Colorado Rockies: 3 players under plenty of pressure in 2020

Wade Davis

The end of the decade was nowhere near as glamorous for Wade Davis as the earlier years in the 2010s were.

When MLB.com named Davis as a part of the most important trade of the decade, it was because he played such a big role in the Kansas City Royals winning the World Series in 2015.

Flash forward to 2018 and Davis is leading the National League in saves as a member of the Rockies and setting a franchise record for successfully closing the door on games.

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Just one year later, however, Davis lost his mojo at Coors Field and lost his role as the team’s closer. With a big contract and an unknown role heading into 2020, there are plenty who are wondering what Davis will bring to the team this season … or if the Rockies will be able to unload his contract and slowing fastball onto another team.

If (and it is still an if) Davis is back with the Rockies in 2020, it isn’t just about if he will be the closer. It’s about if he can still be an effective part of the bullpen. At 34 years old, can Davis still be as effective for Colorado as he was during the Royals run or even in his inaugural season in Denver?

Should Davis be able to conquer his Coors Field demons, he can certainly play an important role for the Rockies in late innings. However, there are a lot of “ifs” surrounding Davis heading into spring training. The veteran has plenty to prove in 2020 and it’s arguably more than he’s ever had to prove in his career. That, my friends, is pressure.