Inbox: Should Rox pursue reliever at Deadline?
DENVER -- The most likely way the Rockies will pick to keep their surge going is to improve the bullpen by the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline -- or at least that's the way I'm answering the first question in the Edward Jones Beat Reporter's Inbox.
DENVER -- The most likely way the Rockies will pick to keep their surge going is to improve the bullpen by the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline -- or at least that's the way I'm answering the first question in the Edward Jones Beat Reporter's Inbox.
With all the money spent on the bullpen this offseason, yet it still seems to be a need for this team; is there any chance they make a move to acquire a reliever at the deadline?
— Eric Swanson (@Eric_C_Swanson) July 23, 2018
This question is the biggest one that the Rockies are likely to address. In doing so, let's address exactly what the need is.
First, I'll determine what's pertinent, and any stat for any reliever that takes into account the season is not.
I'm going to look at the Rockies' bullpen starting June 28, the beginning of the club's current 15-4 run. The full bullpen is 7-2 with a 3.34 ERA over that period, but even that doesn't tell us the exact areas of strength and need.
Let's zero in on key individuals, working from the ninth inning to earlier innings (more or less), starting June 28:
• Closer
• Righty
• Righty
• Righty
• Lefty Chris Rusin: 7 1/3 IP, 6.14 ERA, .323 BAA, 4 SO, 3 BB
• Lefty Jake McGee: 5 2/3 IP, 6.35 ERA, .273 BA, 6 SO, 3 BB (.905 OPS against)
So this gives the Rockies two ways to shore up the back end of the bullpen.
Rusin and McGee so far haven't found consistency. One boost could be lefty
A bigger move would be to acquire another team's primary setup man or closer. No one expected Ottavino to keep up his incredible first half, and the numbers lately could merely be a natural difficult patch. Nonetheless, Ottavino, Oberg and Shaw could benefit from another experienced setup man. Hard-throwing but relatively inexperienced
@harding_at_mlb I feel missing the playoffs this year makes Nolan’s free agent departure almost certain. That said, shouldn’t Bridich think big at the deadline, like Realmuto or DeGrom big? At worst it doesn’t work they can just trade Arenado next year and re-load the farm
— Casey monaghan (@Caseymonaghan5) July 22, 2018
As the Rockies showed last year by relying on homegrown pitching depth and are showing now by getting contributions from homegrown bench players (and, they hope, fill-in second baseman Garrett Hampson), their multiple spare parts are valuable. So giving up multiple players for one has to be done carefully.
If
As for how this fits with
Look at the Royals teams that played in the 2015 World Series and won it in '16. Many of those guys aren't there anymore. The Rockies' priorities have to be protecting their competitive window as long as possible, whether or not they can retain Arenado.
Assuming he keeps doing what he did last night, where do you see Hampson fitting in once LeMahieu comes off the DL?
— Meredith Wills (@Bbl_Astrophyscs) July 22, 2018
Saturday was an impressive debut for Hampson, just up from Albuquerque, and the Rockies hope his offensive approach and speed will help tide the lineup over until DJ LeMahieu can return.
No telling if any holes will materialize between now and when LeMahieu returns. But the Rockies prepared Hampson for a multi-position role at Double-A Hartford and Albuquerque by playing him for 48 combined games (all starts) at second base, 37 games (all starts) at shortstop and eight games (six starts) in center field.
Those are positions where the Rockies have mainstay players, but the depth paid off when LeMahieu suffered his injury. Also, last season, manager Bud Black used
Thomas Harding has covered the Rockies since 2000, and for MLB.com since 2002. Follow him on Twitter and like his Facebook page.