Colorado Rockies: who will Join Chris Rusin in the 2018 bullpen?

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JUNE 09: Chris Rusin #52 of the Colorado Rockies pitches against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on June 9, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The Rockies defeated the Cubs 5-3. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Rockies left-handed reliever Chris Rusin had a breakout 2017, going 5-1 with a 2.65 ERA (189 ERA+) and a WHIP below 1.11. His characteristic quick-pitch and indispensable versatility helped Rusin make a name for himself as one of the best-kept secrets in baseball.

His days of confidentiality may be numbered, however.

On September 8, Colorado played one of its biggest games of the season in Los Angeles against the division rival Dodgers. The Rockies rallied from a 4-1 deficit to take a one run lead against Yu Darvish in the fifth.

In the next inning, the Dodgers’ star third basemen Justin Turner came to the plate with two outs and the tying run standing on third base. The Rockies’ pitcher was Chris Rusin.

As is often the case in intra-divisional battles, Rusin and Turner have had a long and tumultuous history facing each other.

Unfazed, Rusin refused to blink first. With the count at 2-2, he fired a quick-pitch past Turner to strike him out looking and end the threat. When the game was over, Rusin had earned his fifth victory of the season.

In the age of Andrew Miller and Chris Devenski, Chris Rusin has found a home at the back of the Rockies bullpen.

Whether it’s eating up a couple innings or coming in to face one batter in a key moment, Rusin has proven he’s up for the task.

He was a critical piece to an improved 2017 Rockies bullpen that helped the team make the playoffs for the first time since 2009. Unfortunately, he’s also one of the only pieces of that bullpen who is signed through next season.

Closer Greg Holland (41 saves, 3.61 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 11 K/9) declined his option for 2018 to take a shot at free agency. Lefty Jake McGee (3.61 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 9.1 K/9) is a free agent this offseason. All Star set up man Pat Neshek (1.59 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 10 K/9) was added at the deadline and will also be a free agent.

Those are three huge pieces to replace, and though it would be great if one or two of them could be re-signed, that doesn’t necessarily mean it will happen.

The Rockies saw flashes of success from young relievers like Scott Oberg, Carlos Estevez, and Zac Rosscup but they will need to make additions in the offseason if they want their bullpen to remain a weapon.

With the free agent market opening up this week, here are a few free agent relievers that might be (or should be) on the Rockies’ radar this offseason.

Brandon Kintzler

Reports indicated the Rockies were interested in bringing the former Minnesota Twins’ closer to Colorado before the Nationals made a trade for him at the deadline.

Kintzler recorded 29 saves between Minnesota and Washington in 2017, posting a 3.03 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and a 4.9 K/9.

Kintzler is a steady guy. Those numbers are nearly identical to the numbers Kintzler has produced throughout his career, so the Rockies pretty much know what they’re getting with him.

They went after him pretty hard once, do the Rockies attempt to pursue him again now that he is a free agent?

Tony Watson

Watson is another guy who was linked to Colorado this past summer before he was traded to the Dodgers.

Splitting time between Pittsburgh and Los Angeles, the left-hander saved 10 games with a 3.38 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and a 7.2 K/9.

Dependable and experienced, Watson has pitched in at least 67 games for six straight years, including 70+ for the last four seasons. He has also never had an ERA higher than 3.95 in any of the seasons in his career.

As a side note, Watson’s former Dodger teammate Brandon Morrow has also been mentioned as a possible fit for Colorado, even as far back as last offseason.

Anthony Swarzak

Swarzak was dealt to Milwaukee as a part of the White Sox’s fire sale. Though he joined the team late, he became a key piece in the Milwaukee Brewers’ unexpected success down the stretch in 2017.

Swarzak put together a 2.33 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and 10.6 K/9 over 70 games.

Another benefit of Swarzak is that he should be available for a cheaper price than other, bigger-name relievers on the market such as Wade Davis (2.30 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 12.1 K/9) who posted similar numbers in 2017.

The question with Swarzak is can he reproduce 2017’s results next season?

Before last season, he saw some moderate success but also hit a few rough patches.

But if Swarzak can continue his 2017 dominance, he could be a steal for whatever team lands him.

Matt Belisle

Is a reunion in store?

Though Belisle’s stat line (4.03 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 8.1 K/9) doesn’t blow you away, he’s a solid veteran arm who can pitch the middle-to-late innings.

And you don’t have to worry about Coors Field intimidating him. Belisle pitched out of Colorado’s bullpen for six years, so he knows all about pitching in Colorado.

Belisle could help add stability to Bud Black’s bullpen as well as offer his vast wealth of experience to the team’s younger arms.

The veteran right-hander will turn 38 during the 2018 season, so his age could be a concern, however the last three deals he’s signed have all been for one year and that is probably what we can expect again this offseason.

Yusmeiro Petit

Petit had a career year in his first season with the Angels. The veteran reliever posted a 2.76 ERA with a 0.95 WHIP and a 10 K/9.

Those numbers (especially the WHIP and K/9) should bode well at Coors Field. As Rockies fans know all too well, when playing in Denver the fewer baserunners, the better.

Petit also knows the NL West, pitching for Arizona from 2007-2009 and for San Francisco from 2012-2015.

He is a veteran arm that can eat up a lot of innings over the course of the season.

Juan Nicasio

Another former Rockie, Nicasio seems to have found a home in the bullpen after bouncing around between four teams in the past three years, including three last year.

Even in that chaos, Nicasio kept a level head and managed to compile a 2.61 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and 9.0 K/9.

Interestingly enough, the most important out Nicasio has recorded in Rockies history did not come when he was pitching for the team.

It came at the end of last season when he got the last out of the ninth to help the St. Louis Cardinals defeat the Milwaukee Brewers, eliminating them from the postseason and sending the Rockies to the playoffs.

Final Thoughts

There are several other relievers on the market but these are just a few of the players who might make the best fit for a lower price.

Will any of these players be wearing purple next spring? We’ll just have to wait and see.

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