Colorado Rockies: What the 2018 batting order might look like

So, if the season started right now, what would the lineup look like for the Colorado Rockies on Opening Day when they take the field in Arizona? Let’s take a look.

The Rockies have been active in the offseason, signing catcher Chris Iannetta and shoring up the bullpen through the inkings of Jake McGee and Bryan Shaw. However, there are still some questions about how the lineup would look.

As a reminder, last season saw Nolan Arenado and Charlie Blackmon both have MVP-caliber seasons. However, as this article points out, outside of the duo mentioned above and DJ LeMahieu, the rest of Colorado’s position players combined for a 0.0 WAR last season.

The offense has to get better in 2018 and one would think that Colorado general manager Jeff Bridich still has some moves left to make. However, let’s look at how Colorado’s batting lineup currently stacks up, in order from leadoff to pitcher (in National League parks, of course).

Colorado Rockies

Charlie Blackmon – CF

DJ LeMahieu – 2B

Nolan Arenado – 3B

Gerardo Parra – LF

Trevor Story – SS

Ian Desmond – 1B

Raimel Tapia – RF

Chris Iannetta – C

Pitcher

Now of course, there are some alternatives to this lineup, primarily because of Desmond’s flexibility. Let’s put Desmond in left field and see how things shake out.

Charlie Blackmon – CF

DJ LeMahieu – 2B

Nolan Arenado – 3B

Gerardo Parra – RF

Trevor Story – SS

Ian Desmond – LF

Ryan McMahon – 1B

Chris Iannetta – C

Pitcher

It has been rumored that McMahon has been penciled in at first base to start the season so we are putting him there (and no other first baseman has been signed so far in free agency).

Another question mark is the return of David Dahl? After missing all of last season with a rib injury, could he return to form in 2018? Let’s say that he does. What would the lineup look like then?

Charlie Blackmon – CF

DJ LeMahieu – 2B

Nolan Arenado – 3B

Gerardo Parra – RF

Trevor Story – SS

Ian Desmond – 1B

David Dahl — LF

Chris Iannetta – C

Pitcher

Of course, there are some other thoughts with these lineups. Will Story move into the cleanup role? He batted there just 10 games last season and three times in 2016 before his injury. Meanwhile, he hit in the five hole 50 total games over the last two seasons so we are slotting him there (assuming his 2018 season starts stronger than his 2017 campaign).

When Tony Wolters is put in the lineup, it’s hard to imagine him hitting higher than eighth so Colorado’s catcher will likely hold down the eight hole, no matter who is in there. Even the light-hitting Tapia hit in the seven hole 16 games last season as opposed to just three in the eight spot.