The Rockies continue to shed payroll as the non-tender deadline hits.
Following Friday night’s non-tender deadline, the Colorado Rockies announced that they have non-tendered right-handed pitcher Cal Quantrill and second baseman Brendan Rodgers, both of whom are now free agents.
Quantrill, 29, was acquired by the Rockies prior to the 2024 season from the Cleveland Guardians in exchange for minor league catcher Kody Huff. He was a solid contributor in the Rockies’ rotation during the first half of the season. In 21 starts before the trade deadline, Quantrill had 12 Quality Starts and held a 4.09 ERA over 114 1⁄3 innings. However, once the trade deadline was over, his performance suffered. In his final eight starts of the year Quantrill didn’t have a single outing of six innings or more while posting a 7.94 ERA over 34 innings.
Rodgers, 28, was drafted by the Rockies third overall in the 2015 draft and was a former no. 1 organizational prospect but unfortunately never quite lived up to expectations. He has struggled to stay on the field due to injury throughout both his minor league and major league career, including season-ending shoulder injuries in 2019 and 2023. His best season came in 2022, during which he won a Gold Glove, hit .266/.325/.408, and was worth a team high 4.3 rWAR as the Rockies’ starting second baseman.
Per Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post, the Rockies attempted to trade both players, but were unable to find a deal before the non-tender deadline.
The Rockies continue to cut payroll and focus on their youth movement with these moves. Quantrill was due an estimated $9 million in arbitration while Rodgers was due $5.5 million. With their departures, as well as those of Peter Lambert, Dakota Hudson, Jake Cave, the Rockies will save an estimated $20.1 million in payroll.
The team also announced that they have reached deals to avoid arbitration with left-handed pitcher Lucas Gilbreath and outfielder Sam Hilliard. According to Mark Feinsand, Gilbreath will make $785,000 and Hilliard will make $1 million in 2025.
Gilbreath, 28, turned in strong seasons out of the Rockies bullpen in 2021 and 2022, but missed 2023 as he recovered from Tommy John surgery. He returned to the active roster late in 2024 and struggled through three appearances, pitching just one total inning while giving up six earned runs on seven hits with no strikeouts. He was quickly shut down for the season with inflammation in his pitching shoulder.
Hilliard, 30, returned to the Rockies after being waived by the Baltimore Orioles last offseason. Now a veteran, he embraced a backup outfielder role and hit 10 home runs with a .812 OPS in 138 at-bats. With Charlie Blackmon and Jake Cave now gone, Hilliard figures to be the team’s fourth outfielder in 2025.
It is currently unknown if the Rockies were able to reach deals with their other arbitration-eligible players in starting pitchers Ryan Feltner and Austin Gomber, as well as reliever Justin Lawrence.
The Rockies’ 40-man roster currently sits at 38.