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Colorado Rockies: What to expect with 2019 free agents

By Quinn Ritzdorf |
DENVER, CO - AUGUST 25: DJ LeMahieu #9 of the Colorado Rockies points to second base and celebrates as he scores a go-ahead run in the eighth inning of a game against the St. Louis Cardinals on a Carlos Gonzalez #5 double at Coors Field on August 25, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. Players are wearing special jerseys with their nicknames on them during Players' Weekend. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - AUGUST 25: DJ LeMahieu #9 of the Colorado Rockies points to second base and celebrates as he scores a go-ahead run in the eighth inning of a game against the St. Louis Cardinals on a Carlos Gonzalez #5 double at Coors Field on August 25, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. Players are wearing special jerseys with their nicknames on them during Players' Weekend. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
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DENVER, CO – APRIL 7: Nolan Arenado
DENVER, CO – APRIL 7: Nolan Arenado /

The Colorado Rockies aren’t focused on the offseason and how they might have to restructure their roster given certain contracts. They have their eyes fixed on the top of the NL West in a tight race for the division title.

However, it’s important to start thinking about what the Colorado Rockies might need to do with the contracts of Nolan Arenado, DJ LeMahieu, Adam Ottavino and other potential free agents.

While I don’t see the Rockies making any trades at the end of the season, especially since they are in the running for the NL West title, we may not see some Rockies in purple next year to start the season. Let’s focus on “the big three” in this article.

Nolan Arenado

Yes, Arenado will be a part of the team next season but his contract ends after that, meaning there is a lot to think about this offseason with that lurking.

Arenado has come out and said that winning is all he wants. If the Rockies don’t make the playoffs the next two years, they will have a hard time getting Arenado to stay for 2020.

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This is the number one priority for the Rockies. Arenado is easily the greatest player the Rockies have ever had in their organization. To let him walk, would be a horrible mistake.

The Rockies took a step in the right direction in keeping Arenado by extending Charlie Blackmon’s contract to six years and $108 million. Keeping an All-Star player for the next six years will help the Rockies win and give Arenado a reason to sign an extension.

If the Rockies want the keep Arenado, they need to win and not only that but win in the playoffs.

ANAHEIM, CA – AUGUST 27: Ian Desmond #20, David Dahl #26, and Chris Iannetta #22 congratulate DJ LeMahieu #9 of the Colorado Rockies after his grand slam homerun during the eighth inning of a game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium on August 27, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA – AUGUST 27: Ian Desmond #20, David Dahl #26, and Chris Iannetta #22 congratulate DJ LeMahieu #9 of the Colorado Rockies after his grand slam homerun during the eighth inning of a game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium on August 27, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

DJ LeMahieu

Following this season, LeMahieu will become a free agent. I would not be surprised if the Rockies let him walk.

LeMahieu has had a great career with the Rockies. His batting average over the seven years with the team is .299 including two gold gloves, two All-Star appearances and a batting title in 2016 when he hit .348.

The reason the Rockies would let him go is because they have a group of talented young stars that could fill his position.

The first being Brendan Rogers. One of the top prospects in baseball, he is hitting .291 in four seasons in the minors. His normal position is shortstop, but it is unlikely he will play there because Story isn’t moving. He was also named to the All-Star Futures game, where he played second base.

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The second option would be Garrett Hampson, who unlike Rodgers made his MLB debut this year. With LeMahieu going to the DL, Hampson was called up from Triple-A. He played in 10 games, hitting .273 with an OPS of .816.

This year in the minors, he has batted .312 with 10 HR and 40 RBI.

Neither of these players are DJ LeMahieu. Rodgers has more power at the plate but struggles defensively. Over his four years in the minors, he has a .948 fielding percentage and 137 errors when playing at shortstop (234 games). However, when the Rockies’ organization moved him to second, his defensive mishaps declined to five errors and a .981 fielding percentage (58 games).

Hampson is probably more similar to LeMahieu … not a lot of power at the plate but is good at putting the ball in play. He also has a good glove but his small stature (5-foot-11), compared to LeMahieu’s bigger frame (6-foot-4), makes it more difficult getting to balls in the hole, a skill at which LeMahieu thrives.

Letting LeMahieu go would definitely hurt the Rockies lineup, but having solid, young talent behind him lessens the blow.

DENVER, CO – APRIL 09: Pitcher Adam Ottavino #0 of the Colorado Rockies throws in the ninth inning against the San Diego Padres at Coors Field on April 9, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – APRIL 09: Pitcher Adam Ottavino #0 of the Colorado Rockies throws in the ninth inning against the San Diego Padres at Coors Field on April 9, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

Adam Ottavino

After this season, Ottavino will also become a free agent like LeMahieu.

While Ottavino hasn’t been the greatest pitcher out of the bullpen for the Rockies during his seven-year tenure, he has performed like an All-Star this year. Heading into Monday’s action, he has a 2.01 ERA with 99 strikeouts in 67 innings pitched. Not to mention he has only given up three home runs.

With the current uncertainty in the bullpen, I would not be surprised if the Rockies loaded more money into this position group, with most of it going to Ottavino.

This past offseason, the Rockies spent $106 million on what was supposed to be a super bullpen, but it hasn’t turned out that super.

The largest recipient of that money was closer Wade Davis, who signed a three-year, $52 million deal. Davis has performed well, but not to expectations. He has a 4.72 ERA and has 37 saves out of 43 opportunities, the most saves in the National League.

The Rockies also signed Bryan Shaw and Jake McGee each to a three-year $27 million deal. Both Shaw and McGee have been unrecognizable and what is looking liking a terrible mistake by the Rockies. Shaw has a 6.31 ERA while McGee is worse with a 6.46 ERA.

The few bright spots have been Ottavino, Scott Oberg and Seunghwan Oh.

So if the Rockies want to risk it and hope that the players they paid will turn things around, then they might let Ottavino go. But given how special he has been this year, I expect the Rockies to sign him.

Next. So what could the 2019 Rockies look like?. dark

There are a lot of things the Rockies have to be thinking about when it comes to free agency and the offseason. However, right now, it is likely the last thing on their minds coming down the final stretch of the season.

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