The Rockies and right-hander Patrick Weigel have agreed to a minor league deal, reports Will Sammon of The Athletic. Sammon doesn’t specify if the GSI client will be receive an invite to big league camp in spring training.
Weigel, 31, made four big league appearances a few years ago. One of those came with Atlanta in 2020 and three with Milwaukee in 2021. Put together, he allowed four earned runs in 4 2/3 innings via six hits, seven walks and one hit-by-pitch while striking out nine opponents. The Brewers outrighted him off the roster in 2021. Since then, he has been bouncing around professional baseball by playing in the minor leagues, indy ball and the Mexican League.
He spent 2025 with the Nationals on a minor league deal, tossing 33 2/3 innings out of their Triple-A bullpen. He threw his slider 62.2% of the time, followed by his sinker at 27% and a changeup at just a 0.5% clip.
There’s no doubting that his 8.29 earned run average was poor but there were some more encouraging things under the hood. He struck out a strong 29.3% of batters faced. His 10.3% walk rate was a bit high but not by too much. His .346 batting average on balls in play allowed and 51.2% strand rate were both to the unfortunate side. His ten home runs allowed also played a role in putting more runs on the board, though that was an unusually high number for him, as was his 27% home run to flyball ratio.
The Rockies are one of the clubs most in need of arms. As a team, they had a 5.99 ERA last year, easily the worst in the majors. They have made a few additions this winter. They signed Michael Lorenzen in free agency. They acquired Brennan Bernardino in a trade with the Red Sox. They claimed Keegan Thompson off waivers from the Reds. They took RJ Petit from the Tigers in the Rule 5 draft.
They have also bolstered the non-roster depth by signing John Brebbia, Parker Mushinski, Ryan Miller and now Weigel to minor league deals. Those arms will be looking to earn jobs on the roster throughout the season. If Weigel makes it, he is out of options.
Photo courtesy of John David Mercer, Imagn Images
Good chance to break Rox roster.
Zero chance. One thing (the only thing) the Rockies do have is a plethora of young bullpen arms. They’re swimming in them, and have signed several more before this guy.
I never said on opening day. I meant someday.
They do have some Wiegel room there
Used to stop at a Weigel’s every morning in Powell, TN just outside of my job in Knoxville. Good coffee. Not as good as Stewart’s in NY/Vermont tho.
I like finding encouraging things under the hood, because that’s where I put them.
It’s always the stupid 10mm socket.
C’mon, Rockies, focus on signing a MLB starting pitcher and Arraez.
He’s been great in winter ball but he always does great in winter ball and sucks even in the minors so who knows. I’m definitely rooting for him he has a lot of persistence chasing his dream.
Most underrated move of the offseason. I’m predicting a top notch reliever this year. Mark my words
For the Rockies or just overall in the league? The bar is low for the rocks, so I’d agree with you there
Once upon a time, I thought he was gonna be a good arm for the Braves. Then the injuries started to happen. Seems he’s never been ever to bounce completely back but it is crazy he’s still kicking in the minors.