Colorado Rockies: What could the lineup look like with CarGo?

With the Colorado Rockies officially signing Carlos Gonzalez yesterday, many things change for the team heading into the regular season, including to the team’s potential starting lineup.

To the enjoyment of some, and chagrin of others, the Colorado Rockies just recently resigned outfielder Carlos Gonzalez. It changes the team’s dynamic, clubhouse, defensive, and their starting lineup. So, what could that lineup look like heading into the regular season?

Over at Roster Resource, this is what they predict the Rockies lineup will look like.

1. Charlie Blackmon, CF
2. DJ LeMahieu, 2B
3. Carlos Gonzalez, RF
4. Nolan Arenado, 3B
5. Gerardo Parra, LF (in a platoon with Ian Desmond)
6. Trevor Story, SS
7. Ryan McMahon, 1B (in a platoon with Pat Valaika)
8. Chris Iannetta, C

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I don’t necessarily agree that that will be the lineup. I think it could look a few ways.

1. Blackmon
2. LeMahieu
3. Arenado
4. Gonzalez
5. Story
6. Parra
7. McMahon
8. Iannetta

Or, perhaps, it could even go like this…

1. LeMahieu
2. McMahon
3. Arenado
4. Blackmon
5. Gonzalez
6. Story
7. Parra
8. Iannetta

However, I think that this will be the way that Rockies manager Bud Black will decide to go with.

1. Blackmon
2. LeMahieu
3. Arenado
4. Gonzalez
5. Story
6. Parra
7. Ian Desmond, 1B
8. Iannetta

With the addition of Gonzalez, it muddies the waters on who will be starting at first base and the roster, in general, as our own Olivia Greene mentioned earlier today. The outfield is practically set now as Parra and Gonzalez will each have corner outfield spots. With that, it creates a race that is a bit more interesting.

Ian Desmond could play first base, like the team intended him to do when they signed him. He is making $22 million this year and the Rockies probably don’t want to put him on the bench because he is making so much money (but, he’s not helping his causes thus far in spring training).

Next: CarGo signing clouds Ryan McMahon’s status

As a result, Ryan McMahon, who has had an excellent spring training thus far, may be on the outside looking in to a starting role, or even a spot on the 25-man roster.