Colorado Rockies: offseason strategy should target 5 players

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Today, there are one hundred forty-three days left before Opening Day arrives on Wednesday March 29, 2018. This season, marks the first time that EVERY Major League Baseball Team will play together, on Opening Day, since 1968! Between, now and then, there are plenty of dates and important events going on that will make this off-season one for the ages.

That being said, all thirty (30) teams are planning their off-season strategy, looking to be 2018’s version of the Houston Astros. Many of these teams will be pursuing free agents and scouring the league for any trade acquisitions who could improve the teams roster, their farm system depth, and the overall franchise performance.

With one hundred forty-nine (149) players hitting free agency early morning Thursday, the league is preparing for the Hot Stove Season to begin now, in preparation for the Major League Baseball Winter Meetings, taking place December 10-14 in Orlando, Florida.

As a Contributor for RoxPile, we already know I will be contributing my piece to the Colorado Rockies, a team, who many predicted would be a postseason team in 2017, but they all believed the Rockies had to see everything go right, as our very own Bobby Mueller shows us in his piece. As we all remember, very little did go right in Spring Training, and the Rockies organizational depth was put to the test from the early beginning.

What nobody expected was the preparedness of the young arms in the farm system, and the talent they brought to the Major League Level in 2017, as they cleared the way for the Veterans to get healthy, by stepping in nicely, and holding down the fort en route to an 87-75 overall record, and the second Wild Card Spot.

In looking at their current roster, the free agent departures of: Greg Holland, Jonathan Lucroy, Carlos Gonzalez, Mark Reynolds, Tyler Chatwood, Jake McGee, and Pat Neshek, will be difficult to fill. Each of these Rockies, outside of Carlos Gonzalez, will be earning some hefty pay raises, and they could and, very likely, could sign elsewhere.

So, the Colorado Rockies find themselves in need of several key position players, and a few new strong members to the bullpen.

Those holes are:

Catcher
First Base
Closer
Set-Up Man
Middle Relief

Lets take a look at each position, and I will identify the five members I believe Colorado needs to target, why they need to target them, and the method I believe they should be acquired by. Moving on, let’s take a look at what I believe should be the Rockies offseason strategy.

CATCHER

Player: Tucker Barnhart

Current Team: Cincinnati Reds

2017 Statistics:

Offense: .270 BA / .347 OBP / .403 SLG 24-2B, 2-3B, 7 HR, 44 RBI, 4 SB, 42 BB, 68 SO, 3.4 WAR, 96 OPS+
Defense: .999 Fld%, 953 CH, 863 PO, 89 AST, 1 E, 11 DRS, 44% CS% (32/73), 4 PB

Acquisition Route: Trade w/ Reds

Rockies package: RHP Jeff Hoffman, IF Pat Valaika, LHP Harrison Musgrave, C Tom Murphy

Why Barnhart?

Tucker Barnhart has been one of baseball best catchers defensively. He still a developing into an offensive catcher, though his offensive numbers in 2017 were closer to league average. In 2017, Barnhart led all catchers with 14 DRS and a league high 44% caught stealing. He is the best in baseball at controlling the running game.

The Cincinnati Reds just signed Barnhart to a four year extension worth $16 million so the Rockies would need to offer something major in an effort to pry him from the Cincinnati front office.

I believe this gets done by packing together prized pitching prospect Jeff Hoffman, super utility man Pat Valaika, catching prospect Tom Murphy, and minor league prospect Harrison Musgrave.

Added Value: Strong arm, great blocking behind the plate, top notch defense, and the running game is thwarted.

FIRST BASE

Player: Carlos Santana

Former Team: Cleveland Indians

2017 Statistics:

Offense: .259 BA / .363 OBP / .455 SLG 37-2B, 3-3B, 23 HR, 79 RBI, 5 SB, 88 BB, 94 SO, 3.4 WAR, 112 OPS+, 13.2% BB Rate, 14.09% SO Rate
Defense: .996 Fld%, 1,155 CH, 95 PO, 5 E, 129 DP, 10 DRS

Acquisition Route: Free Agency

Terms of the Deal: 5 years, $ 90,000,000 – with a year 3 opt-out clause

Why Carlos?

Mark Reynolds had a true renaissance season in 2017. His overall production was strong enough it earned him the 6th most votes in Sports Weekly’s Comeback Player of the Year Awards. Reynolds final line in 2017 included a .267 BA / .352 OBP / .487 SLG, 30 homeruns, 97 RBI’s, 82 runs, 0.9 WAR, and a 105 OPS+. That’s all the good. It also included 175 strikeouts (3rd most among 1st Baseman in baseball), a 29.5% strikeout percentage (when you include his entire 593 plate appearances). Despite Reynolds 6 errors and .995 fielding percentage, Reynolds placed among the worst first baseman in baseball with -4 Defensive Runs Saved, ranking him the 118th worst defensive player in baseball.

Moving forward, the Colorado Rockies need to shore up the first base position the for long haul. Naturally, they will need to find a true improvement to keep them team moving in the right direction, hence, Carlos Santana. Starting with basic offensive numbers, in 2017, Santana registered a .259 BA / .363 OBP / .455 SLG. In addition, he hit 23 homeruns, drove in 79 runs, scored 90 runs, and stole 5 bases. He would walk 88 times and he had 94 total strikeouts, only 14.09% of his at bats. The strikeout difference alone, is nearly 45% fewer than Mark Reynolds, which will lead to more balls in play, and help offensive efficiency.

