Colorado Rockies: MLB Trade Rumors predicts the top 50 free agents

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Earlier today, MLB Trade Rumors released their list of the top 50 free agents entering this offseason. Their list has a few different former Rockies or players that they believe will become Rockies.

MLB Trade Rumors released an article today discussing what they believe to be the top 50 free agents entering the offseason, the destination that they will end up, and the length and money for the contract. They do it every season and, often, some of the destinations and terms are not correct but it is interesting to discuss it nontheless. We will discuss the players that were Rockies in 2017 or players that MLB Trade Rumors will be Rockies in 2018.

10. Greg Holland, St. Louis Cardinals

Greg Holland was the Rockies closer for the 2017 and even though he had an atrocious month of August, he was still a key reason that the Rockies bullpen was much improved this season and that the team made the playoffs. However, MLB Trade Rumors does not believe that he will return to Denver as they rank him the tenth best free agent on their list and say that he will go to the St. Louis Cardinals on a four-year, $50 million contract.

19. Brandon Morrow, Colorado Rockies

Brandon Morrow spent the 2017 season with the National League champion Los Angeles Dodgers. On the regular season, he went 6-0 with a 2.06 ERA in 45 games and 43 2/3 innings. He struck out more than 10 batters per nine innings and walked less than two batters in nine innings.

This year’s World Series, he became only the second pitcher in World Series (with the first being Darold Knowles of the 1973 Oakland Athletics) to pitch in all seven games in a World Series. Coincidentally, Knowles was one of Morrow’s minor league pitching coaches.

However, at MLB Trade Rumors, they believe that Morrow will end up with the Rockies in 2018 with a 3-year, $18 million contract.

20. Jonathan Lucroy, Colorado Rockies

Catcher Jonathan Lucroy was acquired by the Rockies before the July 31st trade deadline. He had been struggling since he was traded to the Texas Rangers in 2016. However, he played very well for the Rockies as, offensively, he had an OPS+ of 115 and he helped the pitching staff tremendously.

Both the Rockies and Lucroy have expressed interest in coming together on a deal and MLB Trade Rumors believes that a deal will come to fruition before the offseason is complete: a deal that is for two years and $24 million.

29. Tyler Chatwood, Philadelphia Phillies

Tyler Chatwood was one of the Rockies most consistent pitchers in the final month and a half of the season but prior, he was not thrilled with Rockies manager Bud Black for removing him from the starting rotation. He drove Black (and fans) nuts with the amount of walks he would allow. For this reason, I think that there is a slim chance that he will wear a Rockies uniform next season.

MLBTR seems to share the same sentiments as me as they believe that he will sign the Philadelphia Phillies for a three-year, $20 million dollar contract. However, I personally believe that the years, in particular, are a bit steep.

30. Jake McGee, Chicago Cubs

Jake McGee was another reliever that was a key figure in the Rockies bullpen that performed much better than they did in 2016. Last season, he had an ERA of 3.61 and had a 9.1 to 2.5 strikeout to walk ratio.

MLBTR thinks, though, that the former Tampa Bay Ray will reunite with his former manager, Joe Maddon, in the Chicago in 2018 with a three-year, $18 million contract.

40. Carlos Gonzalez, Baltimore Orioles

Carlos Gonzalez had an excellent month of September but from April to August, he hit under .240 and his on-base percentage was barely over .300. For that reason, I personally don’t believe that he will return to Denver.

MLBTR has him going to Baltimore on a one-year, $12 million contract. I actually agree that Baltimore would be a good fit because they have a track record of signing players late in the offseason to one-year “pillow” deals after players realize their market it dwindling. The prime example happened Nelson Cruz. After an injury plagued 2013 season, he signed with Baltimore for the 2014 and led the league in home runs and came in 7th in MVP voting. That very well could be the story of Carlos Gonzalez next season.

43. Pat Neshek, Seattle Mariners

The final player on the list of MLBTR’s top 50 free agent list that spent time with the Rockies in 2017 is Pat Neshek. He was acquired by the Rockies just before the trade deadline in order to shore up their bullpen. In a Rockies uniform, he had an ERA of 2.45 in 28 regular season apperances and overall last season, he had an ERA of 1.59 in 71 appearances. He was also an All Star this past season with the Philadelphia Phillies. In fact, he was their only All Star.

MLBTR also believes that the Rockies will not resign him as they have him going to the Seattle Mariners on a two-year, $12 million contract.

Final Thoughts

Personally, I think that signing Morrow and Lucroy would be excellent moves for the Rockies but I think that the Rockies may sign one of the other relievers that they had last season. However, I would be more inclined to believe that they may be the subject of a few trades this offseason or sign some of the other players on the list. Particularly, don’t be surprised if the Rockies trade for or sign a few other relievers.

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