Colorado Rockies: The grades for their post-lockout moves

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 10: Kris Bryant #23 of the San Francisco Giants speaks with reporters in the dugout prior to a game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on September 10, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. Today's game was Bryant's first time back at Wrigley Field since he was traded by the Cubs. (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 10: Kris Bryant #23 of the San Francisco Giants speaks with reporters in the dugout prior to a game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on September 10, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. Today's game was Bryant's first time back at Wrigley Field since he was traded by the Cubs. (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)
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DETROIT, MI – AUGUST 30: Alex Colome #48 of the Minnesota Twins pitches against the Detroit Tigers in the ninth inning at Comerica Park on August 30, 2021, in Detroit, Michigan. He will be the Colorado Rockies closer in 2022. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – AUGUST 30: Alex Colome #48 of the Minnesota Twins pitches against the Detroit Tigers in the ninth inning at Comerica Park on August 30, 2021, in Detroit, Michigan. He will be the Colorado Rockies closer in 2022. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

The Colorado Rockies have made some big moves in the 11+ days since the MLB lockout has ended and they range the gamut from very good to awful since they have had some gains and a big loss.

For the moves the Rockies made prior to the lockout (which included multiple contract extensions), we ranked them all the way back in early December in the early days of the lockout.

For this version, we are only considering players on the 40-man roster and not non-roster invitees. Why? The NRIs may not even make the team. They could be none other than a minuscule footnote in the depths of Colorado Rockies history, like Javy López (who was among our 26-man roster of Rockies to play one season or less with the Rockies) or they could be like C.J. Cron (their best hitter in 2021).

Without further ado, let’s begin.

The Colorado Rockies have made some good moves

Signing reliever Alex Colomé via free agency: A

The Colorado Rockies needed to lengthen their bullpen by adding a quality reliever(s). With Alex Colomé: Check

They needed a good reliever: Check.

They needed someone with legitimate closing experience: Check.

They needed a reliever that was a groundball pitcher unlike most of their relievers: Check.

They needed to get a reliever that did not cost a ton of money or years (aka learn from their mistakes with Wade Davis, Jake McGee, and Bryan Shaw): Check and check.

Alex Colomé signed for one year and $4.1 million.

The only reason why this isn’t an A+ is that we still need to see how he will pitch at Coors Field. Considering his groundball rate and his experience, he should be good. But even if he isn’t, it was a low-risk, high-reward signing.

WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 03: Jose Iglesias #12 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates with teammates after scoring in the sixth inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on October 03, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 03: Jose Iglesias #12 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates with teammates after scoring in the sixth inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on October 03, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /

Signing shortstop José Iglesias via free agency: C-

The Colorado Rockies addressed their shortstop situation with a stopgap shortstop in José Iglesias.

He signed a one-year deal for $5 million so, like with Colomé, it is a low-risk move. However, Iglesias is taking over for Trevor Story. When healthy, Trevor Story was putting up numbers comparable to Hall of Famers. José Iglesias is far from that.

Iglesias has shown glimpses of being great defensively but it was not in 2021. Offensively, he was a dead ringer for a bat the Rockies already have that’s not great. The Rockies downgraded from a perennial All-Star to a player that (on a playoff-contending team) is someone on the bench, if at all.

But since it’s a short-term, low-risk move, this is why we have it as a C- and not lower.

Signing Chad Kuhl via free agency: C

The Colorado Rockies signed former Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Chad Kuhl to, in all likelihood, be their fifth starter to start the season.

Kuhl’s manager with the Pirates for Pirates at the beginning of his career was Clint Hurdle, who came back to the Rockies as a special assistant this offseason.

He will be a decent stopgap for the Rockies but he is, at least to start off, replacing Jon Gray in the rotation. Gray has a carer 107 ERA+. Kuhl has a career 95 ERA+ so it’s a downgrade from that perspective. However, he is better than Chi Chi González, who was the team’s long reliever/spot starter/fifth starter through the season.

As a long-reliever/depth option, Kuhl is a better fit which he may be as the season progresses, as Peter Lambert and/or Ryan Rolison could look to slide into the rotation.

So it’s another low-risk move but he doesn’t have a very high ceiling and is replacing Jon Gray, which is why he gets a C.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 12: Kris Bryant #23 of the San Francisco Giants runs to third base against the Los Angeles Dodgers second inning in game 4 of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 12, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 12: Kris Bryant #23 of the San Francisco Giants runs to third base against the Los Angeles Dodgers second inning in game 4 of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 12, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

Signing Kris Bryant via free agency: C

This may be a bit of a controversial grading but before you jump down my throat, hear me out.

