Tonight is Game 161 of the year and the Rockies does have an impact on the playoff scenario. The Brewers (Rockies’ opponent) and the Cardinals are battling for the Central division title. St. Louis still has a one-game lead over the Brewers going into tonight when both Milwaukee and St. Louis lost Friday night. Milwaukee had a 20-4 record in September when Colorado held off the Brewers 11-7 after jumping to an early 11-2 lead. The best fans in baseball resides in St. Louis and they were cheering for the Rockies in the middle of the Cards-Cubs game.
Bud Black has done a great job in my humble opinion during the month of September after being dealt nothing by the front office. He is looking forward to 2020 season to see what works and what doesn’t work. It appears that Garrett Hampson is making a strong case to play CF when David Dahl is not available. He can also play 2B which gives the club flexibility on the roster. Sam Hilliard after being ignored all year in Albuquerque with 30 HR and 25 SB finally showed he can bring his game to The Show. He is making a strong case to play any OF position. The third player that is showing serious consideration for regular playing time next year is Ryan McMahon. Everyone is talking about how they missed keeping DJLM but they overlooked the fact that RyMac has hit just as many HRs in less playing time including a few to opposite field. He also fielded his position pretty good. His advantage is that he can play both 2B and 1B. That explains why Yonder Alonso is not getting any starts lately. A little known fact is that RyMac hits lefties and righties equally good.
The club also has clearly been taking a look at both the bullpen and rotation without the usual suspects. The rotation still has question marks with Chi Chi Gonzalex, Tim Melville, Antonio Senzatela, and Peter Lambert trying to make some kind of a statement. None of them is really standing out at this moment. My eye tests tell me they lead the majors (probably not true but…) in free passes (BB and HBP) issued, very few strike ones, and their inability to get leadoff hitters, 8-hole hitters, and pinch hitters. They can be good but they won’t be because they can’t pitch like a Kyle Kendrick (Cubs) or a Mike Davies (Brewers). They only throw around 90s but they are effective because they throw strikes without going over the middle of the plate. The pitchers also gave up more HRs than the Rockies hit themselves even in their own house.
Black also put Bryan Shaw, Jake McGee, and Wade Davis on an exiled island except for maybe one inning a week or two. If September is any indication of the future plans, Scott Oberg, Carlos Estevez, and Jairo Diaz will be at the back end of the pen with possibly James Pazos contributing. Yency Almonte and Sam Howard were given long looks in relief roles.
The goal from the RWO community is to see the front office have some balls to improve the club without signing average players to big contracts. For now it looks like the 2020 roster will be as follows:
Outfield: Blackmon (bad fielder, but invaluable bat who can hit anywhere in
the lineup), Dahl, Hilliard, Desmond or Tapia (one has to go), and Hampson backing up as 5th OF.
Infield: Arenado, Story, McMahon, Murphy (last year cuz of his stupid contract), Brendon Rodgers, and Hampson
Catcher: Wolters and either Drew Butera or Dom Nunez (Rockies is taking a long look at Butera over Nunez)
Rotation: Gray, Marquez, Freeland (those three must have good years or we’re shafted big time), the last two will be won in spring training – Anderson, Lambert, Castellani, Gonzalez, Senzatela, etc
Bullpen: Oberg, Estevez, Diaz, Pazos, Almonte (?), Howard (?), Bettis (?), Tinoco(?). I’m organizing a sit-in protest at the Rockies front office if they keep at least two out of three expensive arms (Davis, McGee, and Shaw). One is the limit they are allowed to keep and I would pick Shaw.
We will use this as the first thread of the off-season and when this thread gets a little long, I’ll put up a new post to start a new thread. Go Cardinals!
Rockies sign C Drew Butera to a minor league deal again.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/12/rockies-sign-drew-butera-to-minors-contract.html
Why? Is the market really that thin?
