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Grading the Colorado Rockies pre-MLB lockout signings

By Noah Yingling

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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Colorado Rockies pitcher Jon Gray could be a prime target for the Texas Rangers
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.

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