The Colorado Rockies officially signed veteran second baseman Thairo Estrada to a one-year deal worth $1 million guaranteed with a mutual option for 2026. Estrada spent 2021-24 with the San Francisco Giants, collecting a 4.2 WAR. He has a clear path to start immediately with the Rockies alongside shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, first baseman Michael Toglia, and third baseman Ryan McMahon. The Rockies also signed infielder Kyle Farmer to a short-term deal this offseason to provide depth behind Estrada. Estrada has the tools to make a big impact with the Rockies in 2025.
Rocky Mountain High: Veteran Second Baseman Targets Stellar Season Ahead
Estrada Brings Speed & Offensive Potential
Rockies general manager Bill Schmidt has emphasized speed and versatility on the Rockies roster since taking over. As they continue their rebuild, Schmidt has come closer to achieving that goal. Tovar, Toglia, and outfielders Nolan Jones and Brenton Doyle all have plus speed. Second baseman Brendan Rodgers was non-tendered this offseason. While Rodgers showed offensive flashes and was a quality defender in Colorado, he dealt with constant injuries and was never a threat on the bases.
In his career, Rodgers has amassed one stolen base. Comparatively, Estrada has 52 stolen bases in his career, including a career-high 23 in 2023. Estrada has also been a good defender in his career and compares well to Rodgers. In 120 games in 2023, Estrada hit .271/.315/.416 with 14 homers and 49 RBI. By comparison, Rodgers has a career .266 batting average and has hit only 17 home runs in the past couple of seasons combined.
There is potential for Estrada to be a significant upgrade at second base for the Rockies. Like Rodgers, he has dealt with injuries in his career and will have to stay healthy, but did play a combined 260 games in 2022-23. One of the most encouraging parts of Estrada’s potential in Colorado is that he will now play half his games at the hitter-friendly Coors Field.
Estrada Has Excelled at Coors Field
Estrada has spent the past six seasons in one of the more pitcher-friendly parks in San Francisco. Despite that, he still managed to put together stellar seasons offensively in 2022-23. The place he will now call home for 2025 has been very good to him in his career. In 24 career games at Coors Field, Estrada has hit .348/.406/.565 with 32 hits, including four homers and 18 RBI.
Estrada will have to adjust to the extreme difference in ball movement at Coors Field compared to other stadiums. But if he can manage that, which several Rockies hitters did effectively in 2024, his career stats at Coors Field show that he could be in for a career year offensively.
He Is a Quality Addition To Talented Infield
Estrada joins a young and talented infield in Colorado. Toglia is coming off a season in which he hit 25 homers and provided solid defense at first base in his first full season in the Major Leagues. Tovar is arguably the Rockies best player, earning a Gold Glove while having a career year offensively in 2025. Estrada mentioned Tovar in his opening press conference.
Per Rockies insider Patrick Lyons of JustBaseball, Estrada said of Tovar;
“What a baseball player he is. He plays the game the right way.”
Despite Tovar being only 23, Lyons also noted that Estrada acknowledged Tovar as a leader on the team. McMahon is going into his ninth season with the Rockies in 2025 and has held down the hot corner since star Nolan Arenado was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals. McMahon is an excellent defender but has yet to put together a full season offensively. Farmer and Kris Bryant will provide depth and veteran leadership in the infield, while Bryant will also spend time as a designated hitter and outfielder.
Second baseman Adael Amador, who debuted in 2024, will also be a depth option for Colorado. Estrada’s major league experience and availability as an everyday player at the position to give Amador time to develop could prove invaluable. If Estrada has a performance that resembles his 2022-23 seasons, a career year could be in store. On a team-friendly deal, he could be one of the biggest steals in free agency. He is joining the Rockies at a time in their rebuild where they could make some noise if their mix of young and veteran talent reaches its full potential.
Main Photo Credits: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images
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