Arenado Smoke: There’s a fair amount of smoke surrounding Arenado. It’s not just Jon Heyman. There appears to multiple, independent origins. I’ll still classify it as a long-shot, but it merits watching. I think discussion of the contract “opt-out” is over-stated. I can easily see a scenario where the receiving team “buys” the opt-out in exchange for adding a year on the back end of the contract. Dodgers/Yankees/Braves all make sense. I have little doubt Nolan would waive his no-trade… Read more »
I think that next year is a more likely case for an Arenado trade. I believe that is when the Rockies will start their “rebuild”. This year I believe that the Rockies are seriously looking for an Blackmon trade. If they could somehow dump Ian Desmond, Jake McGee, Bryan Shaw and Wade Davis without replacing them with other unfeasible contracts this year they might be alright for another year. I suspect that the Rockies don’t think they can afford both… Read more »
Rockies took no one and did not lose anyone in the MLB part of the Rule 5 Draft. They took two RH relief pitchers from the Brewers in the AAA part of the Rule 5 Draft and lost four of their own pitchers in the AAA part. “Rule 5 Draft In the Triple-A portion, the Rockies reached out to the Brewers organization for two righty relief pitchers. Nate Griep, who possesses a fastball around 94 mph and a workable slider,… Read more »
RHP Joe Harvey cleared waivers and was outrighted to AAA.
Rockies sign OF Mike Gerber to a minor league deal.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/12/rockies-sign-mike-gerber.html
Rangers said to have interest in Arenado.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/12/rangers-have-interest-in-nolan-arenado.html
It’s still early and rosters are no settled, but 2020 ain’t lookin’ too promising. Here’s Clay Davenport’s early projected records (claydavenport.com) Dodgers 94-68 Padres 86-76 Dbacks 81-81 (pre-Bumgarner; that should add a couple wins) Rockies 77-85 Giants 65-97 (is this the worst team in baseball?) The shocker for me is that the Mets project as having the best record in the NL: 96 wins! That depends on pretty optimistic bounceback projections for old guys like Cespedes and Cano, but still… Read more »
I love Jeff McNeil (Mets). That kid is a baller.
And for a more amusing take on the Rockies: https://blogs.fangraphs.com/2020-zips-projections-colorado-rockies/ “The team has done a lousy job developing secondary offensive talent, and they showed little interest in a meaningless stretch drive to look at some of these fringe players, like Dom Nunez or Roberto Ramos or Peter Mooney, by giving them playing time in the majors. There was no guarantee Mike Tauchman would even be good for the Yankees in 2019, but there was certainly more of a chance he’d… Read more »
Yep, if they signed ’em to a zillion dollars, they’re gonna play ’em, over taking a perfect opportunity to vet some “fringe players”
It’s not the fact that the Rockies make mistakes (all teams do), it’s the fact that they’re incapable of moving on from their mistakes.
If I were an Owner (we can all dream – right) and had a mid-League payroll (say 110-120M), I’d allocate a 10-15% “screw-up” contingency fund for my GM and encourage leadership to move on from mistakes.
Keeler: Will Nolan Arenado be the straw that breaks Jeff Bridich’s back? https://www.denverpost.com/2019/12/22/nolan-arenado-jeff-bridich-daniel-murphy-wade-davis-rockies-free-agency-fail-2019/
Hits the nail squarely five times over. I’d be shocked if any RWOer disagrees with this article.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, RWOers! Thanks for keeping the site alive. For whatever reason, the holidays bring me back to thinking about baseball. Interesting Tom Verducci piece about how the game has changed in the last decade — to my mind, mostly not for the good: https://www.si.com/mlb/2019/12/23/baseball-decade-in-review I’ve been a big fan of analytics in baseball, not exactly from the start, but a pretty “early adapter.” But the powers that be need to realize the new reality of how… Read more »
Merry Christmas, Ag, and to all our readers and writers and commenters who celebrate! I’m glad the site is alive, too.
Merry Christmas to all!
Referencing the Verducci article……things change, in nearly all aspects of life. Sometimes the change seems like its solely for the sake of change. Regardless, it’s incumbent on everyone (in this case – MLB) to keep up with change. I’m a big fan of the impending 3 batter RP minimum (exceptions noted) as a way to combat game time creep.
I”m sure you’ve seen this by now:
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/12/braves-trade-rumors-nolan-arenado-rockies.html
This is the closest thing to a realistic, “perfect” match for both sides (meaning Atlanta and the Rox fit for a Nolan trade). There are even “rumors” on a couple of Braves sites about taking Blackmon also (I’m in Georgia this week). These (the Blackmon rumors) are just fan generated as far as I can tell.
