Grading the Colorado Rockies pre-MLB lockout signings

Jul 2, 2021; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies first baseman C.J. Cron (25) hits an RBI double in the sixth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 2, 2021; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies first baseman C.J. Cron (25) hits an RBI double in the sixth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
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DENVER, CO – APRIL 2: C.J. Cron #25 of the Colorado Rockies walks off the field after the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field on April 2, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – APRIL 2: C.J. Cron #25 of the Colorado Rockies walks off the field after the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field on April 2, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /

With the MLB lockout preventing all offseason transactions, now’s a perfect time to look back on what the Colorado Rockies have done this offseason.

The Rockies have not made a ton of moves as, in fact, they have not added an MLB player from outside of the organization yet. The Rockies, Cincinnati Reds, and Oakland A’s are the only teams not to do that thus far. However, the Rockies have made a few moves by re-upping some players or by letting players go.

Let’s evaluate what Rockies GM Bill Schmidt and company have done this offseason.

The Colorado Rockies have a mixed bag so far this offseason

Extending first baseman C.J. Cron: A-

The Colorado Rockies started out the offseason by extending their first baseman C.J. Cron. Cron, who turns 32 next month, was extended to a two-year deal worth $14.5 million. For the Rockies, that was the perfect length as they hope some of their top prospects, like Colton Welker or Elehuris Montero, will be ready to be an everyday MLB player by then and one of them would likely play first base.

Cron was also, by far, the best Rockies hitter in 2021 as he hit .281/.375/.530 with 28 homers, 92 RBI, and an OPS+ of 130 in 142 games. Had he stayed at that pace and not been on the IL for a lower back strain in May, he would have had 30+ homers and 100+ RBI as his 162-game average was 32 homers and 105 RBI.

For comparison on that OPS+, Nolan Arenado’s OPS+ in his final full three seasons with the Rockies (2017 through 2019) was 131.

Aug 29, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Antonio Senzatela (49) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 29, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Antonio Senzatela (49) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports /

The Colorado Rockies extending starting pitcher Antonio Senzatela: B+

Right around the same time as the Cron extension, the Colorado Rockies also extended starting pitcher Antonio Senzatela, Senzatela, who will turn 27 next month, struggled in the win-loss department in 2021 (4-10 record) but he suffered from a lack of run support.

He had an ERA of 4.42 but a FIP of 3.61 suggests that lack of run support. In fact, that was his best FIP ever. He increased his strikeout rate to as high as it has been since 2018 and his walk rate of 1.8 BB/9 was the best of his career.

Since 2019, his groundball rate has been among the top 20 in all of baseball (more than 50 percent each season), which is why he pitches better at Coors Field. In 2021, Senzatela was 3-3 with a 3.97 ERA in 15 starts at Coors Field but on the road, he was 1-7 with a 5.05 ERA in 13 starts.

Like most of the Rockies starters (and pitchers, in general), he pitched better at Coors Field and, obviously, he wants to stick around so it was a good five-year deal for $50.5 million with a club option for $14 million for a sixth year.

Jul 25, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jon Gray (55) pitches in the first inning of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 25, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jon Gray (55) pitches in the first inning of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

The Colorado Rockies letting Jon Gray leave without compensation: F

The Colorado Rockies mishandled this from the get-go. As we have discussed before, the Rockies reportedly didn’t even entertain offers for Jon Gray at the trade deadline when teams like the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies were desperate for starting pitching. Then, the Rockies didn’t discuss a new contract with him until the final homestand and they lowballed him with that deal so he said no.

After that, the two sides were not in contact often (if at all) but the Rockies thought that he would return so they didn’t give him a qualifying offer. As a result of all of that, he left to join the Texas Rangers for an extra year than the Rockies offered and around what the Rockies offered for the average annual value (AAV) or slightly more (he got four years and $56 million from Texas and Colorado offered him three years and in the neighborhood of $35 to $40 million).

The Rockies got nothing and it’s their own fault for it. He wanted to stay with the Rockies and pitched better at Coors Field than on the road … and they got nothing in return.

If he left because he didn’t want to stay or got a better contract elsewhere, fine. But being able to get compensation for him twice and refusing compensation shows that the Rockies misplayed their hand.

Sep 10, 2021; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Colorado Rockies catcher Elias Diaz (35) reacts as he rounds the bases after hitting a grand slam in the ninth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 10, 2021; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Colorado Rockies catcher Elias Diaz (35) reacts as he rounds the bases after hitting a grand slam in the ninth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports /

Extending catcher Elias Díaz: B+

The thought of the Colorado Rockies extending catcher Elias Díaz on June 1 would have been insane, let alone extending him for three years and giving it a B+ rating but that’s what we are giving their extension of Díaz because he was, arguably, the Rockies best catcher in franchise history after June 1.

Through June 1, Díaz was hitting a paltry .123/.191/.185 in 28 games with one homer and four RBI but after that, he hit .284/.348/.553 with 17 homers and 40 RBI in 78 games. That’s equivalent to 35 homers and 80 RBI in a full 162-game season.

That got Díaz a three-year extension for $14.5 million, which should be a good deal for both sides going forward.

Re-signing Jhoulys Chacín: B

Overall, re-signing Jhoulys Chacín is a good move for the Rockies but this is ranked the lowest of the re-signings/extensions of the offseason for the simple fact of the others are more involved in games.

Chacín, who turns 34 next month, pitched to a 4.34 ERA in 64 1/3 innings pitched last season after the Rockies signed him just a few days prior to Opening Day. He was originally a long reliever but with other guys in the bullpen having issues, Chacín moved into a set-up role and pitched very well.

From June 28 through the end of the season (when he was in a set-up role), he had an ERA of 3.16 and a FIP of 3.98.

Chacín also provides the Rockies with a veteran in a young bullpen and also, he pitches well at Coors Field. Ideally, he is a long man going into 2022 but the Rockies will have to make some additions in the bullpen and some of the Rockies current relievers will have to step up for that to happen.

Overall offseason ranking thus far: C

By and large, the Colorado Rockies are in the middle. They made some good trio of extensions but the Gray debacle was an unmitigated disaster.

The grading will go down if Trevor Story leaves because, again, there won’t be any compensation for him other than the comp pick.

Four reasons why the Yankees, Story are a perfect fit. dark. Next

But also, the Rockies need to make more moves this offseason. If they do nothing and Story also leaves, the Rockies will probably get a D- or an F, which is something they definitely got last offseason.

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