Colorado Rockies Rumors: Jon Heyman’s Free Agent Predictions

The next Rockie on the list was reliever Adam Ottavino at number 22.  He’s also the #3 reliever on the list behind Craig Kimbrel and Zach Britton.  He’s projected to get 3 yrs at $30-42 million.

The Rockies have already poured a ton of money into their bullpen with little success and while Ottavino had a terrific 2018 (2.43 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 13K/9), he showed signs of inconsistency at times and if they spend that kind of money on him and he pitches more like 2017 (5.06 ERA) than 2018, he could turn into the next Jake McGee/Bryan Shaw/Wade Davis/Ian Desmond.

The Rockies have options behind Ottavino.  Scott Oberg emerged last season as a serious late-inning threat and was actually more reliable than Ottavino by the end of the season.   From May 29 to the end of the season he posted a 1.59 ERA.

Mid-season acquisition Seunghwan Oh also pitched well and should be back with the Rockies as it appears the comments he made about returning to Korea were not  “specifically about 2019,” according to comments Rockies general manager Jeff Bridich made to the Denver Post.

The Rockies’ ‘pen was a weakness for much of 2018 and Ottavino was at times the only guy who could be counted on down there, but I don’t know if I see the Rockies spending that kind of money on the bullpen again this offseason.  If they do, though, familiarity will work in favor of a reunion.