The Colorado Rockies should take a flier on outfielder Franmil Reyes

The Cleveland Guardians made a surprising move on Saturday when they designated outfielder Franmil Reyes for assignment. Reyes was just optioned to Triple-A earlier this week and he has struggled with some injuries in 2022 but he would be a great fit for the Colorado Rockies.

The Rockies should take a flier on Franmil Reyes

Franmil Reyes has struggled with the Guardians this season but he has shown that he can be a great power hitter, which is exactly what the Rockies need and exactly what the Rockies know they need.

In 2021, Reyes only played in 115 games for the Guardians as he had two separate stints on the injured list with a side injury and a back injury. However, he still hit 30 home runs and had 85 RBI. He hit .254/.324/.522 with an OPS+ 128. That’s a 162-game average of 42 home runs and 120 RBI … with half of his games being played in a pitcher-friendly park in Cleveland.

For comparison, the last Rockies player to hit 40+ home runs and have 115+ RBI was Nolan Arenado. He had 41 home runs and 118 RBI for the Rockies in 2019 in 155 games.

In 150 games in 2019 (with San Diego and Cleveland), he hit 37 home runs and had 81 RBI. If he would have called Coors Field home that season, according to Statcast, he would have had 42 home runs.

In 2022, Reyes has only hit .213/.254/.350 with an OPS+ of 72. He is also striking out at a massive rate (104 strikeouts in 70 games is a 162-game pace of 241 strikeouts). For comparison, in 2019 and 2021, he struck out 156 and 149 times.

Considering his bat this season, it would be risk for the Rockies. They also have a slew of outfielders. He has also primarily been a DH. Since 2020, he has been a DH in 214 games and played left or right field in only 26 games. The Rockies already have a few DHs in the outfield as is.

However, Reyes would provide the Rockies with power (which they desperately need) and he’s controllable. He won’t be a free agent until after the 2024 season.

It will be difficult for them to get Reyes with the way that the waiver claims work (Reyes is available to all American League teams first before being available to NL teams in order of winning percentage) but if the chance comes, they should heavily consider it. They could get themselves a huge power bat for nothing in return and a cheap salary.

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