Colorado Rockies: What will they do with Tyler Chatwood?

While Colorado Rockies pitcher Tyler Chatwood looks to work his way back off the disabled list, the question becomes what will happen to Chatwood when he’s ready to rejoin the team?

As Thomas Harding of MLB.com reported, the 27-year-old Chatwood threw a one-inning simulated game before the Rockies met the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on Monday night. Looking to bounce back from a calf injury that landed him on the disabled list just after a horrendous start against the New York Mets on July 15, Colorado manager Bud Black indicated he liked what he saw from Chatwood in the roughly 20-pitch session.

Chatwood has struggled in his 19 starts this season, posting a 6-11 mark and 4.74 ERA. He’s also given up 60 walks in 106.1 innings of work. Last season, he posted 70 in 158 innings. Chatwood has also already surrendered as many home runs this season as he did all of last season, which was a career-high.

More from Rox Pile

• Colorado Rockies: What if Todd Helton had played football instead?
• Colorado Rockies: Charlie Blackmon out for the season
• Colorado Rockies: Injuries shift look of roster ahead of Dodgers series
• Colorado Rockies: Has Sean Bouchard earned a second look in 2023?
• Colorado Rockies: 3 things we appreciated from Tuesday in San Francisco

While he has once again been better this season on the road (4-6, 3.75 ERA in 11 starts) versus Coors Field (2-5, 6.14 ERA in eight starts), it also marks the highest ERA for Chatwood since he joined the Rockies in 2012.

That same year was also the last time Chatwood made an appearance out of the bullpen. However, that could change this season. With a crowded rotation, the Rockies may look to move Chatwood into a long- or middle-relief role when he returns from the 10-day disabled list. The right-hander could join southpaw Chris Rusin in that role, taking the spot of Jordan Lyles in the bullpen.

It’s an interesting time for the Rockies and Chatwood, who will become a free agent at the end of the season. While Chatwood posted historic numbers as a starter last season on the road, Colorado also seems ready to let their young pitching corps of Jon Gray, Kyle Freeland, Jeff Hoffman, Antonio Senzatela and German Marquez take the lead. Also, Tyler Anderson and Chad Bettis are working their way back from the disabled list, meaning the Rockies will have some tough choices coming up in terms of their rotation.

Next: Could the Rockies and Orioles be trade partners?

With Chatwood as a free agent at the end of the season, could he end up as one of Colorado’s bargaining chips as the trade deadline approaches? That is a possibility as well.