Colorado Rockies: Four Options for First Base in 2017

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Aug 21, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; General view of the Colorado Rockies gear in the dugout during the eighth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Coors Field. The Rockies defeated the Cubs 11-4. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /

One of the biggest questions facing the Colorado Rockies in the offseason is how the team will fill a big need in the lineup at first base.

Looking at the projected 2017 lineup, every position is in place except for first base. After a flurry of activity at first base last season, the Rockies are hoping to find some continuity there next season.

Mark Reynolds played a major role for the Rockies at first base last season, putting together a decent season at the plate and a surprising campaign defensively. The 33-year-old slugger played in 118 games, batting .282 with 14 homers and 53 RBI. He also hit the first walk-off homer of his career before being lost for an extended period with a broken hamate bone.

When Reynolds wasn’t at the corner, plenty of other Rockies were trying to fill his shoes. Ben Paulsen, Daniel Descalso, Ryan Raburn, Gerardo Parra, Stephen Cardullo and Jordan Patterson all took their turns at first base last season when Reynolds wasn’t in the lineup.

Now, Reynolds is a free agent and it’s a question mark whether the Rockies will re-sign him or not. So what options do the Rockies have at first base? Let’s check out four possibilities.

Jul 7, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies first baseman Mark Reynolds (12) celebrates scoring a run in the seventh inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Coors Field. The Rockies defeated the Phillies 11-2. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /

Option #1 — Keep Mark Reynolds

Let’s be honest here … Mark Reynolds did a good job for the Rockies last season at first base … and it wasn’t just because of his bat. Former manager Walt Weiss and Nolan Arenado praised his defense in this article. When he went down with his injury in August, it really threw the team for a loop and came at the worst possible time as Colorado was looking like it might contend for a Wild Card spot.

He hit .395 in August right before the hamate bone injury and .300 in the 10 games he played in September after coming back from it. Having the veteran around for just 38 games after the All-Star break was a problem for a Colorado offense that had just lost Trevor Story for the season and was trying to get Carlos Gonzalez back from an ankle injury.

Reynolds would more than likely sign another one-year contract with the Rockies, so this is definitely a stopgap move. More than likely, it would also signal a platoon situation like the Rockies tried to do with Reynolds and Ben Paulsen at the start of 2016.

The Rockies need right-handed power and Reynolds can supply that. But is his power going away? At the age of 33, Reynolds has now endured two seasons of 13 and 14 homers, respectively. This after hitting 20 or more homers in his previous seven seasons. And yes, his 14-homer campaign came while playing his home games at Coors Field for all of you who enjoy discussing the “thin air of Denver.”

Do the Rockies want a platoon situation in a season where they’re gunning for a playoff spot? That’s the biggest question lurking right now. Signing Reynolds would be affordable, but it would also put the Rockies right back into the same position they were in in 2016. For that reason, we don’t think it will happen.

Jun 29, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals left fielder Matt Holliday (7) at bat against the Kansas City Royals at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Billy Hurst-USA TODAY Sports /

Option #2 – Sign Matt Holliday

The thought that former Colorado Rockie Matt Holliday might actually re-sign with the team has been a rumor that has been swirling ever since his St. Louis Cardinals were eliminated from the postseason chase. When I wrote about it in late September, it immediately became one of our most popular articles.

Holliday played five seasons with the Rockies and helped the team to the 2007 World Series. His 36 homers and 137 RBI placed him second in the 2007 MVP race and his slide into home to clinch Colorado’s place in the postseason is one of the most iconic moments of that season (and really team history).

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He’s hit 20 or homers in 10 of his 11 last seasons. He’s right-handed. He’s beloved by Rockies fans for the impact he had on the team during some of its best seasons. It all sounds just perfect, right? Well, there is one catch.

One of the reasons that Holliday isn’t re-upping with the Cardinals this season is that the team isn’t willing to spend $17 million on him. Will the Rockies be willing to shell out that kind of money? If this would be the final piece of the puzzle that would lift the team to the top of the National League West standings, sure. However, there’s still some money that will need to be spent on the bullpen as well.

Also, Holliday has played just 10 games in his career at first base. That’s not saying that he couldn’t work on it all offseason and gain experience quickly, but it is a fact to know.

The Rockies leadership has hinted that they’re willing to open up the pocketbooks a little more this season and beyond. If that’s truly the case, Holliday could well find himself back in Colorado.

Sep 30, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; Baltimore Orioles right fielder Mark Trumbo (45) hits a 2-run home run during the fifth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /

Option #3 – Sign Mark Trumbo

The Rockies and Seattle Mariners were talking about Trumbo becoming a Colorado guy before he signed with the Baltimore Orioles. In fact, on our recent podcast, MLB.com’s Thomas Harding said that, if the Rockies had to do it all over again, they probably would’ve rather signed Trumbo when he was available last season rather than going after Gerardo Parra. We know some of the issues there have been with the Parra signing and I talked about them here.

After not signing with the Rockies, Trumbo made $9.15 million with the Orioles last season. The contract was quite the bargain as he earned his second All-Star bid and blasted a Major League-leading 47 homers while driving in 108 RBI.

Trumbo is also an outfielder and can play first base so he brings some versatility as well. In his seven big-league seasons, Trumbo has seen action in 371 games at first base and 361 games in the outfield. That’s a pretty nice split.

Option #4 – A current Colorado player moving to first base

On our recent podcast, Thomas Harding of MLB.com said he doesn’t think CarGo moving to first base will happen any time soon. In his words, he believed that was more “down the road.”

As Harding pointed out, the reason that CarGo moving to first base has been brought up was when the All-Star outfielder was recovering from knee issues in 2015. It was a question if CarGo’s knee would hold up in the outfield so a move to first base was discussed. Ever since then, it’s been in the back of the Rockies’ mind.

Harding has also suggested that David Dahl could move to first base and that would help free up the logjam in the outfield. It’s an interesting thought but would require a complete mindshift for Dahl.

Additionally, Ryan McMahon could be asked to make his Major League debut as part of a platoon situation at first base. In the first eight games in which he saw action during his time in the 2016 Arizona Fall League, six of those were starts at first base.

With McMahon as a left-handed hitter with some power, the platoon could make sense, especially with someone like a Matt Holliday or Mark Reynolds who might be a one-year solution at first. The Rockies could let the 2013 second-round pick break into the Majors slowly and learn from a veteran before turning the position over to him on a full-time basis.

Next: The Top 5 Shortstops in Colorado History

There are options for the Rockies at first base this offseason. It will be interesting to see which way the organization decides to go.

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