What’s The Colorado Rockies’ Plan With Cristhian Adames?

Feb 26, 2014; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Colorado Rockies shortstop C. Adames (65) poses during photo day at Salt River Fields. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

Option one: Call up Cristhian Adames and let him be the second utility infielder to one of Rafael Ynoa or Daniel Descalso, with the other removed from the active roster.

Adames profiles better as a starter, if his age and career to date in the minor leagues are any indication, but at some point it might be valuable to call him up to Denver and let him be the utility infielder. Considering how poor Descalso and Ynoa have been this year at the plate, and in the field (poor Ynoa in left… goodness knows he’s trying, and that ain’t his position), Adames deserves a shot on the big league squad, even as a utility man. (Of course, Ynoa has been demoted in favor of Drew Stubbs, so perhaps there’s only Descalso to consider long-term.)

Advantages: Adames will showcase what he can do in the big leagues, lining him up for either sustained time on the active roster next year and beyond, or making himself a viable trade candidate as the Rockies retain Troy Tulowitzki and prepare Trevor Story for the future. Also, there’s a significant chance Adames could be much better as a utility man than either/both Ynoa and Descalso. So, there’s that.

Disadvantages: Adames will turn 24 later this month, so he’s young, and he’s still got a lot of “prospect” left in him, regardless of Story’s promotion to Albuquerque. I can’t imagine the Rockies want to keep Adames on the bench, not getting consistent at-bats and languishing in the big leagues, where he might benefit better with playing every day as he has been for the Isotopes. Also, there’s a significant chance he could be worse than either/both Ynoa and Descalso. So, there’s that.

Next: Option Two: Let The Adames Era (?) Begin