Rockies, Givens reach deal for 2021

January 15th, 2021

DENVER -- Rockies right-hander enters 2021 with a one-year deal and a month’s worth of familiarity with his team and the National League West.

The Rockies announced the one-year agreement on Thursday but did not reveal the financial terms. Multiple reports said the deal is worth $4.05 million to avoid arbitration in Givens' final year of eligibility.

The 30-year-old had a 1.38 ERA in 12 appearances last season with the Orioles -- for whom he made 296 appearances over six seasons. His numbers after joining the Rockies in an Aug. 31 trade were not as sparkling -- 1-0 with a 6.75 ERA in 9 1/3 innings over 10 games. Givens' time with the Rockies included a seven-day period in which he didn’t appear because of arm soreness. Four of the nine earned runs he yielded with the club came in four appearances against the World Series-champion Dodgers.

The Rockies struggled in the bullpen last year -- which was especially frustrating considering that they received strong work from the top three pitchers in their rotation. The club is heartened by the fact many of the relievers (Givens included) have had periods of success. Givens believes he has already made headway with the biggest challenge, pitching in uniquely hitter-friendly Coors Field (where he posted an 8.10 ERA in a 3 1/3-inning snippet), and it will pay off in '21.

“I just made adjustments,” said Givens, who holds a 3.41 ERA in 306 career relief appearances. “It’s just a mindset. You have to have a strong mindset, being out there in Colorado. I got used to it. I’m getting used to it. Our manager [Bud Black] and our bullpen welcomed me with open arms.

“In Colorado, the ball spins. The ball moves. You just have to change your eyesight and change where you start the pitch. It was a really big help. I had a little scuffle, one or two innings here and there, but we’re going forward in 2021 and we’re going to make a push and tell everybody that the Rockies are on their way to hopefully making a playoff.”