3 minor-league signings the Rockies should make to fuel spring training competition

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When you are a rebuilding team, so much of the season is spent on young talent. You want to focus on if your talent is developing, do you have any potential stars, or do you need to move someone to make room for another prospect. Little time is spent on adding free agents to the roster, as most of the time this creates sort of a logjam if you will and can block some prospects. That is not the case, however, with minor league signings. These are low risk and if they pop, great, you have a solid player on such a low financial cost that it is a plus. If the player doesn't pop, then you have depth, or can get out of the create at a minimal financial loss.

The Rockies have added some veteran depth this offseason, but they should not be done. A lot of this season should be about letting some prospects play and develop, but you have to build your depth out and some of that needs to be done in the upper minor leagues or potential major league players. The Rockies will most certainly let a lot of their young talent prove themselves but taking a shot on these three players as minor-league invitees, could prove valuable for the long season.

Adalberto Mondesi

Mondesi is one of the more interesting players on this last as someone with an incredible ceiling, but a even more drastic floor. Still just 28 years old for a lot of 2024, there is a lot to like about Mondesi, but there are certainly a lot of question marks (which is why he is on the minor league signing list).

2022 was a bad year for Mondesi, as the 26-year-old played in just 15 games, with a 0.0 fWAR and a -4 wRC+. He had a 37% strikeout rate and was just downright awful. He was sent to the Red Rox in January of 2023 but underwent surgery that cost him all of his 2023 season. Mondesi won't be a superstar level player, but from 2018-2021, he put up a combined 7.4 fWAR. He doesn't provide you with an above average bat, but he is a very solid defender that can play three infield positions. It's almost a guarantee he will strike out more than 30% of the time, but he has elite speed and will steal you a ton of bags.

This would be a very low risk move for the Rockies, while providing them some much needed middle infield depth. If he pops, he could look to touch his back-to-back 2.5 fWAR seasons in 2018 and 2019. Mondesi has to prove himself to be able to make a major league roster and will definitely need to prove that on a minor league deal.

Mike Zunino

The Rockies catcher position in 2023 was actually one of the brighter spots for the team. The Rockies catcher, Elias Diaz ended up as an All-Star (actually winning the All-Star game MVP). That's not to say the catcher position is in a great spot heading into 2024 though, with a lot of questions marks. If Diaz can repeat his 2023 success, the Rockies could look to take advantage and move him at the trade deadline, opening up a spot on the major league roster.

See some highlights from Zunino's tremendous power, courtesy of Andrew Johnston

The logical fit here might be top prospect, Drew Romo, but if he isn't quite ready for the major leagues, having a top defender, with serious offensive upside would be very valuable to have. Zunino has been one of the best defensive catchers in the game while having some up and down offensive seasons. In 2021, Zunino was worth 4.5 fWAR with 33 home runs and a 133 wRC+ (even earning some MVP votes). Adding someone with that upside, but a very high floor as a defensive minded catcher could be a low risk move for the Rockies that could allow them to take advantage of Diaz's value come summertime.

Eric Lauer

Perhaps the longest shot on this list to join the Rockies, is former Milwaukee Brewer, Eric Lauer. Lauer will have quite a bit of interest to be a back of the rotation option. Lauer fits this team extremely well; he is a young, proven left-handed pitcher that is looking for a rotation to complete. Lauer provides something that the Rockies have been lacking, and that is a solid strikeout threat. Through the good and bad of Lauer's six-year career, Lauer's strikeout rate has been 8.55 per nine. He also has a solid walk rate of 3.47 per nine as well.

Check out Lauer's dominant 2021, courtesy of Dawg&Hen

Lauer would fit in as a solid number four or five starter for the Rockies. The Rockies have added a few veteran pieces to their rotation that should give them a lot of innings and raise the floor quite a bit. Adding an arm like Lauer could give them a solid option with some high upside.

In 2021 and 2021 Lauer posted an ERA below 3.7 with a combined fWAR of 2.8, throwing a combined 277.1 innings. During those two years his strikeout rate was just south of nine, while his walk rate remained just a tick over three. In 2021, his ERA was 3.19 and in 2022, his ERA was 3.69, proving that even in a hitter friendly park (American Family Field in Milwaukee), he can be a very effective pitcher.

Lauer is the perfect type of pitcher the Rockies should target. He is still young; has proven he can be good and has impressive strikeout numbers. Lauer could get a major league contract offer (the Rockies should entertain this), but if he doesn't the Rockies need to jump at the chance to bring him in on a minor league deal.

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