The Rockies have turned down their end of a mutual option with infielder Thairo Estrada, reports Thomas Harding of MLB.com. For now, Estrada remains on the roster and the Rockies technically could retain him for 2026 via arbitration, though that seems unlikely.
Estrada, 30 in February, had some good seasons with the Giants. However, in 2024, he struggled enough to get outrighted off the roster midseason and became a free agent afterwards. The Rockies signed him to a one-year, $4MM contract coming into 2025. That broke down as a $3.25MM salary this year, followed by a $750K buyout on a $7MM mutual option.
If Estrada had bounced back to his 2021-23 levels, it would have been a nice buy-low move. Unfortunately, it turned into mostly a lost season. Estrada made separate trips to the injured list for a right wrist fracture, a sprained left thumb and a right hamstring strain. He only got into 39 games and slashed .253/.285/.370 for a wRC+ of 66.
Given that performance, the Rockies obviously weren’t going to crank up his salary by picking up the option. He does not automatically become a free agent, however, as he is still shy of six years of major league service. The Rockies could retain Estrada for 2026 via arbitration. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projects Estrada for a $3.8MM salary through the arbitration process.
Even at that price point, the Rockies are probably planning to move on, since Estrada is now coming off two straight years of struggle. If the Rockies don’t tender him a contract, he will become a free agent later in the offseason. He would then be looking for another bounceback opportunity, which could be a minor league deal or perhaps a modest major league pact.
Photo courtesy of Ron Chenoy, Imagn Images
My pick for the 2026 minor league contract of the year. Dude is a damn good player, always came up clutch with the Giants in 21-23
Someone will bet on him.
Fractured wrist and then severe hamstring injury in ’25. I’ve followed him as well and really didn’t have a chance to contribute with the Rockies this season.
Love to see this guy get healthy and produce again. He’s been bitten by the injury bug but he’s still got game.
Could be a fit for Seattle or Detroit, minor league deal of course.
I like Estrada, but hold the phone, are the Rockies getting selective now?
It’s more like “is Thairo Estrada gonna be a part of the next winning Rockies team?” And the answer is no.
That said it’s not like he’s the difference between finishing dead last and finishing at, say, .500. They have Ritter and Amador, why pay Thairo $4M to block them?
Then again trade chip if he does turn up, yadda yadda