Colorado Rockies news and links for Monday, August 5th, 2024
The Major League Baseball trade deadline has come and gone and the Colorado Rockies did very little in terms of selling off what few assets they had and building towards the future. Naturally there was much weeping and gnashing of teeth that followed.
The question that follows is “now what?” The Rockies are inevitably charging towards their second straight 100-loss season with the potential of more to come in the near future.
The last two months of the season for losing teams are generally times of experimentation. Call-ups, shuffles, changes, and departures are the norm. This is especially true of the rapidly approaching roster expansion in September.
The Rockies will need to clear space on the roster come September, as the expansion only grants them two additional spots and one additional pitcher allotment. Normally a losing team would assist themselves in that task with an active trade deadline. Unfortunately the Rockies only said goodbye to Jalen Beeks and Nick Mears. This means the Rockies will instead need to selectively release or designate players for assignment in order to make way for rookie debuts, injury returns, and other roster experimentation.
“These things have a way of working themselves out,” as general manager Bill Schmidt put it.
Much like last year with Jurickson Profar and Harold Castro, there are obvious candidates for the Rockies to say goodbye to over the next month.
At the top of the list is outfielder Jake Cave, who has become something of a cult figure during his time with the Rockies for his explosive competitiveness and energy. Despite Cave’s popularity as a man of the people, the Rockies have little use in the future for a soon-to-be 32-year-old outfielder who is punching above his weight class statistically yet is still a below-league-average hitter.
Cave is currently hitting .247/.292/.363, his best numbers since 2019 when he was with the Minnesota Twins. Unfortunately his .655 OPS is well below league average.
Cave was initially brought in to be the fourth outfielder—mostly to back up Brenton Doyle in center field—but has instead found himself in a regular starting role. He’s tied a career high in games played and is on pace for a career high in plate appearances.
If the Rockies want to keep Cave—who is reportedly a great presence in the clubhouse—then they at least need to drastically dial back his playing time. When Nolan Jones (back) and Jordan Beck (hand) are ready to return from their injuries, there is no reason for Jake Cave to be playing every day.
The same can also be said of Sam Hilliard, who was also brought back this offseason to compete for the fourth outfielder spot. Hilliard is seeing substantially less playing time compared to Cave, having appeared in 28 games, but is also not hitting particularly well. He is hitting just .222/.290/.407 with three home runs and just one double.
Ten-year veteran catcher Elias Díaz must also be on the potential chopping block. Díaz has been a stalwart backstop when the Rockies needed it for five seasons now, but the Rockies have twice failed to move him when his value was highest. The first opportunity was when he won All-Star Game MVP at last year’s Midsummer Classic, and the second was earlier this season when he was red hot and multiple teams had catchers go down due to injury. Through his first 56 games this season Díaz hit 307/.355/.446 with 13 doubles and five home runs.
Díaz will be 34 this year and is in the final season of his contract with the Rockies, who have allegedly declined to discuss an extension with him. The Rockies retained him at the deadline, but that was most likely due to his value dropping dramatically. Díaz has injured both of his calves while also struggling at the plate. Since the start of July he is hitting just .180/.220/.218 in 78 at-bats with just three extra base hits.
As backup catcher Jacob Stallings is due a mutual option in 2025, the Rockies also have two catching prospects in Triple-A Albuquerque that are pounding on the door to the big leagues.
The switch-hitting Drew Romo (no. 7 PuRP) is slashing .293/.333/.485 with 13 home runs and performing well from both sides of the plate as he pushes to make a potential MLB debut this year.
His teammate and fellow catcher Willie MacIver is somehow hitting even better with 13 home runs of his own to pair with a .300/.385/.575 line. One of these catchers—if not both—needs a door opened for a late season call-up.
Díaz, Hilliard, and Cave have all performed admirably and done what the team required of them. However, if the Rockies are truly dedicated to their youth movement then changes need to be made and goodbyes must be said. The onus is now on the Rockies to show they can make these difficult decisions.
★ ★ ★
On the Farm
As a reminder, the Weekly Pebble Report will now be published on Tuesday Morning.
Triple-A: Las Vegas Aviators 21, Albuquerque Isotopes 5
Double-A: Hartford Yard Goats 7, Reading Fightin’ Phils 1
High-A: Spokane Indians 9, Hillsboro Hops 3
Low-A: Fresno Grizzlies 6, Lake Elsinore Storm 3
★ ★ ★
McMahon provides stability with ‘Gold Glove caliber’ defense | MLB.com
Rockies third baseman Ryan McMahon may claim he doesn’t care about the award, but everyone around him recognizes how deserving he is of a Gold Glove. Even when he’s slumping at the plate, his glove at the hot corner provides a stable foundation for the Rockies defense.
“That’s all I know,” McMahon said. “My job is to show up and play baseball. I’m going to keep doing that.”
Injuries & Moves: Senzatela ready for rehab assignment | MLB.com
There was a decent amount of good news on the injury front this weekend. Outfielder Jordan Beck was activated off the injured list and optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque to get regular playing time and continue working on his plate approach. Meanwhile, Nolan Jones is looking healthy and confident on rehab assignment with the Low-A Fresno Grizzlies and LHP Lucas Gilbreath is on the verge of returning from Tommy John surgery. Right-handed starter Antonio Senzatela has been cleared to start a rehab assignment of his own this week.
“I’m super excited,” Senzatela said. “It’s been a long year, almost two long years.”
★ ★ ★
Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!