Colorado Rockies: They missed out by not re-signing Pat Neshek

With the Colorado Rockies clinging to a 2-1 lead with one out and a runner on first in Thursday’s game against the San Diego Padres, Bud Black turned to his bullpen to keep Kyle Freeland on the hook for the win.

Black called on one of the three legs that was supposed to make up the so-called “Super Bullpen” that the Colorado Rockies signed in the offseason. Bryan Shaw stepped in and things went south quickly. A walk, an error by Trevor Story, and a base hit and the Rockies found themselves down 3-2. Thankfully, Ian Desmond delivered a dramatic two-run walk-off bomb into the left field bleachers to give the Rockies a 4-3 victory.

Of the big three signings in the offseason, Shaw has been the biggest disappointment. Wade Davis has been up and down this year and hasn’t lived up to his largest ever contract for a reliever … but he is leading the National League in saves. Jake McGee‘s numbers are not the greatest, to say the least, but he is finally starting to show signs of figuring things out. Shaw’s 6.42 ERA and .323 batting average against in 54 appearances has undoubtedly not lived up to expectations.

Unlike many on social media, I did not think bringing in Shaw in the seventh was a mistake. Many pitchers in the bullpen were unavailable and Shaw needs a chance to work of his slump. The mistake that the Rockies made was not making a bigger effort into re-signing reliever Pat Neshek in the winter.

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If you don’t remember, the Rockies traded for the unorthodox, side-armed, right-handed Neshek from the Philadelphia Phillies at the trade deadline last season. In 28 games, he went 2-1 with a 2.45 ERA with a .235 batting average against and an 0.95 WHIP, helping lead the Rockies to the postseason.

In the offseason, talks never developed with the 37-year-old Neshek and the Rockies turned their sights to the much younger 30-year-old Shaw. Neshek returned to the Phillies on a two-year/$16.2 million and Shaw signed the three-year/$27 million deal.

Neshek, this season, missed the first three months of this season with a forearm and shoulder injuries, making his first appearance of the season for Philadelphia on July 1. I can imagine the outrage from fans had the Rockies signed him and the 37-year-old started the season on the DL but, since returning, he has been lights out. In 19 appearances, he is 1-0 with a 1.06 ERA, 4-for-4 in save opportunities, a .231 batting average against and a 1.00 WHIP.

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Of course, had Neshek signed with the Rockies, they may not have felt the need to trade for Seunghwan Oh … but think how scary this current bullpen would be if you could swap Shaw for Neshek.

Hindsight is always 20/20 but had the Rockies signed Neshek instead of Shaw, they truly would have the “Super Bullpen” that everyone was dreaming about this past winter.