big strikeout rate (34.1%). Yikes! Who can fix that?
Veen has options – Hilliard does not. I believe they have to keep Moniak on the major league roster under the circumstances they acquired him. It’s entirely sensible to trade Moniak for Hilliard. Nevertheless, a Rockies fan pulls for Sam to succeed.
Zac Veen has to prove he can stay healthy for a full season. He hasn’t been healthy for a full season since his first in the Minor Leagues, that’s critical to a players success. Secondly, the Rockies brass has always felt younger players of Veen’s and Beck’s pedigree are better served playing everyday. Jordan Beck will be the everyday Left Fielder, Bouchard will be a corner OF Utility sub, while Martini will be their everyday RF’er until Veen proves he’s fully healthy. The future OF of the Rockies will include Charlie Condo, Brenton Doyle and Zac Veen and potentially include Jordan Beck in some form.