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3 Rockies players fighting for their futures heading into the 2024 season
Time might not be on these 3 Rockies players' sides, who could be fighting for their future with the club heading into 2024.
In one of the most uninspiring seasons in franchise history, a season in which the Rockies lost over 100 games, there was hardly anyone that seemed like a guaranteed "holdover" to the 2024 roster. There were some youngsters like Tovar, Nolan Jones, and Brenton Doyle who impressed and earned a role, but there was not much else to be excited about.
A team littered with mediocre veterans like Randal Grichuk and C.J. Cron was destined to be a lackluster lineup; pair that with the sketchy pitching staff and fans were in for a long ride. A lot of fans were asking questions about the direction of the team. Who should be the manager? Who should be the GM? Will they embrace the rebuild or start spending some money to compete with the Dodgers, Giants, Padres and Diamondbacks? These are all questions that Rockies fans were asking themselves as it seemed like it was series loss after series loss.
As we progress into 2024, we know the team is in a full on rebuild. With few free agent additions, these team was set on letting the young talent prove themselves. We should see quite a bit of youth and prospect growth this year. With all of that, there are a few Rockies players running short on time; they may be in a make-or-break season, fighting for their future in the Mile High City.
Brendan Rodgers needs to live up to his draft status to stay with this team beyond 2024
Brendan Rodgers was one of the most hyped draft picks in recent Rockies memory. The third overall pick in the 2015 MLB Draft was in serious contention for the number one overall pick and the Rockies were happy to nab him at three. The uber talented shortstop had a mix of a solid hit tool, above average power and elite defense.
The top pick has struggled to translate that hype into production during his time as a major leaguer. Rodgers has only played in 317 games, and when you consider that it has been spread out over five seasons, it shows that he hasn't really had a lot of consistency to show that he can be an above average player.
His 2021 and 2022 seasons looked like he was ready to pop, putting up back-to-back above average seasons, but a serious shoulder injury in 2023 hindered his season, limiting him to just 46 games, putting up just a 76 wRC+.
Rodgers is only under contract through 2025, and this upcoming season could be a pivotal one to show if he deserves an opportunity in 2025 and beyond. With top prospect, Adael Amador, pounding down the door, Rodgers could find himself on the way out, even as early as the trade deadline this year. If Rodgers can go out and become a 110 wRC+ hitter, and put up a 2-3 fWAR season, he could really force the Rockies hand, either way, 2024 is a big year for Rodgers.
Elehuris Montero needs to slug his way into a future with the Rockies
The pressure has been looming large over the former top prospect and slugger, Elehuris Montero. The 25-year-old was the key piece in the Nolan Arenado trade that lost the Rockies organization a lot of fans (it was one of the worst trades in MLB history). Since then, Montero has dominated the minor leagues, but struggled at the major league level.
Montero has a career 77 wRC+ with a 34.8% strikeout rate and with no minor league options remaining, it is put up or shut up time for Montero. Montero is only 25, but after dominating the minor leagues throughout his career, he has proven that he is ready for the big leagues. With that being said, he needs to prove that he is an actual big league regular and not just a "Quad-A" player as some people refer to it.
Montero has gotten 492 plate appearances at the major league level which amounts to almost a full season. In 2024, he should see quite a bit of playing time, spending a lot of time at first base as well as DH. His spring has been a good sign, but he will need to continue that into the regular season to prove it is not just a hot stretch.
This year will be a key year for the former top prospect, and with the number of top prospects pounding down the door to the major league roster, he will need to prove to the Rockies that he can be a middle of the order producer. With no options remaining, and the Rockies in the midst of a rebuild, if Montero struggles, he could be looking for a new home come 2025.
Peter Lambert may find himself on the outside looking in sooner rather than later
It might seem like a bad idea for a team that has struggled so badly to develop and keep pitching, to have a soon to be 27-year-old, promising right-handed pitcher fighting for his future with the team. Hear me out, though, Lambert has been a solid (but not great) swing man, but for a team that is needing to get a lot better and change their mentality around the pitching, you can't accept mediocrity anymore.
Lambert is still young at nearly 27-years-old and has shown some promise at times. He also comes with a high draft pedigree, going in the second round of the 2015 MLB draft out of high school. He has also looked pretty good this spring over four appearances. He has thrown nine innings, walking just three, but only striking out five. He has a solid ERA of just 2.00 but will need to prove that he can continue that when they return home to the unfriendly confines of Coors Field.
Lambert still has a player option, giving some flexibility, but the Rockies have made it a point to get young starting pitching. With the emergence of Carson Palmquist in spring training, along with a number of college arms that have flashed upside. Guys like Chase Dollander, Sean Sullivan, Joe Rock, Gabe Hughes, and Jack Mahoney are all college arms that could move quickly and earn a chance to prove themselves.
That could lead Lambert to another team sometime this year or possibly next. Lambert will be competing with Ryan Feltner and Dakota Hudson for the final two rotation spots and will need to really impress the Rockies to find himself with a long-term job in Colorado.
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