As the Colorado Rockies enter the 2017-18 season, they are projected to finish dead last in the National League West just like last year.
Although, this offseason the Rockies signed two-time All-Star and three-time Silver Slugger award winner, Ian Desmond. The signing of Desmond raises the team’s value in my opinion. The Rockies have one of the best offenses in the game, scoring 845 runs in the regular season last year. With the addition of Desmond the offense can only get better.
With Nolan Arenado, Dj Lemahieu, Carlos Gonzalez and Trevor Story returning to the Rockies this year the team looks to be shaping up to be solid defensively as well.
Arenado won his fourth consecutive Gold Glove––an award giving to the best defensive player at each position in their division–– and is considered to be one of the best, if not the best, third baseman in the game today. Gonzalez is a 3-time Gold Glove winner and Lemahieu is a 2-time Gold Glove winner.
The one big question all Rockies fans are asking is, “how is the pitching going to be?”
The club has struggled on the bump since the team was created. The famous saying “nobody wants to pitch here at a mile above sea level” is back into full swing with the Rockies out looking for quality free agent (FA) pitchers.
Money talks, and the Rockies need to spend some of that if they want to be successful this year. The club has been talking with the Blue Jays and Nationals for quality arms.
This year, the Rockies have signed Michael Dunn from the Marlins. He is a 31-year-old right-handed pitcher.
The other issue is the Rockies ace is a FA this season and his market value is near $10 million — making the Rockies hesitant to pay him after signing Desmond to a $70 million contract.
The Rockies also still have Jon Gray and Tyler Anderson, both of which who had breakout season leading the Rockies this season.
My projection for the Rockies this is season is to be a wild card contender. The offense and defense are arguably the best in the game, but this year’s success is truly up to the young pitching staff the Rockies have bred in their farm system.
