Grading the Colorado Rockies pre-MLB lockout signings

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.

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.

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.