Colorado Rockies news and links for Thursday, February 20, 2025
Even with spring training well and truly upon us and players officially back in camp gearing up for the season, signings and trades continue to permeate the landscape of baseball, and the Colorado Rockies decided to take part in these transactions when they signed reliever Scott Alexander to a one-year deal on Wednesday.
The acquisition of an experienced bullpen arm has been on Colorado’s to-do list all offseason, so this deal is not wholly unsurprising. What is cool, though, is that instead of bringing on one of the many remaining arms with question marks attached, the Rockies were able to add a hurler with legitimately exciting upside.
For those unfamiliar with his previous work, Alexander is entering his 11th MLB season with what will be his fifth team. Originally drafted by the Royals in 2010, he spent many years in Kansas City’s organization before being sent to the Dodgers in a three-team trade also involving the White Sox. From there, he spent some time with the Dodgers, Giants, and A’s before now making his way to Colorado.
Is there reason for fans to be optimistic about this journeyman? I think so. He’s coming off of an efficient sendoff season for Oakland, recording a 2.56 ERA and 155 ERA+ in 38 2⁄3 innings across 45 games. His three-pitch mix of sinker-slider-changeup is a classic combo, but like his new teammate Antonio Senzatela, he’s extremely partial to his hard stuff, opting to throw the sinker almost two-thirds of the time.
That’s because Alexander is the prototypical ground ball pitcher. He’s never been much for generating strikeouts (never exceeding more than about 7 Ks/9 in a season), instead seeking to generate soft contact from hitters and keep his infield defenders active.
He’s especially tough on southpaw hitters, who mustered a meager .161 batting average against last year. A .273 average versus righties will need to be improved upon, sure, but that’s more or less in line with his career history and isn’t likely to change. It can also be assumed that manager Bud Black will use him in more matchup-specific scenarios, potentially in high-leverage situations in the game’s latter stages.
The veteran left-hander didn’t record enough innings to qualify for Baseball Savant’s rankings last year, but rated extremely high in ground ball rate for the time he did play. For a Rockies team that gave up more home runs than anyone last year and has preached the concept of keeping the ball down for ages, having an experienced pitcher that not only applies that practice, but excels at it, is a serious boon.
This is especially because of Alexander’s most recent stint with the A’s. Those numbers I mentioned a bit ago? They left him with a 1.2 WAR, which would have placed him in third place among all Rockies pitchers last season (only Austin Gomber and Cal Quauntrill ranked higher). While that may be indicative of the team’s struggles on the mound last year, it also immediately legitimizes Alexander’s role on the club and points to his services being desperately needed.
As with all incoming pitchers, there’s a question of how he’ll adjust to pitching at altitude. In Alexander’s case, he’s better set up than most, having tallied a 1.46 ERA and .182 opponent average in 14 games at beautiful Coors Field. This was likely part of the front office’s decision to bring him in, and why general manager Bill Schmidt is so high on him.
In fairness, Alexander has something to prove as well. He’s had some difficulty staying healthy in the past, missing time with each of his previous employers. When he’s healthy, he’s been as effective as anyone on Colorado’s roster, but staying on the field consistently throughout the season will be a major hurdle for him to overcome.
If Alexander can do so, he’s a strong candidate for a late inning or closer spot for the Rockies. He’ll want to show out, too, as, being on a one-year contract, Alexander is a clear possibility to be moved at the trade deadline to a contending team in return for prospects. As Colorado continues its rebuilding efforts in hopes of reaching a future window of contention, moves like this will have to be made, if available.
There’s also some potential for Alexander to help out the fresh arms in the Rockies bullpen. Like most veterans signed by Colorado, there’s always the hope that he can assist in the mentoring and development of the many young relievers in the clubhouse. What kind of role he’ll take in their progression is of course yet to be seen, but there are few better options to learn from, especially first-hand, than the coveted Alexander.
Alexander doesn’t launch the Rockies into a contender – or likely even into the world of .500 baseball – but he is, in my estimation, a smart hire that could very quickly become a plus piece in their relief corps. Looking to show out for Colorado in a potential attempt to be shipped to a championship hopeful at the trade deadline, he’ll enter spring training with a chip on his shoulder and high expectations. Let’s see how he adjusts to
★ ★ ★
‘I’m an everyday player:’ Toglia set to become key piece for Rox | MLB.com
Michael Toglia has been called the Rockies first baseman of the future, and it’s clear he wants to make that a reality. Hear from the man himself about his mindset entering spring training, and how he’s looking to make an impact in 2025.
Rockies GM Bill Schmidt: “Young talent gives us hope” | Denver Post ($$)
As we all know, Colorado’s hopes for success are almost entirely dependent on the young talent in their organization. Bill Schmidt seems to agree, and explains why the stars of tomorrow are here now.
★ ★ ★
Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!