Update via Jon Morosi (MLB Network) Twitter:
Sources: Nolan Arenado has roughly a 50/50 chance of being traded, with a half-dozen teams having checked in, as I just reported on
@MLBNetwork
. The #Dodgers are *not* the most likely destination, as #Rockies prefer not to trade Arenado in the division.
@MLB
Here’s where I am with this:
If we’re to believe the rumors, Josh Donaldson is enamored with the Nationals or a return to the Braves. This means one of these two teams (at a minimum) will be left at the alter. The NL East has turned into an arms race this off-season. If I’m the Rox – I’m scouting the hell out of these two farm systems.
Rockies want a young, dynamic, right-handed-hitting center fielder, among other players, in order to move Arenado . . . meaning Luis Robert is precisely the kind of player who intrigues them in this blockbuster scenario. Great point here by @philgrogers. https://t.co/dagY6qeDfL
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) January 2, 2020
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/01/morosi-5050-chance-of-nolan-arenado-trade.html
MLBTradeRumors has a Shop Arenado poll.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/12/mlbtr-poll-should-rockies-shop-nolan-arenado.html
Welcome back, Bad Old Days. It is hard for me to watch how Bridich squandered a fantastic young core of talent through idiotic free agent signings. And we’re back to the 2012-15 era now where offseason acquisition talk centers around things like “who will take our problem contracts” and “how do we deal our best player we’ve had since Tulo’s prime.” Not to mention the thrilling “who will back up Tony Wolters” where every other team in this situation would… Read more »
Rockies “investigating” trades for McGee and Shaw.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/01/latest-on-rockies-relievers.html
In other words: “Rockies desperately trying to get anyone to pay even a small fraction of McGee’s and/or Shaw’s guaranteed salaries.”
Rockies have agreed to sign IF Chris Owings to a minor league deal.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/01/rockies-to-sign-chris-owings.html
“USA Today’s Bob Nightengale says that Owings will make $1 million if in the majors. The utility player hit an embarrassing .139/.209/.233 over 66 games with the Royals and Red Sox last season.”
Horrible. Embarrassing.
This is reminding me of the offseason in the darkest days — maybe 2003-2005? — when the big free agent acquisitions were Desi Relaford, Eli Marrero, Todd Greene, and, oh … Benny Agbayani. As I’ve said before, my nom de plume is meant to serve as a cheerful reminder of Rockies fandom in those old LOL days. It wasn’t meant to be a prediction of future LOL days.
Benny Agbayani meet Kelby Tomlinson. Kelby Tomlinson meet Benny Agbayani.
Long, massive Roger Daltrey scream……Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.
Fun challenge for long-time fans who’ve followed the rosters closely: find me a scrap-heap acquisition who stood out and really contributed. (There may be one or more, but I sure don’t recall.)
Kaz Matsui, but only got 2007 out of him. He actually came over in a trade in bad contract for bad contract, change of scenery deal right?
Jeromy Burnitz finished up 2003 with the Dodgers hitting .204 with 13 HRs and 32 RBIs. Played 2004 for Rockies hitting .283 with 37 HRs and 110 RBIS.
His combined totals between the Mets and Dodgers for 2003 were .239 BA with 31 HRs and 77 RBIs.
Could Jason Marquis be considered a scrap-heap pickup? He was really good for a little while.
From MLBTradeRumors “The Rockies re-signed righty reliever Wes Parsons. The 27-year-old was claimed off waivers midseason from the Braves, but a dreadful MLB showing cost him his 40-man roster spot. Parsons logged a cumulative 5.45 ERA with more walks (29) than strikeouts (26) in 34.2 innings. Colorado also signed outfielder Michael Choice. The former top prospect, now 30, hasn’t logged significant MLB action since 2014. He’s spent the past two seasons in the Mexican League, but a strong 2019 effort… Read more »
Rockies sign IF Kelby Tomlinson to minor league deal.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/01/rockies-sign-kelby-tomlinson.html
Rockies to sign C Elias Diaz to minor league deal.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/01/rockies-to-sign-elias-diaz.html
The Yankees continue to add ex Rockies. They are going to sign Iannetta to a minor league deal.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/01/yankees-sign-chris-iannetta-catcher.html
Rockies and Kyle Freeland agree on $2.875MM salary.
