Colorado Rockies news: Nolan Arenado’s season ends as he goes to 10-day injured list

The Colorado Rockies announced that they have placed third baseman Nolan Arenado on the 10-day injured list, effectively ending his 2020 campaign.

The Rockies announced prior to the start of their four-game series with the San Francisco Giants on Monday that they have placed third baseman Nolan Arenado on the 10-day injured list with left AC joint inflammation and a left shoulder bone bruise.

In a corresponding move, the Rockies have recalled outfielder Sam Hilliard from their alternate training site. He will be in the Rockies starting lineup tonight, playing right field and batting 8th (Charlie Blackmon is DH’ing tonight).

In addition, the Rockies also announced that they have officially released their former closer Wade Davis, who was designated for assignment a few days ago.

Arenado, 29, finishes his season .253/.303/.434 with a wRC+ of 76 (OPS+ of 84), a far cry from what Rockies fans are used to seeing from Arenado, who has averaged a wRC+ of 130 in the past three seasons.

More from Rox Pile

• A Colorado Rockies Thanksgiving
• Colorado Rockies: What if Todd Helton had played football instead?
• Colorado Rockies: Charlie Blackmon out for the season
• Colorado Rockies: Injuries shift look of roster ahead of Dodgers series
• Colorado Rockies: Has Sean Bouchard earned a second look in 2023?

Hilliard, 26, was sent to the Rockies alternate training site on Thursday when they called up reliever Jesus Tinoco. Tinoco has since been sent back to the alternate training site. In his limited playing time in 2020, Hilliard has still been one of the Rockies best offensive players, which is due in part to the Rockies anemic offense for much of the 2020 season.

By bWAR, Hilliard has been the Rockies sixth-best offensive player in 2020 behind Trevor Story, Arenado, Josh Fuentes, Charlie Blackmon, and Raimel Tapia. In 92 plate appearances, Hilliard has hit .238/.304/.488 with a wRC+ of 94 (OPS+ of 96).

With Arenado going on the injured list and the Rockies chance of making the postseason at just two percent, per Baseball-Reference (2.1 percent from FanGraphs), Arenado’s season is likely done.

However, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post speculated on Sunday afternoon that Arenado may have played his final home game at Coors Field, as he could be traded by the Rockies this offseason since he has an opt-out clause in his contract after the 2021 season.

Arenado’s relationship with Rockies GM Jeff Bridich is still not great and Arenado has expressed his desire to be on a winning team and, as you have seen in the last six weeks, the Rockies do not look like they are close to being a playoff team.

Ryan McMahon will, at least temporarily, take Arenado’s spot at third base as he is at third base and batting sixth in the Rockies lineup on Monday night.