Secondly, Santana, currently one of the finalists for the American League Gold Glove , held a .996 Fielding Percentage, with 5 errors, and a + 8 defensive runs saved (59th in the league among all ball players).

Santana, would more than likely fill the number four spot in Colorado Rockies Lineup. His plate discipline would improve the middle of the order for the Colorado Rockies, and allow for interesting moments to occur at 20th & Blake.

Added Value: Postseason leadership, plate discipline, veteran leadership, offensive power, clutch hitting, and great defense.

CLOSER

Player: Addison Reed, RHP

Former Team: New York Mets-Boston Red Sox

2017 Statistics:

Pitching: 2-3, 2.84 ERA, 19 SV, 76 IP, 65 H, 24 ER, 15 BB, 76 SO, 11 HRA, 1.05 WHIP, 2.4 WAR, 154 ERA+

Acquisition Route: Free Agency

Terms of the Deal: 5 years, $ 50,000,000

Why Addison?

The Colorado Rockies are losing three veteran bullpen arms to free agency. While the general census believes Colorado will make a serious run for Greg Holland, the Sporting News Weekly’s 2017 Comeback Player of the Year, there is a great chance his 2017 numbers clear the way for a major pay day, and price the Colorado Rockies out of the market altogether.

With that said, Holland isn’t the only bullpen arm Colorado is losing. Set-up men Jake McGee and Pat Neshek are also available Free Agents, creating a major loss of veteran leadership, and closing experience in the bullpen.

That is where Addison Reed comes into play, the former New York Mets closer and former Boston Red Sox set-up man, has a solid fastball-slider mix similar to that of Greg Holland. His 125 career saves show he is capable of taking on the big inning. His 3.05 career ERA in save situations isn’t bad and the stuff is there so with a year of tutoring from pitching coach Steve Foster and bullpen coach Darren Holmes, the right hander could be in a Rockies uniform.

Another cause for optimism, comes from the 1.05 WHIP due to great control, and the limited number of hits allowed. When you add in the 76 strikeouts over 76 innings pitched, and a 9.00 SO/9 IP ratio, Addision becomes the prime candidate to replace Holland if the Rockies can not resign him.

Added Value: Power arm, veteran leader, experienced closer, veteran bullpen, post-season veteran

SET-UP MAN

Player: Tony Watson, LHP

Former Team: Pittsburgh Pirates-Los Angeles Dodgers

2017 Statistics:

Pitching: 7-4, 3.38 ERA 10 SV, 66.2 IP, 72 H, 25 ER, 20 BB, 53 SO, 9 HRA, 1.38 WHIP, 0.9 WAR, 128 ERA+

Acquisition Route: Free Agency

Terms of the Deal: 5 years, $ 37,500,000

Why Tony?

Tony Watson brings a good plethora of postseason experience to the mound. His 16 games, including 7 this year with the Dodgers on their way to the World Series, Tony Watson has allowed just three (3) earned runs in twelve (12) innings of relief. During the regular season, Watson has played a key role in the bullpen – he has performed in multiple roles – middle relief, set-up man, closer, and specialist – through out his career. In his seven season career, he has never had an ERA higher than 3.95, and that was in his rookie season. 2012 and last season are tied for his next highest at 3.38 and in 2014, he was also was a National League All-Star.

Adding his experience to the Rockies bullpen will give the franchise another valuable arm capable of performing in multiple roles, similar to the position held in 2017 by Jake McGee. Unlike McGee, Watson has had success doing the same in the playoffs.

He was also a potential candidate to join the Rockies bullpen before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline as we discussed in this article from July 13.

Added Value: Power lefty, experienced closer, set-up man, veteran leader, post-season experience

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MIDDLE RELIEF

Player: Brandon Kintzler

Former Team: Minnesota Twins-Washington Nationals

2017 Statistics:

Pitching: 4-3-3.03 ERA 29 SV, 71.1 IP, 66 H, 24 ER, 16 BB, 39 SO, 5 HRA 1.15 WHIP, 1,7 WAR, 147 ERA+

Acquisition Route: Free Agency

Terms of the Deal: 3 years, $ 22,500,000

Why Brandon?

Brandon Kinztler played a post season role for two major league baseball teams in 2017. His early season success (29 saves with the Minnesota Twins) proved invaluable to their postseason run as it helped to position the franchise in the lead of the Wild Card Race in the early going, building confidence in a young bullpen.

As the deadline arrived, Minnesota had fallen out of contention, so the franchise traded him away to the Washington Nationals, a team he would help to the postseason as his acquisition would then stabilize a bullpen hammered with injuries. For Minnesota, Kintzler had been the franchises closer the past two seasons, for Washington he was the set-up man who bridged the gap between their stable of starters and closer, Sean Doolittle.

In Colorado, he would serve in a late inning, middle relief role – similar to the role, Pat Neshek performed in Colorado. Whether it is due to matchups, needed rest, or in season struggles, Kintzler’s versatility could place him in the 7th, 8th, or 9th innings.

Added Value: Power arm, experienced closer and set-up man, veteran leader, and post-season experience

Next: Could Ichiro fit into the Rockies 2018 plans?

Final Takeaway

With the pieces I have chosen to discuss, the Rockies would improve their overall defense. They would add Veteran leadership, stabilize their bullpen, and add two of the best athletes at their respective positions.

Infuse the youth in Colorado, with the Veteran influence Santana, Kintzler, Watson, Reed, and Barnhart have and you could be staring at a team in position to make a deep run to the postseason, and for the first time in its franchise history, under the continued development of their deep rotation, and team speed – we will see this ball club challenge the Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks for the division title.

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