Colorado Rockies: Five recently released players they should sign

Derek Dietrich

Derek Dietrich was released by the New York Yankees this week after a poor spring showing. Dietrich, 31, hit .167/.394/.292 with four hits, a homer, four RBI, and five walks.

However, his past seasons indicate that he can do better than that. In five of the last six seasons, he has had an OPS+ better than league average.

He hasn’t hit for average in the last two seasons (.189 combined batting average) but he gets on-base at a good clip (.332), and has good power numbers (.462 slugging percentage and 24 home runs in 138 games).

He is also very versatile as he has played first, second, and third base as well as left field (and one game in right field) in the last three years and the Rockies are always fans of versatile veterans.

Dietrich also rakes at Coors Field as in 49 career plate appearances at Coors, he has hit a mind boggling .386/.449/.841 with 13 runs, five doubles, five home runs, and 12 RBI.

Back in late 2018, coming off playing 148 games for Miami with a 107 OPS+, we made the case that the Rockies should sign him then. We also made the case that the Rockies should sign Dietrich and/or C.J. Cron that offseason. Cron, obviously, is now a member of the Rockies and their primary first baseman.

And to top it off, Detrich does have a connection to the Rockies. His first MLB manager was Mike Redmond, the manager of the 2013 Miami Marlins and now, Redmond is the Rockies bench coach.