3 free agent bats that could be (relatively) cheap for the Colorado Rockies

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ATLANTA, GEORGIA – OCTOBER 17: Chris Taylor #3 of the Los Angeles Dodgers slides into third base to advance on a sacrifice fly against the Atlanta Braves in the sixth inning of Game Two of the National League Championship Series at Truist Park on October 17, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

In recent years, the Colorado Rockies have not had great success on the free-agent market. However, in recent memory, the Rockies did strike lightning in a bottle with first baseman C.J. Cron.

As a result, Cron earned himself a two-year extension.

For the Rockies to contend next season, they have to make some changes to the team going forward and make more moves like that: moves that won’t break the bank but tremendously improve an area of weakness of the team.

There are three players, in particular, who will be free agents that could be like that for the Rockies in 2022.

Outfielder/infielder Chris Taylor could help the Colorado Rockies in multiple ways

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Chris Taylor could help the Colorado Rockies in a few ways.

First of all, everyone that knows the Rockies knows they love their versatile players and Taylor is just that. He can play second, short, third, left, center, and right and played all of those positions at least eight times each in 2021.

He also would be an upgrade on offense for the Rockies as he hit .260 with an OPS of .797 and an OPS+ of 110 in 2021.

Taylor has extensive playoff experience with the Dodgers and that would be another perk of the deal for the Rockies: he wouldn’t be on the Dodgers anymore.

Taylor, 31, made $7.8 million in 2021 and likely won’t get a lengthy contract because of his age so he could be another guy that will be relatively cheap and help improve the team.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – OCTOBER 10: Kyle Schwarber #18 of the Boston Red Sox looks on during Game 3 of the American League Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park on October 10, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

Outfielder/first baseman Kyle Schwarber could be a huge help to the Colorado Rockies offense.

Kyle Schwarber, who will turn 29 in March, is someone that was on our radar for the Colorado Rockies last offseason.

At the time, we determined that Schwarber was “not a perfect fit” for the Rockies but he was a better fit for the team than some other Rockies free agents in the past (e.g. Ian Desmond and Daniel Murphy).

But since then, Schwarber has regained his prowess at the plate. In 113 games the Washington Nationals and Boston Red Sox in 2021, Schwarber had a WAR of 3.2, due in large part to his 148 OPS+. He hit .266/.374/.554 in the regular season with 32 home runs and 71 RBI.

The main thing against him is his defense, which is subpar, at best.

But, if the DH will be returning to the NL but for good in 2022, Schwarber would be a great DH for the Rockies. If that was the case, the Rockies could conceivably use Schwarber as the primary DH but if they wanted to give Cron, Charlie Blackmon, or another outfielder a half-day off, Schwarber could step in.

The Rockies have also been known to love to carry a third catcher on their team. In fact, 2021 was the first season in a decade where the Rockies didn’t carry a position player who was also a catcher or a primary catcher that could also play infield positions (e.g. Tony Wolters, Wilin Rosario, Matt McBride, Jordan Pacheco).

Schwarber could bring that versatility (albeit, an emergency one) to the team again while providing the team with a bat that they desperately need and a player with extensive playoff experience as well.

Currently, he has a mutual option for the 2022 season with the Boston Red Sox so if he were to become a free agent, he will cost more than Cron did (in his original deal and extension) since Schwarber made $10 million this season but if the Rockies could get him for $15 million a year or under, that’s something that the Rockies may consider.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 02: Nelson Cruz #23 of the Tampa Bay Rays in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on October 02, 2021 in New York City. The Rays defeated the Yankees 12-2. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

Nelson Cruz could be a huge bat for the Colorado Rockies … under one condition

Nelson Cruz seems to be an ageless wonder as he is still hitting really well after 17 years in the majors. Cruz, 41, has hit 20 or more home runs and 75 or more RBI in each season since 2009 (with the exception of the shortened 2020 season).

Since 2014 (again, with 2020 being the exception), he has had at least 32 homers and 86 RBI per season, and an OPS+ of 147.

With his age, he has only signed one year deals for each of the last three seasons.

That bat would be a huge help for a relatively small amount of money (likely in the neighborhood of $10 to $13 million for 2022) … but there’s a problem. As of now, the NL doesn’t have a DH.

If the NL does adopt the DH, Cruz can open his pool of teams to sign with up to 30, instead of 15. Cruz has played a total of seven innings in the field in the last three seasons (seven innings at first base, a position he has never played before, for the Tampa Bay Rays this season).

Since 2017, he has played a combined 10 games (61 1/3 innings) in the field so the NL would have to adopt the DH in the new collective-bargaining agreement (CBA) for next season (the current CBA expires on December 1).

If the NL doesn’t adopt it, then the path for the Rockies to even consider Cruz as an option is much lower, as he is unlikely to take a pinch-hitting role on an NL team.

Final Thoughts

The Colorado Rockies need a few bats to help their anemic offense in 2022. They will hope that some of their current players will improve but the Rockies will also need to go outside of the organization to put the Rockies closer to the playoffs than they have been in the last three seasons.

Schwarber and Cruz are much bigger bats than Taylor but they aren’t as versatile and would likely require a DH in the NL.

Next. How the Astros, Carlos Correa will impact Trevor Story. dark

New Rockies GM Bill Schmidt may decide to go the route of a trade as well or instead of relying on internal options and free agents, which would be a big difference between him and his predecessor, Jeff Bridich. Regardless of which avenue Schmidt decides to go to address the offense, the Rockies know that they need some upgrades offensively. Now, do they actually address it?

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Outfielder/infielder Chris Taylor could help the Colorado Rockies in multiple ways

Outfielder/first baseman Kyle Schwarber could be a huge help to the Colorado Rockies offense.

Nelson Cruz could be a huge bat for the Colorado Rockies … under one condition

Final Thoughts

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