Rumors: Colorado Rockies “pursued” pitchers Steven Matz, Alex Wood

While the Colorado Rockies were working to see if they could keep Jon Gray in the starting rotation fold, the franchise was also pursuing other starting pitching options in Steven Matz and Alex Wood, according to Thomas Harding of MLB.com.

The Colorado Rockies lost out on not only Jon Gray, but also other free agent starting pitchers, according to reports

In this article, Harding says that, according to MLB sources, the Colorado Rockies pursued a pair of left-handed starting options in Matz and Wood. However, Matz eventually inked a four-year, $44 million deal with the St. Louis Cardinals and Wood resigned with the San Francisco Giants for two years and $20 million.

It isn’t clear exactly how much the Rockies bid in order to try to win the services of Matz and Wood (although it is estimated, according to Harding and The Athletic, to be roughly the same that was offered to Gray at three or four years and between $35 and $40 million), but it was not enough to lure them to Colorado. This, of course, was happening at the same time as Gray was in the process of leaving the Rockies to sign a four-year, $56 million deal with the Texas Rangers.

Had the Rockies inked either Matz or Wood, it would have given Colorado three southpaws in the 2022 rotation, with the new pitcher joining incumbent left-handers Kyle Freeland and Austin Gomber.

The fact that the Rockies are looking to obtain starting pitching is an interesting sign for a franchise that has been mostly characterized by “homegrown” starting pitching in recent seasons. Gomber is a rare example otherwise, joining the rotation last year as a result of the trade with the St. Louis Cardinals that involved Nolan Arenado.

Harding adds that the Rockies are still looking at options to acquire starting pitching, including potential trades and free agent signings, showing that, while Peter Lambert and others may be options for Colorado in the 2022 rotation, there may well be outside competition for starting roles.

As of now, Colorado will enter the 2022 season with German Marquez, Freeland, and Gomber as the centerpieces of the rotation.