Colorado Rockies Sign Mike Dunn to Three-Year Contract

The Colorado Rockies believe they helped shore up one of their biggest needs of the offseason on Thursday.

The Rockies unveiled on Thursday that added a left-handed arm to the bullpen, agreeing to terms on a three-year contract with free agent Mike Dunn. The 31-year-old Dunn made 51 appearances for the Miami Marlins in 2016 while recording a 3.40 ERA with 11 walks and 38 strikeouts.

Dunn will see one familiar face quickly in Colorado. Mike Redmond, who was recently hired as Colorado’s bench coach, spent more than two seasons with Dunn in south Florida when he managed the Marlins between 2013 and 2015.

Dunn began the 2016 season on the 15-day disabled list with a left forearm strain, his first career stint on the disabled list. It’s a testament to his durability as he has made at least 70 appearances in four of his last six seasons, and is the Marlins’ all-time leader in relief appearances (405), wins by a relief pitcher (26) and holds (104). Since 2011, Dunn’s 405 appearances are tied for the eighth-most among active relievers, the second-most among active left-handed relievers.

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He’s coming off a solid season in Miami, posting a 6-1 mark out of the bullpen despite allowing 43 hits in 42.1 innings pitched. It marked the first time since the 2012 season that Dunn had allowed more hits than innings pitched.

Originally drafted by the New York Yankees in the 33rd round of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft, the native of Farmington, N.M., made his Major League debut with the Yankees on Sept. 4, 2009 against the Toronto Blue Jays. In parts of eight seasons with the Yankees (2009), Atlanta Braves (2010) and Marlins (2011-16), Dunn has gone 28-25 with four saves, a 3.54 ERA, 172 walks and 389 strikeouts.

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As a left-handed reliever, Dunn is expected to take on most of the situational workload that was a strength of Boone Logan’s last season for the Rockies.

With his signing, the Rockies now have 39 slots of their 40-man roster filled.