Colorado Rockies sign franchise icon Jorge De La Rosa to minor league deal

DENVER—Rox Pile has confirmed that the Colorado Rockies have signed 38-year-old left-hander Jorge De La Rosa to a minor league deal.

De La Rosa, who spent nine years in Colorado, is the franchise leader in wins with 86. He had a career 4.35 ERA in purple with a franchise-best 985 strikeouts.

In the past few years, he has moved to the bullpen and become more of a left-handed specialist. In that role, he has played for the Cubs and Diamondbacks.

He only made nine appearances out of the pen for the Rockies in his near-decade in Denver but he will likely play the role if he can work his way back to the majors. He will start in extended spring training and joins a list of several Rockies veterans that general manager Jeff Bridich has brought back at low cost in recent years. The list includes Matt Holliday, Mark Reynolds and Chris Iannetta.

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The Rockies also may need a veteran starter in the middle of their rotation but it’s doubtful that De La Rosa can still be the guy that he was for so many years at 20th and Blake.

De La Rosa’s stats left on left the past few years have been solid. Left-handed hitters have a career .652 OPS against the lefty and in the past 12 months, it’s been .686. With Mike Dunn‘s health an issue the past few years and Jake McGee‘s struggles the Rockies need depth from the left side in the pen.

Like all minor league deals, there is essentially no risk and like all minor league deals, there is a fair amount of upside. De La Rosa’s familiarity with the organization and that his home is in Arizona near the Rockies facility should help him get his feet wet for a potential comeback.

The Rockies have two spots open on their 40-man roster.