David Dahl signed for $2.475MM.
Jon Gray signed for $5.6MM. Estevez signed for $1.08MM.
https://www.mlb.com/rockies/news/rockies-2020-arbitration-roundup
Story filed for $11.5MM vs the Rockies $10.75MM offer.
Wolters filed for $2.475MM vs the Rockies offer of $1.9MM. Of the 6 Rockies players eligible for arbitration, four have signed with only Wolters and Story not reaching agreements.
https://www.mlb.com/rockies/news/rockies-2020-arbitration-roundup
Cardinals and Rockies supposedly talking Arenado trade. The fact that Bridich is unhappy with a comment recently made by Arenado may make the Arenado trade more likely.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/01/cardinals-rockies-have-reportedly-engaged-in-preliminary-arenado-talks.html
Speculation on my part….Nolan has requested a trade. More conjecture/speculation on my part, Nolan waives no trade clause to receiving team in exchange for 1 more on back-end of contract.
Braves are best fit (I’m discounting the Dodgers, I don’t think the Rox FO has the cojones to deal with them).
Cardinals aren’t a bad fit.
Excuse me…..Nolan waives “opt-out” clause……not “no trade.” My bad.
It is a safe bet that Arenado would be willing to waive his opt out clause since he did not request an opt out as part of the contract. Bridich was the one that insisted that there be an opt out clause in the contract.
Nothing at this high stakes level is a safe bet.
Not the Cards! No! No! Never! Uggghhh. We already had to watch Larry and Matt receive their heroes’ welcomes there. Uggghhh.
I’ve got to think Nolan has expressed willingness to leave if not flat-out asked. Can’t blame him (although it’s a bit shocking that he does a 180 after one bad season), but the whole business still hurts. Do you guys and gals give credence to the idea that such things will forever be a distraction to the team (possible) and distractions harm the team (shouldn’t, but…)?
What comment did Nolan make that Bridich is unhappy about?
The one about missing the opportunity to make the necessary moves to be a contender but instead it feels like they are doing a rebuild.
Astros fire GM Jeff Luhnow and Manager A.J. Hinch following punishment from MLB for sign stealing.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/01/astros-jeff-luhnow-aj-hinch-suspended-draft-picks-sign-stealing-mlb.html
Red Sox fire manager Alex Cora for his part in the Astros sign stealing.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/01/red-sox-fire-alex-cora.html
The wheels are turning. Josh Donaldson to Twins. This presumably makes the Braves and Nats Nolan pursuers as well (joining the Cards).
Also – Alex Cora out in Boston.
I just heard O’Dowd throw the Cubs into a possible multi-team mix, with Bryant coming to the Rockies. Got to love the hot stove! Unless it involves losing a beloved superstar.
I just have a really hard time thinking Monfort/Bridich can process a three-way trade. They can’t process no-brainer, simple, one for one type trades.
Arenado on Bridich’s bad side for … speaking the truth. A quick summary of Bridich acquisitions/signings vs. Dan O’Dowds: – Arenado: O’DOWD – Blackmon: O’DOWD – Dahl: O’DOWD – McMahon: O’DOWD – Story: O’DOWD – Gray: O’DOWD – Freeland: O’DOWD – Oberg: O’DOWD -Desmond: BRIDICH – Wade Davis: BRIDICH – Bryan Shaw: BRIDICH – Jake McGee: BRIDICH – Marquez: BRIDICH – Wolters: BRIDICH – Murphy: BRIDICH – Hoffman: BRIDICH With the exception of Marquez, Bridich’s guys are all — and… Read more »
Luhnow is suspended for 1 year.
And if I’m Mr. Monfort, I’m willing to wait for Luhnow. By the way, from what I’ve read, Luhnow isn’t the main culprit here. He was kind of the “you had reason to know this was going on and did nothing to stop it” guy. He’s kind of scummy in a NE Patriots way, but obviously it works and nice guys still do finish last.
I don’t want any scummy Patriots-way types, but I sing Amen to the rest of your excellent post
Correct – Farm System is currently crap. I’d rank it somewhere in the 25th – 30th range. Some publications may be slightly more generous. You’ll be hard pressed to find a ranking higher than 20th anywhere. Also agree regarding Luhnow, I’d take him in a heartbeat.
