Monday Rockpile: Why did the Colorado Rockies sign Kyle Farmer?

Colorado Rockies news and links for Monday, November 25, 2024

Initially, last Friday unfolded about like we thought it would: The non-tender deadline had passed with the Colorado Rockies moving on from Cal Quantrill (no suprise) and Brendan Rodgers (kind of a surprise) while tendering a range of players who were expected to remain on the roster.

Everything made sense, and after some initial discussion, it was time to settle in and watch the return of Nikola Jokić to the Denver Nuggets lineup.

Then Robert Murray disrupted our plans:

Wait, what?

The Rockies’ non-tendered a Gold Glove-winning second baseman for an older player who did not appear to appreciably improve the lineup. The also saved little in terms of the team’s finances.

Even by Colorado Rockies standards, this seemed like a weird move.

But what’s done is done, and it’s time to tease out what may have been motivating Bill Schmidt in making this signing.

Remind me of who this guy is

I can do that.

The Atlanta native attended the University of Georgia where he played shortstop. His .308 batting average and .968 fielding percentage set records at that position for the Bulldogs. He was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 35th round of the 2012 MLB Draft but chose to stay in school. The following year, he was drafted in the eighth round by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Thus began his baseball career.

The Dodgers converted Farmer to a catcher, and after a solid MiLB career, he was called up on July 28, 2017. The next two years saw him getting intermittent stints with the Dodgers. After two seasons, he’d slashed a lackluster .250/.309/.330 (.639 OPS).

During the 2018 offseason, he was part of a massive trade package that sent him to the Cincinnati Reds where he primarily played shortstop. He was non-tendered after the 2020 season, re-signing with the Reds on an MiLB contract. While playing for the Reds, he slashed .255/.311/.397 (.708 OPS) and hit 39 home runs.

Following the 2022 season, Farmer was traded to the Minnesota Twins. There he slashed .240/.308/.387 (.694 OPS) while hitting 16 homers. He has a career 5.6% BB% and a 20.2% K%.

These were not impressive numbers though John offered this explanation:

Indeed, in the first half of the season, Farmer had a 60 OPS+; in the second half, that skyrocketed to 118.

Let’s not overlook this gem:

After the 2024 season concluded, the Twins declined their half of a mutual option, and Farmer became a free agent until signing with the Rockies.

In Farmer, the Rockies found their infield utility player

The Rockies like players to field multiple positions, and Farmer clearly checks that category.

He has appeared in 288 games at shortstop, 179 at second base, 158 at third base, 33 at first base, 19 at catcher, seven in left field and has pitched in four games — so a true utility player.

His most DRS came at second base (five over the course of his career). At every other position he has been at or slightly below replacement level. He does better when measured by OAA or FRV, and of all those metrics, he scores highest in OAA (11).

The Rockies, then, have traded for a defensive generalist at the cost of Brendan Rodgers’ expertise. Actually, here’s how the two compare:

StatHead

One factor not mentioned here is launch angle. Rodgers has a career launch angle of 5.1. (The league average is 12.3.) For Farmer, that number is 14.7. The Rockies are clearly hoping to turn some of Rodgers’ ground balls into a few Farmer doubles since the latter appears better positioned to make the most of Coors’ expansive outfield.

As players, Rodgers and Farmer are roughly similar, though Rodgers’ rWAR clearly exceeds that of Farmer despite being the less expensive player:

Presumably, Farmer will fill this role until Adael Amador or Ryan Ritter is ready to settle in at 20th and Blake. Given how little Farmer is earning, the Rockies can pay the bill and move on should a prospect prove ready.

This is usually where you tell us something interesting about the person

I’m ready.

Back in 2009 when Farmer was a student at the Marist School in Atlanta, he appeared in the film The Blind Side as a high school quarterback.

He seems like a truly nice person (aka: “Great Clubhouse Guy”)

I realize that congeniality is not key to being an effective baseball player, but the Twins fans I follow on Bluesky were bereft (not an exaggeration) at learning Farmer was leaving their organization. Here are a couple of samples:

And this:

Look, Kyle Farmer appears to be a genuinely nice person — a “good clubhouse guy,” if you will.

We’ve disagreed over this before — the extent to which the soft skills a player brings to a clubhouse matter. (I’ve worked in enough dysfunctional organizations that I’m on #TeamClubhouseGuy.) But by all appearances, Farmer brings a young Rockies clubhouse exactly the kind of vibe they’re going to need after Charlie Blackmon’s retirement.

It’s difficult to overstate the extent to which Blackmon became the center of clubhouse gravity, and there is no one, really, to take his place. This week, the Rockies began addressing that issue be re-signing Jacob Stallings and Sam Hilliard. Kyle Farmer completes the trifecta.

The 2025 Rockies are probably not going to be very good, and we are probably going to witness a lot of youth churn. Someone is going to need to keep things organized, light, and together. And the Rockies could do worse than rely on a utility player who, by all appearances, is a positive guy. (Don’t overlook Farmer’s willingness to pitch should the need arise.)

It seems odd, given Blackmon’s long tenure at Coors Field, to paint a new guy as the veteran clubhouse presence, but, apparently, that’s the case with Farmer. (Mike Moustakas fit into that role in 2023, and he was not with the Rockies for very long.)

Of course, this is the Colorado Rockies, so who knows?

But for now, Farmer seems to be embracing the role of “a guy who wants to be here.”

Confess your unpopular opinion: The Rockies could do worse.

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This week on the internet

I had always wondered what it took to be a mascot for an MLB team. We all make fun of Dinger, but the person wearing the costume is working hard. Thanks to the Orioles, now I have some ideas:

The fact that I have a college degree is about the only thing that would make me a “preferred candidate” for this position. But if you’re applying, I wish you luck!

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What NOW at second base for the Rockies? | Blake Street Banter

To provide a different take, here’s what our friends at Black Street Banter think about the Farmer signing.

What Exactly Is the Rockies’ Plan for Getting Back to .500 and Beyond? | Just Baseball

Patrick Lyons tries to divine the Colorado Rockies’ plan as they near their window of contention.

Strike 3: What’s best for the Rockies is staying away from free agent market | Mile High Sports

For Mark Knudson, the best thing the Rockies can do during the offseason is stay away from the free agent market. (Note: How many pensive photos of Kris Bryant are there? We’re seeing a lot of them these days.)

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