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

By Kevin Henry

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)
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) /
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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)
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.

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Much like Dickerson, since Reynolds is in limbo as a free agent, FanGraphs Steamer projections can only give us a .228/.312/.407 projection. That’s pretty brutal but let’s not forget that Reynolds batted just .243 after the All-Star break while 11 of his 30 homers and 36 of his 97 RBI were after the break as well.

Once of the biggest positives that a returning Reynolds would bring would be on the defensive side. Arenado has glowed about the first baseman’s defensive skills in the past and they would likely pay a dividend for the Rockies this season.

For what it’s worth, Baseball Reference is projecting .251/.335/.428 for McMahon this season with seven homers and 24 RBI in 212 plate appearances. Give McMahon as many plate appearances as Reynolds got in his simulation and it balloons to 26 home runs and 93 RBI. Very similar numbers, although McMahon has never hit more than 20 in a season … and that was split last year between Double-A and Triple-A.

Next: 2 things we have already learned about the Rockies this spring

So a return of Reynolds could conceivably be equal to a year of McMahon statistically. If that’s the case, it seems worth it to see what you have in McMahon this year and platoon Desmond there if needed. Worst case, the Rockies could pick up someone at the trade deadline if needed.

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