Colorado Rockies Quick Hits: Reynolds, Outfield, Pitch Clock, Contract Extensions

There have been some more news and notes regarding the Colorado Rockies, including a clarification, news on the Rockies outfield defensive alignment, a pitch clock in the near future, and some potential contract extensions for the Rockies.

Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post clarified his tweet yesterday (in which we detailed here) in which he said that Bud Black reported that Mark Reynolds will potentially see a little bit of time at second base.

However, Saunders tweeted today that he misconstrued Black’s comments and Reynolds will likely not see any time at second base. Patrick Lyons of BSN Denver had a direct quote from Bud Black on it in this tweet and it seems as if Bud Black misspoke as Lyons has Black’s quote as ‘[m]ight even get Reynolds there to get some exposure.’

Some people in Rockies Twitter were not very happy with the original news so some can breathe a sigh of relief today.

The Rockies outfield alignment

It was originally believed that with Ian Desmond moving to center field, Charlie Blackmon would move to left field and David Dahl will play right field. That, however, according to Bud Black (h/t Nick Groke of The Athletic on Twitter) that Blackmon will actually play right field and Dahl will actually play left field.

Black said that he wants this defensive alignment because he wants Dahl’s range in Coors Field’s expansive left field.

Last season, Dahl was best defensively in right field but, obviously, at least as of now, he will not be seeing much time out there.

More from Rox Pile

• A Colorado Rockies Thanksgiving
• Colorado Rockies: What if Todd Helton had played football instead?
• Colorado Rockies: Charlie Blackmon out for the season
• Colorado Rockies: Injuries shift look of roster ahead of Dodgers series
• Colorado Rockies: Has Sean Bouchard earned a second look in 2023?

A pitch clock coming soon?

Jeff Passan of ESPN reported yesterday on Twitter that in spring training games, there will be a pitch clock in spring training games this season, according to Commissioner Rob Manfred.

Manfred can unilaterally make a pitch clock a part of the game this season but he also said (in this Passan tweet) that he wants to come to an agreement with the MLBPA on a deal to implement it. Passan notes in his tweet that using it in spring training doesn’t mean that it will be used in the regular season but it is still an interesting development.

Possible contract extensions for some Rockies?

Passan published this lengthy column on a variety of topics late last week and he noted that the Rockies have “discussed potential long-term deals with a number of their young starters” but, obviously, thus far, none have come to fruition.

It should be noted that MLB Trade Rumors’ Tim Dierkes recently published an article on Kyle Freeland being an extension candidate. Of the Rockies current starters, I would say that he is the most logical to lock up long-term since he has pitched well the last two seasons, he is young, wouldn’t cost an arm and a leg at this point, and he is also from Denver originally.

As Passan also notes, the Rockies have been aggressive in pursuing a contract extension with Nolan Arenado. Since he is a free agent next offseason, the case for him is obviously a bit more dire since neither side has multiple years to make an extension happen.