The fallout continues as the Mets fire newly hired manager Carlos Beltran.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/01/carlos-beltran-steps-down-mets-manager.html
If anyone has evidence that Monfort and/or Bridich has anything to do with sign stealing….please, please, please come forward!
Hah! Now if we can link Ian Desmond and Wade Davis to it too… ok, maybe that’s asking too much.
My rumor is that Bridich was providing the pitching signs to the opponents.
The Rockies are going to retire #33 in April. Bravo! I am on pins and needles for the Hall of Fame announcement Tuesday.
Rockies appear to have a 40 man roster opening due to Justin Lawrence being suspended for PED use.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/01/rockies-justin-lawrence-suspended-for-ped-use.html
Must see YouTube TV:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCbQhKVNYkU
OH BABY….
Bridich says no trade.
Nolan says he’s disrespected, and “you can quote it.”
Bridich gone by the end of the week….sdcarp’s fearless prediction.
Bridich say no trade.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/01/rockies-gm-jeff-bridich-says-nolan-arenado-wont-be-traded.html
Nolan says he is disrespected and that it isn’t about the trade chatter.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/01/nolan-arenado-i-feel-disrespected-by-rockies.html
Get in line Nolan. I’ve been disrespected by Bridich’s decisions also. It sucks being a Rockies fan these days.
Latest on Arenado.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/01/latest-on-nolan-arenados-relationship-with-rockies.html
MLBTR poll on Arenado.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/01/mlbtr-poll-nolan-arenados-future.html
Please, please be correct on this one, carp… what a sorry mess.
I sticking by my prediction.
Larry Walker along with Derek Jeter makes the Hall of Fame!!!!!!!
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/01/derek-jeter-larry-walker-elected-to-hall-of-fame.html
Yyyyeeeeeeessss!!!!
WALK!!! Yipppeeeee and RIGHT ON!!! My all-time favorite baseball player to watch (and listen to :-))
Very nice.
Did anyone notice Jeter fell 1 vote of an unanimous decision. Someone didn’t vote for Jeter? Weird.
Larry Walker, Yeah!! I really didn’t think he’d make it, mostly because his career was a bit short and because he played in the media deserts of Montreal and Denver. Hey, maybe that finale in St Louis raised his profile enough! While the career stat line is on the edge, there’s no question that in his peak years he was a truly remarkable player – a true 5 tool guy. Glad to see it happen.
Korean Baseball’s LG Twins have purchased the contract of Rockies 1B Roberto Ramos.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/01/kbos-lg-twins-purchase-roberto-ramos-contract-from-rockies.html
Bridich: I didn’t think it was possible, but here we are, less than a month from spring training, and we really are expecting ALL of Ian Desmond, Bryan Shaw, Jake McGee, and Wade Davis to report. (I just checked some of the reliable projections: Desmond projects as about 1 win UNDER replacement level; the other 3 right at replacement level. There is literally nothing worth holding on to here.) As Rockies. Bridich may be the most stubborn GM I’ve ever… Read more »
I fear it’s Dick Monfort’s cozy family loyalty thing that keeps this team stuck in the mud as well. And that’s NEVER going to shift. Nolan has said it wasn’t the trade speculation, and it is “things” (plural), but he hasn’t specified further. Saunders sheds a bit of light in his column: a meeting between JB and Nolan that turned confrontational, amid accusations of “broken promises.” I hate to hear the word confrontational, and you know whose side I’m on,… Read more »
“In a texted statement issued to Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post, Arenado wrote: “There has been a lot of stuff going on that nobody knows about and I was reacting to what was said, and (that) was out of character for me because I’m very private with my life. The Rockies have been talking to my agent and me this offseason about a number of things that will remain between us. I will not speak on these things anymore.… Read more »
LAME!
“Denver Post Rockies Retweeted
Kyle Newman
@KyleNewmanDP
·
1h
#Rockies fans, to reiterate, at tomorrow’s Fan Fest, GM Jeff Bridich will be unavailable to media. He will also not hold a formal Q&A with fans. Questions about Nolan Arenado’s future and $0 spent in free agency are left unanswered”
Booooooooooooo
Rockies to sign Trevor Story to a 2 year extension.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/01/rockies-nearing-multi-year-contract-with-trevor-story.html