It’s a good move for the Rockies for a few reasons. Bill Schmidt knows Kris Bryant well and has for a decade. He provides them with a big bat in their lineup. The Rockies needed a bat in the outfield. The Rockies wanted someone that is versatile. Kris Bryant wanted to be a Rockie and has wanted to be for a decade.

But there are plenty of negatives too.

First off is the length of contract. Will Kris Bryant be an All-Star caliber player when he’s 37? Probably not. Just look at some projections for him then. They aren’t pretty.

Secondly, there are other teams that got bigger bats or comparable bats for much less (in length and total money). Carlos Correa, Nick Castellanos, Kyle Schwarber, and Freddie Freeman all fall into this category. Correa and Freeman were the only ones who had a higher AAV than Bryant.

Thirdly, Bryant is not replacing Story defensively. He’s not as good of a defender and he’s not playing shortstop.

Fourth, he has had his fair share of injuries. Since 2018, he has spent time on the IL for shoulder inflammation twice, a finger injury, an oblique injury, and an elbow injury. Total he missed about 110 games for those injuries and a few day-to-day injuries since then.

Lastly, does Kris Bryant make them a playoff contender right now? He does not.

That’s why we have his signing as a C: five positives and five negatives.

DENVER, COLORADO – SEPTEMBER 29: Trevor Story #27 of the Colorado Rockies acknowledges the crowd as the team walks around the warning track after their final home game and win over the Washington Nationals at Coors Field on September 29, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO – SEPTEMBER 29: Trevor Story #27 of the Colorado Rockies acknowledges the crowd as the team walks around the warning track after their final home game and win over the Washington Nationals at Coors Field on September 29, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

Losing Trevor Story: D-

This grade may be a bit too harsh or a bit too generous, depending on your point of view.

The Rockies wanted to keep Trevor Story. We know that they were willing to give him more than the six years and $140 million that he got from the Red Sox so it was his decision to leave.

However, Story’s relationship with the team’s higher brass started to fall apart after they didn’t add anything of note for their 2018 playoff team or after. Story is very good friends with Nolan Arenado and Arenado made it clear he wasn’t happy with the higher-ups either. That’s why they traded him to the St. Louis Cardinals in February 2021.

In 2021, Story wasn’t happy when he wasn’t traded at the trade deadline and not because he wanted out of Colorado but because he thought that the team could get something to help them win in the future. Instead, all they have is a comp draft pick.

So it was Story’s decision to leave but it was because he had had enough of the Rockies front office and ownership. He also wants to win and the Rockies are not a playoff contender. The Red Sox are perennial playoff contenders.

Jun 15, 2021; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies third baseman Ryan McMahon (24) on deck in the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 15, 2021; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies third baseman Ryan McMahon (24) on deck in the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

Extending Ryan McMahon: A-

Extending Ryan McMahon for six years and $70 million and usurping four of his free agent years is a good move for the Colorado Rockies.

He was the best defensive player in baseball at two positions in 2021 and he was a 4.0 rWAR player so if he produces like that for six years will be well worth $70 million.

The only reason why this isn’t an A or an A+ is his offense. The Rockies need him to develop his power for a full season.

Through June 15 (67 games), McMahon was on pace for 39 HR and 104 RBI but he was hitting .261/.308/.527. After that, he was on pace for 13 homers and 83 RBI (in a 162 game season) with a slash line of .247/.343/.383 in a total of 84 games.

If he could provide the Rockies with the 39 homers, 104 RBI, the .261 average, the .343 OBP, and the .527 slugging percentage, he would be an All-Star and their best player overall, but he hasn’t shown that over a full season.

Overall post-lockout transactions grade: C+

As we said back in December, if the Rockies made no moves after the lockout, they would get a D- or an F for the offseason.

They get a C+ because they made some moves to try to fill some holes but there are still some holes and some of the replacements (Kuhl and Iglesias) are not upgrades (at least to start the season). The Bryant deal could age well but seven years is still suspect. They still need another bat, they need another reliever, and they also need some serious depth.

Next. The grades for the pre-lockout moves. dark

In other words, it’s a step in the right direction but there is still some stuff that needs to be done to be a playoff contender.

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