Rox Pile
Fansided

Colorado Rockies lose Greg Bird to Toronto Blue Jays

By Kevin Henry

MESA, ARIZONA - MARCH 20: Greg Bird #13 of the Colorado Rockies walks back to the dugout after the third inning against the Chicago Cubs during the MLB spring training game at Sloan Park on March 20, 2021 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
MESA, ARIZONA - MARCH 20: Greg Bird #13 of the Colorado Rockies walks back to the dugout after the third inning against the Chicago Cubs during the MLB spring training game at Sloan Park on March 20, 2021 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Signed just over a year ago to a minor league contract by the Colorado Rockies with the hopes of resurrecting his Major League career, Greg Bird will now be continuing that hopeful path back to the big leagues inside the Toronto Blue Jays organization.

Inked by the Colorado Rockies to a minor league deal in 2021, Greg Bird has now signed a minor league pact with the Toronto Blue Jays

Bird’s move from the Colorado Rockies to the Blue Jays was announced on Twitter by Toronto’s MLB.com writer. Following a season where he played solely for the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes, Bird elected free agency, so the move to Toronto was not a surprise.

With the Rockies signing C.J. Cron to a two-year contract extension before the current MLB lockout went into effect and high-ranking prospect Michael Toglia rising through the Colorado system, Bird’s chances to make an impact at first base in Denver in the near future seemed to be extinguished, necessitating the move to the Blue Jays system.

While in Albuquerque, Bird blasted 27 home runs and 91 RBI, both marks which would lead the team.

Bird slashed .267/.362/.532, but could never find his way to the Rockies after Cron showcased his power and defensive abilities with the team. Additionally, Bird couldn’t overcome another roster roadblock as Colorado signed veteran first baseman Matt Adams and he debuted with the team in late April, appearing in 22 games before the Rockies released him in late July.

Drafted in the fifth round of the 2011 draft, Bird has 611 MLB at-bats to his credit, with those coming in 186 games with the New York Yankees between 2015 and 2019. He hasn’t appeared in an MLB game since April 13, 2019.

Next. Which Rockies would benefit the least from banning the shift?. dark

Likely signed for depth behind Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (who has said he is very happy at first base), Bird (who played 86 games at first base for the Isotopes last season while also serving as the team’s designated hitter in 20 other contests) will hope to show the Blue Jays he can contribute again at the Major League level while fighting for a place on the roster.

Home/Colorado Rockies News