Colorado Rockies: Could a Josh Rutledge reunion happen in 2018?

Could the Colorado Rockies and Josh Rutledge be headed for yet another reunion this offseason? The stars are seemingly once again aligning for the possibility.

After being drafted by the Rockies in the third round of the 2010 MLB amateur draft, the 28-year-old infielder spent the first three years of his career (2012-2014) in a Rockies uniform. During that time, he saw action in 266 games, compiling a .259 average with 19 home runs and 89 RBI while playing shortstop, second base and third base.

His best statistical season with the Rockies came in 2012 when he hit eight homers and 37 RBI while batting .274. Two years later, he was traded to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for reliever Jairo Diaz, who is still a member of Colorado’s 40-man roster. However, he never made it back to the big leagues with the Angels before being traded to the Boston Red Sox in July of 2015 for Shane Victorino.

Rutledge’s time with the Red Sox was marred by injury, including a concussion and season-ending hip surgery last year that limited him to just 37 games.

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It appeared that the Rockies and Rutledge were headed for a reunion last season when Colorado signed him to a minor league contract. However, the Red Sox grabbed him through the Rule 5 draft.

This year, however, could be different. After the late-season hip surgery, the Red Sox were planning to assign Rutledge to the minor leagues. Rutledge instead chose to pursue free agency. It marks the second consecutive season that the Red Sox were going to send Rutledge to the minors and he has chosen free agency.

Could the Rockies and Rutledge could once again perhaps find a mutually beneficial partnership? Colorado is looking for players who are versatile and Rutledge certainly fits that role. Rutledge signed a one-year, $600,000 contract with the Red Sox last season so he will also come at a reasonable price.

Next: The 5 players Colorado should target in the offseason

With Alexi Amarista not returning to the Rockies in 2017, finding some veteran infield depth to join Pat Valaika in backup infield duties could be beneficial for Colorado.