Colorado Rockies: three offseason needs and potential targets

The Colorado Rockies went 87-75 in 2017, good enough to qualify for the second National League Wild Card spot. However, throughout the season, there were some areas in which the team struggled in during the season and they need to improve upon to do better next season.

With some of the 2017 Rockies becoming free agents here soon and some positions just being general weaknesses, they need to make some improvements in the offseason. Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post reported on Sunday that the Rockies will have more than $30 million in “dead money” coming off the books (money to Jose Reyes, Jason Motte, Jordan Lyles, and Chad Qualls), they will have a decent amount to play with for the upcoming season. Here are some areas that they should look to improve upon.

The bullpen

Jake McGee and Pat Neshek will definitely be free agents at the end of the season. Greg Holland, assuming that he doesn’t exercise his player option, will also be a free agent. Obviously, this creates a huge gap in the bullpen. Overall, the bullpen had an ERA of 4.40, which was 21st in baseball. Obviously, there’s some room for improvement but when they have 81 games in Coors Field, your ERA isn’t going to be the best on the planet.

All three probably won’t be resigned and with relievers making the largest portion of any given team, all teams will be looking for, and probably signing, major league relievers.

Some of the top flight options could include Holland’s former teammate and current Chicago Cubs closer Wade Davis, Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel (but Boston has a team option on him that they will most likely exercise), Kimbrel’s teammate Addison Reed, former Twins closer and current Nationals reliever Brandon Kintzler, and Cleveland Indians relievers Bryan Shaw and Joe Smith.