Five Colorado Rockies that could lose their 40-man roster spots

The Colorado Rockies will have to designate at least a few players for assignment to account for the non-roster invitees that are likely to make the team.

As of this publication, the Rockies have 39 players on their 40-man roster and could even have numerous non-roster invites make the team, including C.J. Cron, Chris Owings, Chi Chi Gonzalez, Greg Bird, Dereck Rodriguez, and Connor Joe.

Unless multiple players go the 60-day injured list (and therefore, forfeit their 40-man roster spot), the Rockies will have to face this dilemma, along with the other dilemma of how many relievers or bench players to carry.

So, who are five guys that could find themselves designated for assignment? Let’s take a look.

Yonathan Daza

Yonathan Daza has done very well for himself this spring as he has hit .433 with a homer, four RBI, and a 1.067 OPS in 30 at-bats. However, the Rockies are still weary that their former #10 prospect will develop at the plate.

He has been ranked as their best defensive outfielder but if the bat isn’t a MLB bat, then Daza could either be designated for assignment or traded before the end of spring. Especially if the Rockies decide to carry a third first-baseman in Greg Bird, as we have discussed recently on our podcasts, Daza may find his time as a Rockie behind him.

Jordan Sheffield

Jordan Sheffield is the Rockies Rule V pick from the Los Angeles Dodgers so the Rockies must keep him on the 26-man roster. If they remove him from the roster, he will have to be placed on outright waivers. If nobody claims him, then the Rockies must offer Sheffield back to the Dodgers for $50,000. If Dodgers don’t want him back, then the Rockies can send him to the minor leagues and not have him on the 26- or 40-man roster.

And, frankly, the Rockies may decide to not carry him on their 26-man roster as Sheffield, who turns 26 in June, has had a rough spring.

In four innings, Sheffield has allowed three hits, five runs (all earned), walked five, and struck out four. The five walks are alarming as that was Sheffield’s problem in the minor leagues. In fact, 55 innings in 2019 between Advanced-A and Double-A, he walked seven batters per nine innings and he walked 5.4 batters per nine innings in 2018.

He has never played above Double-A and that coupled with the fact the minor league season was canceled in 2020, Sheffield likely needs more seasoning in the minor leagues.

Jairo Diaz

Jairo Diaz had a rough 2020 season and he has had a rough spring too. In 2020, he went 1-2 with a 7.65 ERA in 24 games. He also had a FIP of 6.64, a WHIP of 2.25, and saw his walk rate more than double from 3.0 to 6.3 BB/9 and his strikeout rate dropped from 9.8 to 7.7 K/9.

In spring training thus far, he has appeared in five games and allowed nine hits, six runs (all earned), three walks, and he has struck out three. Not necessarily the stats you want to prove yourself.

He still will likely make the bullpen for Opening Day but if he keeps pitching poorly throughout the rest of spring training, the Rockies may decide to ride with younger pitchers that have shown more recently.

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Carlos Estevez

Carlos Estevez is a guy that falls in the same category as Diaz: poor 2020 season and poor 2021 spring showing thus far.

In 2020, he appeared in 26 games and had an ERA of 7.50 and a FIP of 5.69. He did walk slightly more batters than 2019 (2.9 up to 3.4 BB/9) but his strikeout rate was exactly the same (10.1 K/9). His main problem was his home run rate and hit rate. He allowed 2.3 home runs and 12.4 hits per nine innings.

Ideally, each of those numbers would be slashed in half for Estevez to be a key figure in the bullpen.

But in spring training, he has appeared in five games and has a 16.20 ERA. In five innings, he has allowed seven hits, nine runs (all earned), four home runs, three walks, and he has struck out four.

Like Diaz, he will still likely make the bullpen for Opening Day but with some other younger pitchers that have pitched better in spring training thus far, Estevez may, perhaps, find himself looking for a new home in the near future.