Colorado Rockies rumors: Brad Brach a fit for the bullpen?

TORONTO, ON - JUNE 7: Brad Brach #35 of the Baltimore Orioles delivers a pitch in the ninth inning during MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on June 7, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - JUNE 7: Brad Brach #35 of the Baltimore Orioles delivers a pitch in the ninth inning during MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on June 7, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

After an offseason filled with stacking the back end of the Colorado Rockies bullpen, could even more help be needed at the trade deadline? If so, one name that we have previously mentioned on this site is also being brought up in another article.

Thrown out there by Noah Yingling in this article, MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand mentioned Baltimore relief pitcher Brad Brach as a possibility for the Rockies bullpen as the trade deadline nears. In this article discussing 10 players who are seeing their trade value increase, Feinsand mentions Brach and lists the Rockies and Los Angeles Angels as potential fits for him should the Orioles deal him away.

Brach was the only player listed who was matched with the Rockies in a potential trade deadline deal. The 32-year-old right-hander entered Friday’s action with an 0-2 record and 3.86 ERA. He has 10 saves on the season, mostly compiled while filling in for injured Orioles closer Zach Britton, who recently returned from Achilles surgery.

With Britton back, Brach will likely slide back into setup duty for the Orioles, a position he would likely hold with the Rockies as well, thanks to Wade Davis secured in the Colorado closer role. However, as Rockies fans have seen in recent weeks, a reliable setup person could be invaluable to Colorado’s success as they chase their second consecutive postseason berth.

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Brach is also familiar with the National League West, seeing action in 109 games for the San Diego Padres between 2011-2013. He has struggled at Coors Field, going 0-1 with a 10.13 ERA. However, that was in just 2.2 innings pitched so it’s a small sample size. Still, batters posted a .417/.462/.667 with a 1.128 OPS against him in those few innings at 20thand Blake.

Could Brach be a fit for the Rockies? Possibly, but as discussed in this article, Colorado’s bullpen could be just fine if Bryan Shaw and Jake McGee can return to form in the later innings and Chris Rusin can become a solid middle reliever again.

Next: What about these bullpen targets from the American League Central?

There are plenty of places where the Rockies can improve. Is relief pitching where they might focus again at the trade deadline? Likely not, but if they do, Brach could be linked to Colorado many more times between now and July 31.

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