Colorado Rockies: 3 players under plenty of pressure in 2020

Daniel Murphy

If Murphy hadn’t fractured his finger in the second game of the season, who knows what last year would have looked like for him or the offense? Maybe that’s a question a healthy Murphy can answer in 2020.

Colorado’s biggest free agent signing before the start of last season, Murphy ended the year with decent statistics but struggled for so long with the broken finger and trying to rush back from the injured list. He also became the latest in a failed attempt for the Rockies to find a suitable match at first base, both offensively and defensively.

When Colorado general manager Jeff Bridich said Murphy’s year was “just OK” during the end-of-the-year media briefing, it spoke volumes about the team’s disappointment in their star signing. Can the Murphy signing actually pay dividends this season? Unless the Rockies are ready to move Ryan McMahon to first base on a permanent basis (spoiler alert, they’re not), then Murphy has to come through this season with more success at the plate and with his glove.

Murphy’s play this season will determine whether he was a decent free agent decision or another swing and miss. That’s not only pressure for Murphy but Bridich as well.