Colorado Rockies: Six Players, Six Key Free Agency Questions

Free Agent #1 – Jorge De La Rosa

Contract just completed: 2 years/$25 million

Jorge De La Rosa is Colorado’s all-time leader in wins and has been a stalwart of the team since he arrived in Denver for the 2008 season. While in Colorado, he’s compiled an 86-61 mark with a 4.35 ERA in 209 games (200 starts).

De La Rosa looked strong heading into spring training but struggled out of the gate with a 1-3 record and 10.18 ERA in April before suffering an injury in early May. A time in the bullpen seemed to reinvigorate him as he posted a 4-0 mark and 1.96 ERA in June. However, he was just 3-3 with a 5.30 ERA after the All-Star break.

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Colorado’s rotation is locked in for next year when you consider that Jon Gray, Tyler Anderson, Tyler Chatwood and Chad Bettis are set to return. Additionally, Jeff Hoffman and German Marquez both flashed signs of great potential during September starts with the Rockies.

All of that said, it looks like De La Rosa is on the outside looking in when it comes to the Rockies’ plans for 2017. With a young rotation in place and the team looking to move money from one veteran contract to bolster the franchise, De La Rosa, who turns 36 just before the 2017 season begins, has pitched his last game as a member of the Colorado franchise.

Free Agent #2 – Boone Logan

Contract just completed: 3 years/$16.5 million

When you look at Boone Logan’s overall career in Colorado, you shrug your shoulders a little. In three seasons in LoDo, the southpaw put together a 4-11 mark with a 4.64 ERA. However, if you break down those numbers a bit more, you’ll see that Logan became a more and more valuable piece of the Colorado bullpen as the years passed by.

Logan dropped his ERA from 6.84 in 2014 to 4.33 in 2015 to 3.69 last season, entrenching himself as Colorado’s clutch left-hander out of the bullpen. The 32-year-old was the center of many trade rumors last season, showing what the value that other teams were placing on his work at Coors Field.

So now the Rockies are faced with a dilemma when it comes to Logan. Are they willing to pay the price to keep him around for another season or two or are they willing to let him walk? Our guess is that Logan will not be back in a Colorado uniform next season.

One of the biggest reasons for that is Logan’s post-All Star performance. Prior to the Midsummer Classic, Logan was 0-0 with a 3.18 in 22.2 innings over 35 games. After the All-Star Game, his ERA jumped an entire run to 4.18 in 23.2 innings over 31 games. He also went 2-5 after the break after not figuring in a decision before it.

Logan’s ERA jumped in the second half thanks in part to the long ball. The southpaw didn’t allow a homer before the break, but surrendered four after it. He also walked 12 batters after the break while only issuing eight free passes prior to it.

His September was shades of Logan past as he went 0-2 with a 7.11 ERA. Between that and not wanting to spend that much on salary, we think the Rockies will not re-sign Logan for 2017.

Free Agent #3 – Ryan Raburn

Contract just completed: 1 year/$1.5 million

Ryan Raburn was signed in the offseason by the Rockies to help the team do better against left-handed pitching. However, injuries and circumstances forced Raburn to do a lot more than just that last season and it simply didn’t work.

The 35-year-old outfielder finished the season batting just .220 with nine homers and 30 RBI. Part of the reason was that Raburn didn’t just face left-handed pitchers as was originally the reason he was brought on board. He actually had more plate appearances against right-handed pitching (137) than southpaws (114). In either situation, Raburn didn’t fare well, hitting .229 against lefties and .213 against right-handers.

Take into account that Raburn hit .371 in 18 April games with four homers and eight RBI and you can see how he struggled the rest of the season. However, he did have a shining moment in August when his two-run double produced the game-winning run in extra innings against Aroldis Chapman and the Chicago Cubs.

He served as Colorado’s designated hitter in six games last season and even played some first base when called upon. He was versatile, but simply didn’t bring to the table what the Rockies were looking for when he was originally signed. For that reason, Raburn won’t be back with the team in 2017.

Free Agent #4 – Nick Hundley

Contract just completed: 2 year/$6.25 million

At the age of 33, Nick Hundley is perhaps as much a symbol of the switch to Colorado’s youth movement as much as any player on this list.

In his two years in Colorado, Hundley saw action in 186 games and put together a .282 average with 20 homers and 91 RBI. Last season, Hundley hit .260 with 10 homers and 48 RBI.

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However, what Hundley brought to the team more than plate appearances or innings behind the plate was his veteran leadership to players like Tony Wolters, Tom Murphy and Dustin Garneau. Former Colorado manager Walt Weiss talked often about the importance of having someone like Hundley in the clubhouse to help young catchers progress in their careers.

There has been much discussion about whether Wolters and Murphy are ready to assume the everyday catching responsibilities for the Rockies. The answer seems to be yes and that leaves Hundley out of the picture. The teacher has taught the students and now it’s time for them to assume their roles. Rockies fans seem excited about the possibility of Murphy’s offense and Wolters continuing to frame pitches in a magnificent way behind the dish.

Hundley’s career is by no means over. It’s just over in Colorado. He still has the skills and mindset to land another team in a supporting role. He’s also one of those catchers who could easily be a manager someday.

Free Agent #5 – Mark Reynolds

Contract just completed: 1 year/$2.6 million

We’ve discussed the scenarios surrounding Mark Reynolds and Colorado’s first base situation quite a bit. You can read all of the options thrown out about what the Rockies might do with the position here.

Call to the Pen

Now at the age of 33 and coming off an injury-plagued campaign, Reynolds is in an interesting predicament. He certainly proved his worth last year in the field but didn’t produce as many runs as the Rockies thought he might when he was originally signed. The man who came to Denver with the offensive credentials actually became a defensive surprise in LoDo. Go figure.

Reynolds meant more to the Rockies last season than maybe was originally thought when he first signed. The merry-go-round of players who tried to fill his position while he was out is head-shaking … and none of them could produce at the plate or in the field the way that Reynolds did.

He had value last season … and will most likely bring value to the team this season if he is re-signed to another one-year deal. However, with options like Matt Holliday and Mark Trumbo on the free agent market, it’s very possible the Rockies will choose to put the money there.

Our bold prediction: Reynolds does not return to the Rockies in 2016.

So, to recap, that’s five profiles down and five players we’ve said won’t be back in 2016. However, our sixth and final profiled player will break that streak.

Free Agent #6 – Daniel Descalso

Contract just completed: 2 year/$3.6 million

Was there a more versatile player for the Rockies last season than Daniel Descalso? If so, you’d be hard-pressed to find him.

Last season, Descalso played all four infield positions plus seven games in left field (his first-ever time in that position) and designated hitter. Whatever the Rockies seemed to need last season, Descalso filled the need. And he did it well, batting .264 with eight homers and 38 RBI in 250 at-bats.

Descalso, who just turned 30, hit .343 before the All-Star break but just .233 after it. Of note, 180 of his 250 at-bats came after the All-Star Game, mostly out of necessity with Trevor Story’s season-ending injury.

One might look at his second-half numbers and wonder why Descalso is the only person on this list who we think will still be with the Rockies in 2017. It’s simply because of his versatility and the fact that he shouldn’t be counted upon to be an everyday player as he was late in the 2016 season. He’s a great guy to plug in when a Story, DJ LeMahieu or Nolan Arenado needs a day off.

Another element that Descalso brings to the team is that he’s been a part of a World Series winning team (the St. Louis Cardinals in 2011). If the Rockies are serious about making a deep push into the postseason next season, having a guy who has “been there and done that” on the roster is important.

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For the money, the versatility and the experience, we say Descalso is back in Colorado in 2017.