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3 free agents the Colorado Rockies should already be targeting

By Noah Yingling |
PITTSBURGH, PA - AUGUST 03: Taylor Rogers #25 of the Milwaukee Brewers in action during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on August 3, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - AUGUST 03: Taylor Rogers #25 of the Milwaukee Brewers in action during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on August 3, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
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The Colorado Rockies were the only team at the 2022 MLB trade deadline that did not make a trade. Despite not doing anything at the trade deadline, the club has to do something this offseason to indicate whether or not they still have confidence in their core right now.

From the outside, it’s obvious that the club needs help if they plan on getting into playoff contention because they are far from it right now. Their 51-65 record entering Sunday is indicative of their talent.

To get to that playoff level, they will have to sign some free agents if they don’t want to trade their prospects, especially to get to contending level in 2023 or 2024. Here are three players the Rockies should already be targeting to sign this offseason.

Rockies: 3 impending free agents they should already be targeting

1) Left-handed reliever Taylor Rogers

The Rockies have only had one consistent left-handed reliever on the season in Lucas Gilbreath so they need a lefty reliever. They also need relievers, in general, with relievers Alex Colomé, Carlos Estévez, and Jhoulys Chacín all becoming free agents. Taylor Rogers would be a perfect fit for them.

Rogers, who turns 32 in December, is a Colorado native (from the Denver suburb of Littleton) who has closing experience so he could be a great setup option. In 45 games this year between San Diego and Milwaukee (who traded for him at the trade deadline), he has a 4.26 ERA in 45 games with 28 saves but he has had a lot of bad luck this year. His FIP is only 2.24, which is very similar to what he had last year when he was an All-Star with Minnesota (2.13 FIP, 3.35 ERA). He’s also walking only two batters per nine innings in comparison to 10 strikeouts per nine innings.

He also has a low fastball spin rate, which is one of a few things that has led to success of pitchers at Coors Field. Another one is a high groundball rate and Rogers has a moderate groundball rate.

DENVER, COLORADO – AUGUST 10: Starting pitcher Jose Quintana #63 of the St louis Cardinals throws against the Colorado Rockies in the first inning at Coors Field on August 10, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO – AUGUST 10: Starting pitcher Jose Quintana #63 of the St louis Cardinals throws against the Colorado Rockies in the first inning at Coors Field on August 10, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

2) Left-handed starting pitcher José Quintana

The “strength” of the Rockies has been their rotation but they still have a lot of issues. There’s little depth there and they haven’t been good this year. Add in that Chad Kuhl is a free agent and Ryan Rolison will have pitched in 71.2 innings in the last three years with none coming in 2022 and the Rockies need to get some starting pitching. José Quintana would be a good addition.

Quintana, who turns 34 in January, has split the season between the Pirates and Cardinals and he has a 3.37 ERA in 22 starts. He also has a 124 ERA+, a 3.21 FIP, a 1.243 WHIP, and an average of 2.7 walks and 8.0 strikeouts per nine innings.

From a Rockies perspective, that’s good but he has done it in a way that would be conducive for success at Coors Field. He has a very low fastball spin rate (lower than any of the Rockies starters this season, in fact) and a high groundball rate. His 45.3 percent groundball rate is tied for 30th among the 78 starters with at least 100 innings on the season thus far.

With his age, the Rockies should be able to get him on a one- or two-year deal, which would give them time for Rolison or others to develop. If the club isn’t in contention at the trade deadline next year or if the minor leaguers are ready, they could trade him and get some prospects from a contender.

NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 6: Brandon Nimmo #9 of the New York Mets in action during the fourth inning against the Atlanta Braves in the first game of a doubleheader at Citi Field on August 6, 2022 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 6: Brandon Nimmo #9 of the New York Mets in action during the fourth inning against the Atlanta Braves in the first game of a doubleheader at Citi Field on August 6, 2022 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images) /

3) Outfielder Brandon Nimmo

The Rockies have a plethora of outfielders on their current roster. They have Kris Bryant, Sam Hilliard, Connor Joe (who also plays first base), Charlie Blackmon, Randal Grichuk, Yonathan Daza, Garrett Hampson (who’s also an infielder). Of all of those players, only one has been above league average offensively this season. That’s Kris Bryant … who has played in 42 games this season since he has been on the IL three times. Brandon Nimmo will be the best center fielder on the free agent market this offseason.

Nimmo has had his injury issues in the past but this season, he has been healthy and he has played very well. In 105 games, he has hit .264/.349/.413 with 10 home runs, 40 RBI, 21 doubles, and an OPS+ of 116.

Nimmo also grew up a fan of the Rockies as he was born in Cheyenne, Wyo. just a few days before the Rockies played their first ever game.

Nimmo will turn 30 years old during Spring Training and he will be able to get a big contract out of some team but likely not to the number that Kris Bryant got via free agency but it would be a sign that the Rockies know that they have to get some more offense, especially in the outfield.

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