Colorado Rockies: A look at some potential free agent options to DH in the near future

While it is more likely that the DH would come to the NL in 2020 (since we’re less than a week away from Spring Training games for 2019), let’s take a brief look at the many options that are on the free agent market after this season and average stats for the past two seasons (Defensive Runs Saved will be total).

Mind you, these does not include every player that could qualify but just some of the players with the best numbers. Also not included are players that have some kind of an option for 2020 but if you’d like to see those as well, you can look at the entire list of 2019-20 free agents here.

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First baseman Jose Abreu: 142 games, 28 home runs, 90 RBI, 40 doubles, .287/.341/.517 slash line, 131 OPS+, -4 DRS. 2018 All-Star, 2018 Silver Slugger Award winner, 14th in AL MVP in 2017.

First baseman Paul Goldschmidt: 156 games, 34 home runs, 102 RBI, 34 doubles, .294/.396/.547 slash line, 140 OPS+, 16 DRS. All-Star in both seasons, Silver Slugger winner in both seasons, 3rd in NL MVP voting in 2017, 6th in NL MVP voting in 2018, 2017 NL Gold Glove winner. Would almost definitely play first base and move another Rockie to DH.

First baseman Justin Smoak: 152 games, 32 home runs, 84 RBI, 32 doubles, .256/.353/.495 slash line, 127 OPS+, -2 DRS. 2017 All-Star.

Third/second baseman Anthony Rendon: 142 games, 24 HRs, 96 RBI, 42 doubles, .305/.389/.534 slash line, 138 OPS+, 1 DRS. 6th in NL MVP voting in 2017, 11th in NL MVP voting in 2018.

Former Rockies outfielder Corey Dickerson: 142 games, 20 home runs, 58 RBI, 34 doubles, .290/.327/.483 slash line, 118 OPS+, 15 DRS. 2017 All-Star, 2018 NL Gold Glove Winner.

Outfielder Matt Kemp: 130 games, 20 home runs, 74 RBI, .283/.328/.472 slash line, 111 OPS+, -26 DRS. 2018 All-Star.

Outfielder Marcell Ozuna: 154 games, 30 home runs, 106 RBI, 177 hits, .296/.351/.492 slash line, 128 OPS+, 18 DRS. 2017 All-Star, Gold Glove and Silver Slugger winner, came in 15th on NL MVP voting (would likely play a corner outfield spot and displace a Rockies outfielder to DH).

Outfielder Nicholas Castellanos: 157 games played in each season: average of 24 home runs, 95 RBI, 41 doubles, .285/.337/.495 slash line, 121 OPS+, -40 DRS.

Outfielder Yasiel Puig: 138 games, 26 home runs, 68 RBI, .264/.337/.490 slash line, 119 OPS+, 24 DRS (like Ozuna, he would likely play a corner outfield spot and displace a Rockies outfielder to DH).

Designated hitter/outfielder Khris Davis: 152 games, 46 home runs, 116 RBI, .247/.331/.539 slash line (he has, amazingly, hit .247 in each of his last four seasons, and he has played five full seasons in the majors), 134 OPS+, -17 DRS. 176 games as a DH since 2017, 22nd in AL MVP voting in ’17, 8th in ’18.

Designated hitter/first baseman Kendrys Morales: 140 games, 24 home runs, 71 RBI, .249/.318/.442 slash line, 104 OPS+, 229 games at DH since 2017 (only 30 at first base).

The Rockies obviously have plenty options on the free agent market now, and in the near future, to look at and with the DH potentially coming sooner than later, it may be something that they will soon be looking at.