Colorado Rockies: The case for and against adding three free agents

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BOSTON, MA – MAY 26: Mark Reynolds #12 of the Colorado Rockies congratulates Carlos Gonzalez #5 after he hit a two run homer against the Boston Red Sox during the fourth inning at Fenway Park on May 26, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

It has been reported that the Colorado Rockies are still in contact with Carlos Gonzalez about a possible reunion for the 2018 season. There was a time not long ago when the thought of bringing back CarGo for another run with the Rockies was not considered a serious thought. However, there is apparently still life in the possibility of it occurring.

There is also talk about bringing back former Rockies Mark Reynolds and Corey Dickerson for another run with the team. In fact, there are still numerous free agents out there who could be a fit with Colorado for 2018. Hey, Jon Heyman even linked Colorado as a possible home for Jonathan Lucroy again this season. There are still a lot of possibilities out there for what could happen between now and the end of spring training.

However, one thing to consider with any signing is this: What will it do to the 25-man Opening Day roster? Signing CarGo, Reynolds, Dickerson, Lucroy or any other current free agent almost assuredly gives them a spot on the Opening Day roster. And, with that, someone will lose their spot on that same roster.

Last year’s Opening Day roster featured 13 pitchers and 12 position players. Of those 12 position players, two were catchers. That left 10 spots to split between infield and outfield. By the way, if you want to know just how much the Rockies roster has evolved in a year, remember that Cristhian Adames, Alexi Amarista and Stephen Cardullo were members of last year’s Opening Day roster.

If manager Bud Black once again brings 12 position players into the Opening Day this season, that would likely once again mean 10 outfielders/infielders and two catchers. We know some of those spots are already taken by (barring injury) Nolan Arenado, DJ LeMahieu, Trevor Story, Charlie Blackmon, Ian Desmond and Gerardo Parra. That leaves four spots.

That group would likely need a first baseman (Ryan McMahon) and backup infielder (Pat Valaika). You’re now down to two spots with names like David Dahl and Raimel Tapia likely to fill those. By signing CarGo, Reynolds or anyone else, one of the names listed above would likely fall off the Opening Day roster.

Dahl’s health is still a question mark and he or Tapia could start the season in Triple-A regardless if someone like a Mike Tauchman or Jordan Patterson were to impress in spring training. However, one of the two will assuredly be in the minors to start the season with a single free agent signing.

So how would a free agent signing impact the Rockies? Let’s take a look at some of the projections of three former Rockies now looking for a new home.

Carlos Gonzalez as a Colorado Rockies player /

Carlos Gonzalez (2017 with Colorado) — .262/.339/.423 with 14 home runs and 72 RBI in 534 plate appearances.

CarGo is projected by Baseball Reference to post a .270/.335/.476 slash in 2018 with 22 homers and 72 RBI. That is in 530 plate appearances. Could he reach that number with the Rockies knowing Dahl could return this season and the potential emergence of Tapia?

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Using the Steamer projection on FanGraphs, CarGo is slotted for 14 homers and 40 RBI in 332 plate appearances along with a .259/.324/.461 slash line. The 332 plate appearances seem more realistic if CarGo were to return to Denver, serving in more of a split role.

While Gonzalez would bring his leadership to the Rockies if he were to re-sign with the team, it is hard to put out of mind the year that CarGo had last season and some of the frustration his slump brought to the team and the lineup. Certainly, he found his stride in September when the Rockies needed it most and credited solving some sleep problems as one of the main reasons. However, can the Rockies trust that trend to continue in 2018? It’s a gamble and one that may be worth the millions of dollars it takes to bring CarGo back, even for a season.

CarGo joins Dahl, Blackmon, Parra, Tapia and Tauchman as left-handed bats. Is that too much of a good thing? Quite possibly. The same could be said for Corey Dickerson, who we will examine on the next page.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – OCTOBER 4: Corey Dickerson #6 of the Colorado Rockies celebrates a 374-foot home run to tie the game 3-3 against the San Francisco Giants with Daniel Descalso #3 in the ninth inning at AT&T Park on October 4, 2015 in San Francisco, California, during the final day of the regular season. The Rockies won 7-3. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /

Corey Dickerson (2017 with Tampa Bay) — .282/.325/.815 with 27 home runs and 62 RBI in 629 plate appearances.

Our own Noah Yingling wrote about how the Rockies should pursue a reunion with Dickerson now that the Tampa Bay Rays have mysteriously designated him for assignment. An All-Star season last year and he is suddenly a free agent. Go figure.

Colorado Rockies

Dickerson is projected by Steamer on FanGraphs to post a .258/.308/.460 line. However, the rest is a mystery as the numbers could change if Dickerson heads back to the National League.

Baseball Reference, meanwhile, has the 29-year-old Dickerson hitting 25 home runs and driving in 66 runs with a .268/.316/.484 slash line in 569 plate appearances. Much like CarGo, would Dickerson really get that many at-bats in a Rockies uniform in 2018? If the Rockies shift Desmond to first and give him the opportunity in left, it’s possible. However, Desmond said the other day that he is expecting to spend most of his time in the outfield … although things could always change.

Defense is a liability for Dickerson, however. Placing him in the outfield does run a risk. Last season, he was -7.2 WAR on the defensive side of the ball. Compare that to Desmond’s -5.9 or even Tapia’s -4.7 and you can see that there are some issues there. Would the bat be enough to overcome those? Would the roster spot taken up by Dickerson who only plays outfield fit into Colorado’s theme of versatility? The answer is likely no.

DENVER, CO – OCTOBER 01: Mark Reynolds #12 of the Colorado Rockies stands in the dugout during a regular season MLB game between the Colorado Rockies and the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field on October 1, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Russell Lansford/Getty Images) /

Mark Reynolds (2017 with Colorado) — .267/.352/.487 with 30 home runs and 97 RBI in 593 plate appearances.

We have talked outfielders in the last two slides. Here, let’s talk about Mark Reynolds and what his return might bring.

This season, the 34-year-old Reynolds is projected to hit 22 home runs and drive in 73 with a slash line of .258/.338/.451 in 541 plate appearances. All indications are that, if Reynolds returns to the Rockies, it would be a platoon situation with McMahon.

Carlos Gonzalez (2017 with Colorado) — .262/.339/.423 with 14 home runs and 72 RBI in 534 plate appearances.

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Corey Dickerson (2017 with Tampa Bay) — .282/.325/.815 with 27 home runs and 62 RBI in 629 plate appearances.

Colorado Rockies

Mark Reynolds (2017 with Colorado) — .267/.352/.487 with 30 home runs and 97 RBI in 593 plate appearances.

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