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Colorado Rockies: Looking ahead to 3 interesting arbitration cases

PHOENIX, AZ - JULY 01: Trevor Story #27 of the Colorado Rockies celebrates with teammate Nolan Arenado #28 after hitting a two run home run off of Zack Greinke #21 of the Arizona Diamondbacks during the seventh inning at Chase Field on July 1, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - JULY 01: Trevor Story #27 of the Colorado Rockies celebrates with teammate Nolan Arenado #28 after hitting a two run home run off of Zack Greinke #21 of the Arizona Diamondbacks during the seventh inning at Chase Field on July 1, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – JUNE 12: Starting pitcher Jon Gray #55 of the Colorado Rockies throws a pitch in the sixth inning during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on June 12, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies won 5-4. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – JUNE 12: Starting pitcher Jon Gray #55 of the Colorado Rockies throws a pitch in the sixth inning during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on June 12, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies won 5-4. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) /

Jon Gray
Projected 2019 salary: $3.2 million
2018 salary: $555,000

Did any Rockies player have a more up-and-down season last year than Jon Gray? The former first-round draft pick was Colorado’s Opening Day starter, then was sent to Triple-A after a disappointing start to the season. After returning, Gray flashed signs of his dominance before a meltdown in one of the final games of the season that would be one of the reasons why Colorado left him off the postseason roster.

There is no question the 26-year-old right-hander has talent. Rockies fans have seen it many times, including the single-game franchise strikeout record outing against the San Diego Padres. But they’ve also seen Gray not be able to come through in big moments, including the 2017 Wild Card start in Arizona.

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Did Gray’s rough 2018 cost him money this offseason? Absolutely. The center of the “ace vs. non-ace discussion,” had Gray performed at a number one starter level, his salary would be higher this offseason. However, a 12-9 mark with a 5.12 ERA (including a 2-2 record and 7.11 ERA in his last seven starts) simply didn’t earn the bigger payday.

Don’t be surprised if Gray makes less than the $3.2 million projection, maybe right at $3 million. It’s just one of many ways the Rockies will be trying to send a message to the Gray Wolf that it’s time to pitch like a former first-round draft pick.

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