Jake McGee Returns to Rockies After Contract Agreement

Jake McGee is back as a member of the Colorado Rockies for the 2017 season.

The Rockies and McGee agreed on a deal on Friday afternoon, with the 30-year-old left-hander avoiding arbitration by reportedly agreeing to a one-year deal valued at $5.9 million.

In his first season in Colorado, McGee went 2-3 with a 4.73 ERA. He allowed 56 hits in 45.2 innings worked while posting the highest WHIP of his career at 1.577.

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It was a rough year on a number of fronts for McGee, who was brought to the Rockies in the deal that sent Corey Dickerson to the Tampa Bay Rays. McGee’s 4.73 ERA was a career-high, elevated in part by an April that saw him record five saves in six opportunities despite a 7.04 ERA.

McGee, however, would follow that with his best month of the season, posting a 1.50 ERA in May while converting nine of 10 save opportunities.

But the events of June 10 would see McGee’s season change dramatically. He let a ninth-inning lead slip away against the San Diego Padres and also tweaked his knee in the process. The next day, he was placed on the 15-day disabled list with knee inflammation.

Once he returned, he never regained his closing role with the Rockies while struggling to a 6.48 ERA in July.

There was some talk that McGee might not be tendered a contract for the 2017 season. However, the Rockies are hoping that he’ll rediscover the form that helped him to some dominant seasons in 2012 and 2014 with the Rays.

Shortly after being introduced, new Rockies manager Bud Black mentioned the health of McGee as well as bullpen colleagues Chad Qualls and Jason Motte as a key to Colorado’s potential success in 2017.

“The bullpen last year had an off year. A lot of it was due to injury, but I sense guys who were a little banged up last year are going to come back healthy,” Black said.

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McGee’s role in the bullpen under Black will become more clear as the season gets closer, but it’s expected he won’t be asked to finish a high number of games with Adam Ottavino entering camp healthy.