Colorado Rockies: the case for getting Corey Dickerson

Yesterday, the Tampa Bay Rays designated former Colorado Rockies outfielder Corey Dickerson for assignment. It was a puzzling move but in the wake of the move, the Rockies should pounce on him.

After acquiring first baseman CJ Cron from the Angels last night, the Rays, interesting, designated Corey Dickerson for assignment.

It’s not like Dickerson was bad. I mean, he was an All-Star in 2017. In all reality, they probably just didn’t want to pay him as his contract was not guaranteed for this season. The Rockies need to pounce on signing him for many reasons.

1. The Rockies need an outfielder

The Rockies need somebody to play a corner outfield spot. Ian Desmond is versatile and can play first base. Gerardo Parra just went down with hand surgery and will be down 4-6 weeks. What better than signing Dickerson.

2. They need a bat

Dickerson hit 27 home runs with 62 RBI and a .282 batting average for Tampa last season. Entering this season, the Rockies have two guys who did better with home runs and in OPS+ and they are Nolan Arenado and Charlie Blackmon.

3. He’d be cheap

Dickerson was slated to make a little under $6 million this season. The Rays, if they don’t find somebody to claim him (they probably won’t because the claiming team would have to pay all of his salary), will only have to play 1/6 of that, per MLB Daily Dish.

Once Dickerson is off of waivers, anybody can sign him for as little as league average (which is a little over $500k). The Rockies would probably have to pay him more but if it’s close to what the Rays were slated to pay for him plus the roughly $1 million that the Rays will likely have to pay him, he could sign for relatively cheap.

Also, he’s under team control through arbitration for the next two seasons as he’s not eligible for free agency until 2020.

4. They already know him

Dickerson played with the Rockies in the major leagues from 2013 through 2015. In 2014, he had 24 home runs, 76 RBI, and a .312 batting average so, obviously, he can play well in a Rockies uniform.

The Rockies also drafted him in 2009 so they have known him for nearly a decade.

Final Thoughts

With the Rays making the move to designate Dickerson for assignment, this should, hopefully, be the move that the Rockies make to improve their offense. They need a bat, they need an outfielder, he’d be cheap, and they already know him.

Next: Want the Rockies to win now? The plan and the consequences

All four of them together make Dickerson a near-perfect match for the Rockies as they head into the 2018 season.

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