Colorado Rockies roster moves: Wes Parsons DFA’d for a MLB signing

According to the Colorado Rockies PR team on Twitter, the Rockies have made a roster move on the night before Thanksgiving.

The Colorado Rockies, unlike some other teams, have been quiet this offseason but on the day before Thanksgiving, they have announced that they have signed a player to a MLB contract.

However, it is not a name that you have likely heard.

They have inked right-handed pitcher Jose Mujica to a Major League contract and in a corresponding move, they have designated right-handed pitcher Wes Parsons for assignment.

Mujica, 23, missed all of the 2019 season due to having Tommy John surgery at the beginning of September of 2018. He has spent his entire professional career in the Tampa Bay Rays organization as they signed him from his native Venezuela when he was just 16 years old in 2012.

In 2018, he split the season between Rookie-ball, Advanced-A ball, and Triple-A. Between the three, he pitched to a 6-2 record with a 3.75 ERA in 13 games (12 starts). In his seven games (all starts) at the Triple-A level, he pitched to a 5-1 record with a 2.70 ERA. In his only 36 2/3 innings at the AAA level (the only innings he has ever pitched there), he allowed 31 hits, walked 10, and struck out 34. He had a WHIP of 1.118 and a strikeout to walk ratio of 3.4:1.

Parsons, 27, was acquired by the Rockies in August when they claimed him off of waivers from the Atlanta Braves. In 15 MLB games with the Rockies in 2019 (all in relief), he pitched a total of 19 1/3 innings while allowing 21 hits, 17 runs (15 earned), 16 walks, and only 14 strikeouts. With his walk rate being higher than his strikeout rate and the baserunners he allowed (1.914 WHIP), his 6.98 ERA and 7.09 ERA are not all that surprising.

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Final Thoughts

With those results for Parsons, it’s not surprising to see him be designated for assignment. There’s a decent chance that he will go unclaimed and if that reigns true, he could either be outrighted to Albuquerque or released.

However, having Parsons be DFA’d for Jose Mujica is something that is surprising. Mujica hasn’t pitched in a year and is still recovering from Tommy John surgery and only has seven starts at the Triple-A level.

Even with his success there, it’s very odd that the Rockies decided to sign him to a Major League deal when they very easily could have signed him to a MiLB deal with a spring training invite. He also has never been a top prospect (the highest he was ever rated with the Rays was their #21 prospect by Baseball America in 2013 and he has slipped ever since).

You can never have too much pitching but signing Mujica to a MLB deal is something that will raise some eyebrows.