Colorado Rockies: No choice but to hope for "super bullpen" bounce back

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA – JUNE 26: Wade Davis #71 of the Colorado Rockies pitches against the San Francisco Giants in the bottom of the ninth inning of a Major League Baseball game at Oracle Park on June 26, 2019 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

Much of the Colorado Rockies offseason and hopes for the 2020 season is built on the belief that players who had disappointing campaigns in 2019 (during a disappointing 71-91 season) will return to form or exceed expectations this year.

You can believe that or not, but that is one of the things that Colorado Rockies general manager Jeff Bridich made clear during his October press conference just after the 2019 season ended.

“Our pitchers showed up last year (in the playoffs) against the Brewers, and it’s primarily the same group,” Bridich said. “Some of that group struggled and some got injured. And there was a different complexion to that group as early as May and June, in reality. “But we are always looking, but it doesn’t mean we can always do things in terms of bringing players in. We have in the past three or four years — I have. Some of it has worked, some of it hasn’t worked. But we’re always looking. That being said, I think there is still a foundation as long as certain guys bounce back.”

Bridich doubled down on those comments during the Winter Meetings in December.

“We feel like we have a lot of bodies in our bullpen mix and we have a lot of talented people. Some of those talented people need to do their jobs,” the Colorado GM said.

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Let’s not beat around the bush. Some of those “talented people” Bridich was alluding to are Wade Davis, Jake McGee, and Bryan Shaw. Once touted as a “super bullpen” with $106 million dedicated to those three players, there have been, at best, mixed reviews for the trio since signing those contracts.

There was talk that the Rockies might try to move one or more of them in the offseason. However, all three are still on the roster. All three still have plenty left to prove in their time in purple. All three will need to raise the level of their pitching this season if the bullpen is to be a strength rather than an albatross.

Davis has made the biggest impact, posting a National League-leading and Rockies record 43 saves in 2018. Make no mistake about it, he was a big part of Colorado once again reaching the postseason that season.

He was also just as much a part of the reason for Colorado’s plummet last year. An 8.65 ERA, including 11.10 at Coors Field, and dropoff in ERA+ from 115 to 60 were part of the reason why he lost the closer job in 2019.

Davis told Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post last week that the oblique injury that put him on the disabled list in May threw him off for the rest of the season. Manager Bud Black has already said Davis will be the closer on Opening Day in San Diego. The 34-year-old right-hander will have his 2021 option become a player option if he finishes 30 games this season and is healthy enough to be on the 2021 Opening Day roster.

There is a lot riding on Davis bouncing back in 2020. However, Scott Oberg, Carlos Estevez, and Jairo Diaz loom as closer options should Davis falter.

DENVER, COLORADO – JUNE 12: Brian Shaw #29 of the Colorado Rockies throws in the seventh inning against the Chicago Cubs at Coors Field on June 12, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

With Bryan Shaw, there has been less for Rockies fans to put in the positive column during his time in Denver.

A 5.93 ERA in 2018 (80 ERA+) was followed by a slight improvement last season (5.38 ERA, 97 ERA+). However, Shaw’s FIP also rose last season from 4.92 to 5.19.

There have been stretches where Shaw has flashed the skills that made him such a valuable asset for the Cleveland Indians from 2013-17. However, Shaw’s inability to string together those stretches for long periods of time have kept him from being the asset that was envisioned when he was signed to his three-year, $27 million deal.

After posting 70 appearances last season, if Shaw has 40 appearances in 2020 and he is healthy for 2021 Opening Day, his $9 million option will vest, per Cot’s Baseball Contracts.

With that in mind, the Rockies have a decision to make. If Shaw can’t perform at a high standard early on, he could be a candidate for assignment.

The lone left-hander of the trio, Jake McGee, has a stipulation in his contract that is identical to Shaw. If he appears in 110 games between 2019 and 2020 and he is healthy on Opening Day 2021, his $9 million club option kicks in as well for 2021. Last season, the 33-year-old McGee appeared in 45 games (meaning he would need 65 appearances this year) and has never appeared in more than 62 in a Rockies uniform.

McGee ended 2019 with a thud, seeing action in just four September games and posting an 8.10 ERA in 3.1 innings of work. There were positives last season though. McGee had a 2.91 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in 21.2 innings of action away from Coors Field in 2019 (5.95 ERA in Denver), and his pre-All-Star 1.35 ERA in 20 games before the All-Star break last year was a plus. However, that number ballooned to 7.17 after the All-Star Game.

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All three of these “super bullpen” relievers have big question marks surrounding them heading into the 2020 season. However, after a quiet offseason by Colorado’s front office, all three must bounce back this year for the Rockies to have a chance to post a winning record.

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Colorado Rockies: No choice but to hope for “super bullpen” bounce back

Much of the Colorado Rockies offseason and hopes for the 2020 season is built on the belief that players who had disappointing campaigns in 2019 (during a disappointing 71-91 season) will return to form or exceed expectations this year.

More from Rox Pile

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