Bill Schmidt enters his first offseason as the Rockies’ general manager facing a daunting to-do list:
* Figure out how to replace all-star shortstop Trevor Story, who’s now a free agent.
* Shore up the bullpen.
* Find another starting pitcher, especially if Colorado is unable to re-sign free-agent right-hander Jon Gray.
One item, however, leads Schmidt’s list.
“Our lineup needs to get more impactful,” he said. “We have to get more offensive. It has to come from the outfield.”
Schmidt indicated he is exploring the free-agent market and possibly a trade to try and fill the need. And it’s quite a need.
Last season, the collective OPS (on-base plus slugging) for Rockies outfielders was .725, which ranked 20th in the majors. This for a team that plays half its games at hitter-friendly Coors Field.
Colorado outfielders hit just 55 home runs, which ranked 27th.
More nitty-gritty numbers complete the bleak picture.
Rockies outfielders ranked 23rd in isolated power (average number of extra bases per at-bat), per FanGraphs.
Right fielder Charlie Blackmon is among the culprits. He hit just 13 home runs this year. In 2019, he hit 32 home runs.
In left field, a position where the Rockies desperately need some pop, they have Raimel Tapia, who slugged just .394 and posted an OPS+ of 80 (100 being league average). Plus, Tapia was a groundball machine. Nearly 70% of the balls Tapia put into play were ground balls. That’s not what you want from an outfielder who calls Coors Field home.
Tapia, however, has the speed and skills that make him an intriguing top-of-the-order player for another team. He could be part of a potential trade.
Ultimately, how do the Rockies solve their conundrum? They have some internal options, beginning with promising but untested left fielder Connor Joe (.285 average, .848 OPS, eight homers in 179 at-bats). And there’s hope that either Sam Hilliard or Garrett Hampson will finally turn the corner, cut down on strikeouts and provide consistency at the plate.
There are a number of free-agent outfielders on the market, ranging from very expensive choices such as Kris Bryant, Nick Castellanos and Kyle Schwarber to less expensive options such as Michael Conforto, Avisail Garcia and Mark Canha.
Schmidt has already done some preliminary roster building, completing contracts for catcher Elias Diaz (three years, $14.5 million), starter Antonio Senzatela (five years, $50.5), first baseman C.J. Cron (two years, $14.5 million) and reliever Jhoulys Chacin (one year, $1.25 million).
Next comes Schmidt’s litmus test. Can he land a slugging outfielder who will immediately upgrade the Rockies’ tepid offense? Jeff Bridich, the man whom Schmidt replaced, struck out in similar free-agent endeavors.
Bridich signed Ian Desmond to a five-year, $70 million contract and Daniel Murphy to a two-year, $24 million deal. Both players turned out to be huge disappointments.
OUTFIELD TARGETS
There are a number of free-agent outfielders available. Here’s a closer look at who might be a fit for the Rockies (in order of most expensive to least expensive):
Kris Bryant, 3B/OF/1B, Cubs/Giants, age 30
Bryant’s versatility makes him valuable, but he’s never matched his best early seasons with the Cubs (2016 National League MVP and seventh in MLB voting in 2017). A shoulder injury limited Bryant to 102 games in 2018, and assorted minor injuries limited him to 34 games in the 60-game, 2020 season. He’s posted a .843 OPS over the past four seasons and hit .265 with 25 homers with the Cubs and Giants in 2021. MLB Trade Rumors projects Bryant landing a six-year, $160 million deal. That could put him out of Colorado’s reach.
Nick Castellanos, OF/DH, Cincinnati, 30
Castellanos opted out of the final two years and $34 million of his contract with the Reds. He’s the best pure hitter available (.309 average, 34 homers) and his .939 OPS this year was sixth-best in the majors. However, he might be too expensive for the Rockies, as he’s reportedly seeking a five-year, $115-$120 million deal. Because Castellanos rejected the Reds’ qualifying offer, it will cost a team a draft pick to sign him. Plus, he’s known as a sub-par defender.
Kyle Schwarber, OF, Washington/Boston, 29
He just might be the Rockies’ No. 1 target, but like Castellanos, he’s looking for a sizeable contract — perhaps four years, $75 million. He settled for a one-year, $10 million guarantee with the Nationals last offseason and was then traded to Boston. He slashed .266/.374/.554 with 32 homers for the Red Sox. A hamstring injury cost him about six weeks of action but he’s healthy now.
Chris Taylor, UTL, Dodgers, 31
Fans at Coors Field have seen Taylor demolish the Rockies. He’s a talented and versatile player — something manager Bud Black likes. Over the past two seasons, he posted a .259/.350/.448 slash line while playing center and left field, third base, shortstop and second. He made the all-star team but battled neck pain in the second half of the season. Still, Taylor hit 20 homers and managed a .344 on-base percentage. There are concerns, however, that Taylor was propped up a bit by the Dodgers’ deep and talented lineup. Plus, he declined the Dodgers’ qualifying offer, so he would cost the Rockies a compensatory draft pick. He might be seeking a four-year deal worth $60 million or more.
Starling Marte, OF, Marlins/Athletics, 33
Marte would be a good fit in center field at Coors, though he doesn’t profile as a true power hitter. He did, however, hit 23 home runs for the Pirates in 2019. Marte swatted 27 doubles in 2021. Plus, he led the majors with 47 stolen bases and was caught only five times. Marte rejected a reported three-year, $30 million offer from the Marlins before his July trade to Oakland. Despite his age, he could be looking for a three- or four-year deal worth $15-$20 million a year.
Avisaíl García, OF/DH, Brewers, 31
The former all-star with the White Sox is on the market after a strong season with Milwaukee where he hit .262 with a career-high 29 homers and 29 doubles. He had a 177 OPS+ in 135 games as the primary right fielder. He’s considered an average defender, but the Rockies could mix and match him between the outfield and DH. A three-year deal for $36 million could be his asking price.
Jorge Soler, OF, Royals/Braves, 30
Signing Soler would be a huge gamble. He slashed just .192/.288/.370 in 94 games with the Royals before breaking out after getting traded to the Braves. Atlanta used him at the No. 1 and No. 2 spots in the order and he thrived, putting up a .269/.358/.524 line with 14 homers in 55 games and was named the MVP of the World Series. Soler provides power but not consistency. He hit 48 home runs for Kansas City in 2019. He is not considered a good defender, but if the designated hitter comes to the NL, he could be a fit. MLB Trade Rumors projects a three-year, $36 million contract.
Michael Conforto, OF, Mets, 29
He declined a qualifying offer, so he’ll cost a draft pick. He hit 33 homers in 2019 and he’s a left-handed hitter who could launch at Coors Field. However, he had a disappointing contract year, in part because he struggled after getting sick with COVID-19. He hit just .232 with 14 homers and a .729 OPS that was his worst since his first full season in 2016. He could be in line for a two- or three-year deal at $10-$12 million a season.
Mark Canha, OF, Athletics, 33
Canha has spent his entire career in Oakland as a versatile outfielder who possesses good speed. He hit 26 homers in 2019 but hit just .231 with 17 homers this past season. Canha has posted a solid .366 on-base percentage over the past two seasons. However, he’s slugged only .393, although that could be the result of playing his home games in Oakland. He would be a relatively affordable addition, perhaps signing a two-year deal for $22-$24 million.
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