There are a few players looking for new homes that may be worth a look
Let me preface this article by saying that, yes, I know these aren’t going to happen. After the news broke that the Rockies were looking to lower their payroll next season, any hopes of signing an upper-tier free agent were more or less dashed. I’m not saying they were going to be in on the Juan Soto or Roki Sasaki sweepstakes, but now it appears unlikely that they’ll be in on any free agents of repute.
But hey, that don’t mean I can’t still dream! Let’s talk about a few supplemental pieces that Colorado could take a flier on. And no reunions this time – I already talked about that a few weeks ago. No, these will be all-new talents we haven’t seen in purple. Let’s get creative.
Joe Ross
A former first round draft pick, Ross was a member of the Nationals rotation from 2015-2019 before a transition to the bullpen. He’s coming off of a pretty good year with the Brewers in which he split his time as a starter and reliever, and he could provide some support to a Rockies bullpen that could use it.
Featuring a five-pitch mix that includes a plus slider, the 31-year-old Californian could slot in well as a long reliever or spot starter for the Rockies in case of injury or regression. Though he was only a slightly above average arm last year, I imagine teams view him as having a good amount of upside, and the Rockies would do well to take a chance on him on a one or two-year deal.
Manuel Margot
Okay, yes, I know the Rockies have had a persistent logjam in their outfield in recent years. They enter 2025 with Brenton Doyle, Nolan Jones, and Sam Hilliard as their likely starters, with Greg Jones and Zac Veen waiting in the wings for their opportunity. Colorado isn’t exactly hurting for talent to roam their spacious outfield.
Even so, I’m willing to take a look at Margot. He’s about to enter his 10th season in MLB and, while it’s undoubtedly true that last season was his weakest, I think he’s a perfect candidate for a fourth or fifth outfield spot. 2024, spent with the Twins, was the first time in his career that he posted a negative offense WAR (-0.5) and the second that he recorded negative defensive value (-0.8). That’s not great, I concede, but you don’t need to be great to be a bench roleplayer. You just need to be okay.
He and Jake Cave are comparable. Of course I’m not advocating for Margot to even sniff a consistent starting role, but if nothing else he would be an average defensive replacement in late-game situations. Plus, at only 30 years old, it’s not impossible to think that he could still have some gas left in the tank. Not to whatever, but Margot actually outplayed Nolan Jones last year. Makes you think.
Mike Soroka
0-10? What? What value does a winless pitcher bring?
Reject the win-loss, embrace the analytics. Soroka’s rough record was largely the result of being on the worst team of all time, and less to do with his actual body of work. In fact, his slider and four-seam fastball are both above-average weapons that he used to great effect last season as he was one of the better pitchers in the league at limiting hard contact. He’s far removed from his 2019 near-Rookie of the Year abilities, but Soroka is clearly still a very capable pitcher.
So what does he do for the Rockies, who seemingly have their rotation set? In fairness, not much, at least at first glance. Then again, the health status of Germán Márquez still seems to be somewhat unclear, and while there are reserve options available in the minor leagues, none jump out as immediately ready for a role on the main squad (yet). Soroka would be a clear step up as a fifth starter.
Then again, like Ross, Soroka has no qualms with working out of the bullpen, which he did extensively last season. My thoughts here echo Ross’s – that versatility and experience would be a boon for a rebuilding Rockies ‘pen.
His biggest hurdle would doubtless be his own injury history. This is an issue that’s plagued Soroka his entire career, so he’d have to step up and prove that he can remain on the field if he is to be effective. If he can, though, Soroka could be an under-the-radar steal for whichever team claims him. May as well be the Rockies.
Gary Sánchez
Here’s a look into my brain:
*long ball make brain go brrrr*
I like home runs, Gary Sánchez hits ‘em. What else do you need?
Okay okay fine, I’ll be more specific. With Jacob Stallings gone, the Rockies seem prepared to enter 2025 with Drew Romo as their primary catcher and Hunter Goodman as the backup. That’s a completely fine tandem for where Colorado is at competitively, but neither provided much by way of offense last season.
While there’s no question whatsoever that Romo should start as many games as possible next year, Sánchez represents a solid upgrade before behind and at the plate. Romo is 23 and essentially still a rookie, while Goodman is 25 and entering his third season. Sánchez, who will be enjoying his 10th season in MLB, immediately takes on a role of veteran leadership for the two young backstops and would be a great resource to learn from.
Sánchez’s bat would also be an option for a DH role, assuming Kris Bryant’s ineffectuality continues into 2025. While he’s unlikely to smack 30-something homers as he did in days of yore, his presence may help lengthen the lineup behind the likes of Jones, Ezequiel Tovar, and Brenton Doyle.
Again, it’s not likely that Sánchez or any of the free agents I’ve mentioned will sign with Colorado. Even so, it’s fun to speculate about how the Rockies could test the market to bridge the gap from their rebuild to competitiveness. And who knows? They’ve made unexpected signings before.
Are there other FAs the Rockies should go after? Let me know in the comments below!
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