Colorado Rockies Rumors: Offer Extended to Greg Holland?

According to our friends at BSNDenver.com, the Colorado Rockies may not be done with their surprising winter after all.

BSNDenver.com is reporting that the Rockies have “approached relief pitcher Greg Holland with a multi-year deal.” The right-hander, who just turned 31, has a career mark of 18-12 with a 2.42 ERA and 145 saves, all with the Kansas City Royals from 2010-2015.

Holland was an All-Star for the Royals in 2013 and 2014, totaling 93 saves during that span and holding his ERA until 1.50. During the 2014 postseason, Holland was virtually untouchable, posting a 0.82 ERA in 11 games, including three shutout innings in the World Series.

He last pitched for the Royals in 2015, posting a 3.83 ERA as he fought through pain from what is believed to be a torn ligament he suffered late in the summer. As this article states, “He still gutted through 32 saves in 2015 before manager Ned Yost removed him from the closer’s role midway through September.”

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Holland underwent Tommy John surgery in October of 2015 and was out for the 2016 season. With that in mind, it is a roll of the dice to offer a contract to him. However, if Holland can regain his dominance, he will be a prized pickup for whichever team signs him.

One of Colorado’s weaknesses in recent seasons has been its bullpen and Rockies management has said that upgrading it was one of the priorities before the 2017 season. Part of that mission was believed to be accomplished when the Rockies recently signed left-hander Mike Dunn away from the Miami Marlins.

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Adam Ottavino should enter spring training as the closer for the Rockies, but a potential addition of Holland would certainly bolster the back end of the Colorado bullpen. With Dunn, Carlos Estevez and the return of Jairo Diaz, the Rockies already have options to finish games or set up Ottavino for the final few outs. Having Holland on the roster would turn what was perceived to be a weakness at the end of the 2016 season into a very interesting and talented bullpen in 2017.