The Rockies have placed scuffling starting pitcher Austin Gomber on outright waivers, reports Bob Nightengale of USA Today. Gomber has not been designated for assignment and remains with the Rockies while the waiver process is pending. Outright waivers are irrevocable, so he’d change teams within the next 48 hours if another team places a claim.
That said, it’s frankly difficult to imagine another club picking Gomber up. A claiming team would pay the approximate $1.33MM remaining on the lefty-hander’s $6.35MM salary. Gomber is an impending free agent, so it’d make no sense for a non-contending club to do that. Contenders would have a difficult time finding a roster spot for a pitcher who has been shelled for a 7.49 earned run average in 57 2/3 innings.
Gomber missed the first two and a half months battling shoulder discomfort. He has been in Warren Schaeffer’s rotation since June 15 but hasn’t managed a single quality start in 12 appearances. Gomber did get through five innings while allowing two or fewer runs in three of his first four appearances. Opponents have tagged him for 36 earned runs across 38 innings during his past eight times out.
The 31-year-old Gomber has never thrown hard. His fastball sat in the 91-92 MPH range earlier in his career but is down to 89-90 this season. It’s possible that’s related to the shoulder discomfort, but it surely contributes to career-worst strikeout and home run rates. Nevertheless, there’s no real harm for the Rox in putting Gomber on waivers. If he clears, they can keep him on the roster. They could also decide to simply release him rather than waiting for him to hit the market in two months.
c’mon Franco tell us how you really feel about Gomber
Is Gomber the vestige of the Arenado trade for COL?
Yes, the last remaining part.
Yep. I am still okay with the trade to be honest. Arenado was becoming a cancer and he needed to go. And he handcuffed the Rockies on where they could send him as well. Gomber and Montero were decent gambles that didn’t pay off. The other three were lotto scratchers that basically did exactly what lotto scratchers do 99% of the time…nothing.
In my opinion, the Rockies did better (on the field) with the Arenado trade (Austin Gomber) than they did with the Tulo trade (Jeff Hoffman) or the Ubaldo trade (Drew Pomeranz). I say on the field because I don’t care how much money the owner has to pay one way or the other. As a fan, it is meaningless to me. Gomber has not been a superstar, but aside from this year he has been mostly serviceable.
I think Arenado’s attitude changed when they didn’t resign DJ LeMahieu. That’s when the falling out with the FO began and to be honest I think most of us were upset with that decision.
To be honest, I hated the move as well. But it’s not like they just hid DJ’s money under the mattress. DJ signed a 2/24 deal with the Yankees and the Rockies signed Daniel Murphy to the exact same 2/24 deal. The feeling was that the Rockies needed a first baseman more than a second baseman because they had a top prospect in Brendan Rodgers coming up. I understood the thinking of the front office with the move, but I always loved DJ and thought he was grossly undervalued by the team and most of the fans. Obviously in hindsight the Murphy deal was a dud, but you have to take gambles and they don;t always pay off.
@Hiflew So you’re okay being a fan of a middling franchise that never knows when to sell, and always pays borderline all stars top of the market contracts. Got it
Good, I’m glad you got it. Mr Tigers fan.
The highlight of the Arenado trade failed miserably, adios. Keep getting rid of these guys.
Honestly, so did Arenado.
Gomber? I barely knew her!
Fun fact. Everyone the Rockies got in return for Arenado are no longer a part of the organization.
Gomber is still part of the team.
Here’s the perfect guy cover a couple of starts for Pallante. Go get him Mo.