Colorado Rockies: which free agents could return in 2018?

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DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 16: Carlos Gonzalez #5 of the Colorado Rockies celebrates in the dugout after hitting a fifth inning two-run homerun against the San Diego Padres at Coors Field on September 16, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /

The Colorado Rockies will be deciding on who, if anybody, they will try to resign during the offseason. The team has a potential of nine impending free agents and not all of them will resign.

The Rockies season ended much earlier than fans wanted so it is time to look at some of the potential decisions the Rockies could make this offseason. The Rockies front office has probably been thinking about this for a while but they are definitely thinking about it now. Who, of the impending free agents, will return to the Rockies in 2018?

Carlos Gonzalez

Arguably the biggest name of the people on the list, Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez is somebody who General Manager Jeff Bridich and company have to really consider whether or not they want him back.

The case for not resigning him

From April to August, he didn’t play like CarGo. He was paid north of $20 million this season. He is probably going to expect somewhere near that in an AAV (average annual value). The Rockies are not going to pay $20 million for a below average player.

The case for resigning him

In September, he played really well. In 24 games (22 starts), he had an offensive slash line of .377/.484/.766 with 22 runs, 29 hits, 12 doubles, six home runs, 16 RBI, and 15 walks.

Chance of resigning him: 10%. However, if he does not sign before the New Year’s Day, I would increase that because his value (in year’s and money) will drop.

CLEVELAND, OH – AUGUST 8: Catcher Jonathan Lucroy #21 talks to starting pitcher German Marquez #48 just before manager Bud Black #10 of the Colorado Rockies removes Marquez from the game during the seventh inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field on August 8, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

Ryan Hanigan, Mark Reynolds, Jonathan Lucroy, and Alexi Amarista (as long at the Rockies don’t exercise their team option on him) will all be free agents.

Hanigan was a backup catcher who only played in 33 games. I doubt that he will be resigned but if he is, I believe that it would probably be on a minor league contract with an invite to spring training.

For Reynolds, he was an unsung hero for the Rockies this season. He had 30 home runs and 97 RBI on the season. However, since the Rockies signed Ian Desmond to play first base, the Rockies may not resign him.

Lucroy has stated how he would like to return to Colorado and the Rockies have an obvious need for a catcher. However, if somebody else (especially a contender) offers more length and more money than the Rockies, he could also walk.

Amarista has a $2.5 million option for next season. I don’t think that it will be exercised but considering that Rockies manager Bud Black likes having him for versatility, I wouldn’t be surprised if he returns, but on a minor league contract with an invite to spring training or on a MLB contract with a lesser salary.

Chance of returning for Hanigan returning: Less than five percent

Chance of Reynolds returning: 40 percent

Chance of Lucroy returning: 50 percent

Chance of Amarista returning: 30 percent

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – APRIL 16: Greg Holland #56 rubs the baseball during the ninth inning against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park on April 16, 2017 in San Francisco, California. The Rockies defeated the Giants 4-3. (Photo by Stephen Lam/Getty Images) /

More from Rox Pile

Jake McGee, Pat Neshek, and Greg Holland (if he doesn’t exercise his player option) will all be free agents. The Rockies obviously relied on all three of them a lot during their stretch run (especially the latter two).

Even though they each struggled at one point or another, they were all key cogs in the Rox bullpen. Both Holland and McGee had an ERA of 3.61 in 61 and 62 games, respectively.

Neshek was acquired by the Rockies just before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline from the Philadelphia Phillies. With the Rockies, he had an ERA of 2.45 in 28 games. Overall, he had an ERA of 1.59 in 71 games on the season.

Often, great teams that make the postseason have great bullpens (the top six teams in bullpen ERA all made the Division Series this season) so it will definitely be something that the Rockies should invest in. However, it may not be with these three relievers.

Another pitcher that will be a free agent will be Tyler Chatwood. He pitched really well down the stretch for the Rockies. However, he may fall into the same case as Carlos Gonzalez: too inconsistent throughout the season.

Chance of McGee resigning with the Rockies: 15 percent

Chance of Neshek resigning with the Rockies: Less than 10 percent

Chance of Holland exercising his player option: One percent (I can’t completely rule it out)

Chance of Holland resigning with the Rockies: Five percent

Final Thoughts

Either way, it will be interesting to see how the Rockies offseason unravels. Also, of note, the Rockies will have a lot of money coming off the table after this season. They will have $33.375 million coming off the books in dead money (Jose Reyes, Jason Motte, Jordan Lyles, and Chad Qualls) as noted by Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post in this article from earlier today.

Next: Who could the Rockies next closer be?

Also, more than $20 million will be off the books with CarGo so the Rockies so the Rockies should have a lot of room for to make some moves in the offseason…and make the team even better than it was this year.

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