Colorado Rockies general manager Jeff Bridich discusses the team

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DENVER, CO – APRIL 22: Snow falls ouside the stadium as the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Colorado Rockies was postponed due to snow at Coors Field on April 22, 2013 in Denver, Colorado. The game will be made up as a split double header on Tuesday April 23, 2013. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /

On the first full day of the winter meetings, Colorado Rockies general manager Jeff Bridich was interviewed by MLB Network Radio hosts Jeff Joyce and, one of the Rockies very own TV broadcasters, Ryan Spilborghs and he was asked numerous questions about the team.

The Winter Meetings are always the busiest time of the offseason because everybody in baseball is all in one place. This also provides a great time for people to interviews and quotes from managers, coaches, and executives that they may not always be able to get and this was no exception as Jeff Bridich made an appearance on MLB Network Radio today and he discussed a lot about the Rockies.

The first question that was asked of him was by Jeff Joyce and he asked whether or not Bridich thought that he expected the Rockies to make moves at the meetings or it be a feeling out process to assess the market. Bridich said:

Our hope would be that it’s more than a feeling out process. The hope would be that we get some stuff done. It’s never a guarantee…but we’re ready to try to do some things here by the end of the week.

Bridich was then asked about a huge need for the team.

CHICAGO, IL – JUNE 09: Greg Holland #56 of the Colorado Rockies pitches in the 9th inning 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) /

Later, Joyce asked Bridich about the bullpen and how many pieces does he think that the Rockies need and if any relievers could fall outside of their price range. Bridich said this:

If we can add more than one arm that fits us in the ‘pen, I think we’ll try to do that. You know, it’s not necessarily an ‘either or’ situation with a closer like Greg Holland, or Wade Davis, or somebody else…[but] we have some roster flexibility right now, we’ve got some financial flexibility to a certain degree so we’ve been very focused on pitching and we’ll continue to focus on pitching and hopefully, we’ll be able to sign some guys up to help us in the ‘pen.

It should be noted that one of the bullpen arms that the Rockies had last season, Pat Neshek, resigned with the Phillies on a 2-year, $16.25 million contract today.

Bridich on payroll flexibility

Ryan Spilborghs followed up on Bridich’s answer on the financial flexibility that he mentioned about the bullpen. Spilborghs said that he thinks that there is probably about $40 million to spend for the 2018 season but he asks if Bridich would ask the Rockies owners, the Monforts, to exceed that $40 million, if needed. Bridich replied with this:

We’re going to continue the hope and the plan is to continue to grow and so, the plan, as of right now, is that our payroll to be north of where it started last year and probably right around where it ended up last year, give or take…because there are so many unknowns…

Bridich continued by saying that he and the Monforts have always had great communication and that is why the Rockies were able to pounce on Greg Holland last January.

Bridich on the closer spot

Jeff Joyce followed up Spilborghs question with another bullpen question: is he willing to have an unexperienced closer in that role or would he prefer a veteran closer and Bridich offered an interesting response.

It kind of comes down to personnel. It comes down to who you’ve got, who’s ready for the challenge of something like that, whether it’s the eighth inning or ninth inning–those high leverage type of innings during a game… Are there some guys, internally, that we feel like have the composition-the mental and physical constitution to do those sorts of things? Yes. Are they ready for that next challenge? It’s probably some yes and no depending on who you’re talking about but there is something to be said for having some veteran calm, veteran presence in the back end [of the bullpen]…[but] it’s not a situation where we believe that it’s got to be a veteran closer or nothing. We’re more open-minded than that.

KANSAS CITY, MO – AUGUST 22: Starting pitcher Jon Gray #55 of the Colorado Rockies pitches during the 1st inning of the game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on August 22, 2017 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

Bridich on Carlos Gonzalez

Spilborghs followed up Joyce’s second bullpen question by asking about Carlos Gonzalez. Bridich said that they have maintained conversations with him and his agents but they are not close on any deal but they will keep an “open mind” about resigning him.

Bridich on David Dahl

Joyce followed Spilborghs question with asking about David Dahl’s health. Bridich said that he is healthy again but throughout his career, he has struggled with “weird” injuries and “bad luck” but he said that the Rockies have plenty of outfield options internally (like Raimel Tapia, Mike Tauchman, and Jordan Patterson) so the Rockies are going to focus on Dahl’s health.

Will Desmond play first base or the outfield?

Joyce’s follow up question to Dahl was about Ian Desmond and whether or not he would play first base or in the outfield. Bridich said that the team is “open-minded.” He also said how that part of the reason why they signed him is that he is so versatile.

Bridich on the starting pitching

Later on, Joyce asked Bridich about whether or not they are confident with the young pitching staff and he said that as long as they are healthy, they will grow and be better together. Considering that Jon Gray, Chad Bettis, and Tyler Anderson were all on the disabled list by the beginning of May and the Rockies did very well then, they are not really concerned with the rotation.

Final Thoughts

After they talked with Bridich, Joyce and Spilborghs speculated on whether not the Rockies will go after a corner outfielder or a first baseman. Both of them agreed that they think that the Rockies should go after a first baseman rather than an outfielder.

Next: A recap of day one at the Winter Meetings

I, personally, would have to agree with them on that for the reasons that they mentioned. First off, there are more options on the free agent market. They specifically mention Carlos Santana, Eric Hosmer, Lucas Duda, Logan Morrison, Mike Napoli, and Mitch Moreland (we have made the cases for Santana and Hosmer in the past two week as well as discussing Morrison yesterday). Secondly, they will be cheaper than the outfielders on the market (Santana turned down a 3-year, $39 million contract from the Indians but outfielder J.D. Martinez is looking for $200 million.

If I had to go with one, I’d go with Santana. If you wonder why, check out the link in the previous paragraph on why I think Santana would be an excellent fit.

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