Colorado Rockies: offseason strategy should target 5 players

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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.