Colorado Rockies: a recap and grading of the Winter Meetings

In this past week’s Winter Meetings in Orlando, Florida, not many teams were active as the free agent market has been very slow at developing this offseason. However, one of the teams that was very active was the Colorado Rockies.

Everybody knew that entering the offseason, the main thing that the Colorado Rockies needed to address was their bullpen. This was due to the team losing three of their relievers (Pat Neshek, Jake McGee, and closer Greg Holland) to free agency. However, the Rockies addressed this at the Winter Meetings so let’s look at the moves they made and let’s grade the moves.

The Colorado Rockies sign reliever Bryan Shaw

Late on Tuesday night, Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports and MLB Network reported on Twitter that the Rockies had struck a deal with former Cleveland Indians reliever Bryan Shaw.

As we reported in this article that night, he led the American League in appearances in three of the past four seasons and he has pitched in 70 or more games each season since 2013 so he is definitely durable.

Since 2012, he has averaged 74 games a season with a 3.17 ERA (or a 133 ERA+). He also has averaged 7.8 hits, 3.1 walks, and 8.1 strikeouts per nine innings.

In 2017, Shaw pitched in 79 games (which led the American League) with a 3.52 ERA and three saves. He averaged 8.3 hits allowed per nine innings, 2.6 walks, and 8.6 strikeouts per nine innings. We also discussed how, for Cleveland in 2017, he was most effective in the seventh inning, or in a set-up role.

His contract is for three years and $27 million (or $9 million per season) so it is a hefty sum for a reliever who won’t be the closer but Shaw has earned it and is worth it.

I, personally, think that this will be a good sign for the Rockies due to how dependable and reliable Shaw has been in the best bullpen in baseball in the past few seasons. Also, he will be in his age 30, 31, and 32 seasons during the contract, which are the prime years for most players.

Grade: A 

The Rockies re-sign Jake McGee

Early Wednesday morning, Joel Sherman of the New York Post and MLB Network reported on Twitter that the Rockies were in agreement with Jake McGee on a deal.

Jon Heyman reported that it was a three year deal with an option for a fourth year.

The Denver Post reported that it would be for $27 million dollars and the option is a team option.

We discussed on Wednesday morning how it would be good for the Rockies to bring back a familiar face to the bullpen. With McGee pitching 57 or more games in five of the past six seasons, he is also reliable.

The contract, without the option, will run through his age 33 season but with the option, it would go through his age 34 season. However, I think that it was excellent that the Rockies got it to be a team option so that if McGee doesn’t pitch well in 2020, the Rockies don’t have to have McGee on the team in 2021.

Grade: B+

Talks between the Rockies and Greg Holland heat up

Jon Heyman reported shortly after the news about McGee that the Rockies were “closing in” on a deal with Greg Holland.

However, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reported that a deal wasn’t “imminent.”

Even though the Rockies did not sign Holland at the Winter Meetings and there has been no news on the Rockies reaching an agreement with Holland, one would have to guess that they made significant headway with Holland. If they do re-sign him and especially if they sign him soon (like this week), it will largely be because of the ground that they made in the Winter Meetings.

Grade: Inconclusive

More from Rox Pile

• A Colorado Rockies Thanksgiving
• Colorado Rockies: What if Todd Helton had played football instead?
• Colorado Rockies: Charlie Blackmon out for the season
• Colorado Rockies: Injuries shift look of roster ahead of Dodgers series
• Colorado Rockies: Has Sean Bouchard earned a second look in 2023?

Final Thoughts

The Rockies were active at the Winter Meetings and they almost assuredly were in contact with other teams and agents about trading for or signing players but they have not come to fruition yet, at least.

However, the Rockies address a large part of the glaring holes in their bullpen. They still need to sign (or trade for) a closer and look at a bat but considering that they signed two quality relievers in a span of about 16 hours, that means that they had a very good Winter Meetings.

Overall grade the Winter Meetings: Technically, it’s inconclusive but on what we know they accomplished, I will give them a A-.