Colorado Rockies news and links for Thursday, January 2, 2025
It’s important to look at things holistically.
As the game of baseball continues to evolve, some things are naturally going to change. In just the last few years we’ve seen the advent of new rules such as the pitch clock, the three-batter minimum, and the (ugh) ghost runner in extra innings. Some changes are easy to adjust to, and others take time, but they happen all the same and we do our best to roll with it.
Similarly, the financial side of baseball has continued to grow and expand into the gargantuan payrolls that we’ve seen recently. It was just a year ago that the Los Angeles Dodgers spent over one literal billion dollars in free agency en route to securing the coveted World Series gold that they’d sought after for so long (other than that shortened season, of course). Some felt that unfair, but hey, every team has money, right? The Dodgers are just willing to do what others aren’t – at least that’s the position some hold.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a machine. Not only do they print cash, their willingness to spend it in pursuit of winning is unmatched. They put their money where their mouth is. Others could benefit greatly from the same approach. They choose not to.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 27, 2024
But… is that really true? Do all teams have the same opportunities to stake the massive financial claims that LA does, and just kinda… choose not to? I’m not so sure.
It’s worth mentioning that the Dodgers have been the recipients of some assistance in the form of deferred money. They currently have a cool billy owed to players over the next 20-odd years, and that’s just counting what’s been deferred. That’s pretty insane, and while it’s true that they’re not the first or only team to have players delay their payments, they’ve certainly taken it to the next level.
That’s just deferred contracts, though. They actually didn’t have the highest payroll last year – that title was instead owned by the New York Mets and their ridiculous total of $314,748,899, the highest in MLB history. That more than doubled the Rockies’ number, and while it didn’t lead to the postseason success that NY had hoped for, it’s still wild to see that kind of disparity.
In fact, Colorado didn’t crack the top half of all MLB teams. That’s nothing new for them, though, as the Rox have never even made the top ten in spending in their existence. Their peak appearance in 12th place in 2019 was largely due to them having inked the largest contract in their team’s history, an extension to a third baseman that I’m sure absolutely loved his time in Colorado and holds the years spent here close to his heart.
Okay, so the Rockies haven’t ever had a top payroll. That tweet above seems to imply that that’s simply because they don’t feel like spending money, but I’m not sure that’s entirely accurate. The latest Forbes rankings have the Rockies in the lower-third of teams by total value, and they’re near the bottom in team revenue as well. There’s a clear discrepancy in their ability to throw money around in the ways that the big dogs like the Dodgers, Mets, Yankees, or Cubs do.
Now it’s true, the Rockies have made some poor financial decisions in recent free agent signings, and their continued issues with their revenue stream have been well-reported. Money doesn’t guarantee a title win either, as the other non-Dodgers team learned last season. Even so, it’s tough to see the mindset of “every team could do it if they want” continue to circulate when that just does not seem to be the case.
Players such as Blake Snell, Roki Sasaki, and Juan Soto aren’t likely to sign with the Rockies for a few reasons, but one is that Colorado undoubtedly lacks the capital to offer these talents that these other teams do. It can be disheartening for fans to see the rumors flying about these sought-after players while knowing that their team is virtually out of the running simply by not being one of the richer franchises.
I try to end my articles on a positive spin, but unfortunately there’s not a quick fix here. I don’t think Colorado’s financial situation immediately eliminates them from making any exciting free agent moves – as the Kris Bryant signing once was – but it’s a harsh reality that it puts them on a different tier of interest, so to speak.
To be fair, this problem isn’t exclusive to us Coloradans – plenty of other teams find themselves lagging fair behind the bourgeoisie of MLB. The issue is that the Rockies’ lack of similar funds forces them to be more reliant on drafting and developing their talent, and while things on the farm seem to be trending upward and the outlook appears bright, it’s far from a guaranteed method of success.
Maybe MacGregor Square will suddenly start raking in some extra cash for the team, or perhaps attendance will jump to unheard of levels next year. It’ll take a modern miracle for the Rockies to even approach the level of the top spenders, so for now we’ll just have to make due with what we have and hope that the combination of savvy business deals and young prospects can elevate them to a happiness that no amount of money can buy.
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Germán Márquez’s Vital Role in the Rockies’ Rotation Performance | Last Word on Sports
There’s nary a Rockies fan that isn’t anxiously anticipating the triumphant return of Germán Márquez to the rotation next season. If you need a refresher, here’s a breakdown on what he’s brought to the table in the past, and what Colorado is hoping to see out of him in the new year.
Clint Hurdle on his current role with the Rockies | MLB.com
Clint Hurdle is as ingrained in Rockies lore as any manager in their history, so it’s nice to see that he’s still involved with the team even if he’s not on the top step of the dugout. Hear him break down what he’s doing to help get the team where they want to go, as well as what he’s been up to since he stepped away from the diamond.
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