Philly Front Office

(DISCLAIMER: Trying something new for the series previews. Going into the pitching matchups and the splits was just annoying me and I don’t think anyone needs more of those types of reviews. Instead, I am going to try a few things more trade and finance related the next couple of weeks and see what sticks)

The Rockies are simply one of the most putrid franchises in professional sports today (I can’t say the worst because the Cleveland Browns and Washington Wizards exist). They currently sit at 8 wins and 38 losses, 5.5 games clear for the worst record in the league. Granted they play in probably the most difficult division in baseball, but they have scored 144 runs less than their opponents so far. They are on pace to finish with only 28 wins and -507. That’s insane. They are worse now than ever, but they haven’t been exactly good lately either. The last time Colorado wasn’t in the cellar was 2021, which was also the last time they had more than 68 wins. It should be noted that they are 111-218 since Bryce Harper called them a “loser fucking organization” (hat tip Matt Gelb). That sounds like they like to F losers, which might just be a self esteem problem.

Bad Deals

There are a few things that come to mind first when you think of the Rockies. Most think of the thin air in Coors Field while the rest of us immediately yell at the clouds about Matt Holliday never actually touching home plate in 2007. After those though, it is the terrible moves the team has made the last few years.

In 2019, they signed Nolan Arenado to an 8/$260m contract. Arenado had cemented himself as maybe the best two-way player in baseball with unmatched defense at 3rd base and a consistent .300 average and 40 HR bat. However, after the strike/Covid shortened 2020 season, they traded him to St. Louis. He hasn’t exactly earned his contract since then, but the deal Colorado made was terrible. They received basically nothing in return for him AND agreed to pay $35m of his salary. There had been almost no rumors leading up to the deal either which reeked of a team not wanting to be in the headlines too long for trading the team’s best player.

The Arenado deal looked even dumber a year later when they signed Kris Bryant to a 7/$186m contract. The contract was an overpay the minute it was signed, but it’s stink has only intensified since then. Bryant has played a little over a season’s worth of games in total over his 4 years so far with the Rockies. In that time he has compiled a -1.6 WAR. That’s bad. He still has 3/$81 left on the contract and is already out for the season. That’s even worse. Just an abysmal decision to sign him.

Looking to Trade?

The big trade chip is Jake Bird. The reliever still has 3 years of club control left and has been pretty great so far this season. I just mentioned him in my Phillies bullpen wish list. On a team needing to get younger and with no ability to compete this year or next, shipping out solid relievers to contenders is just smart business.

I’m sure they would love to trade German Marquez, but he is making $10m and has an ERA almost as high. Antonio Senzatela is in a similar boat with a 5+ ERA, $12m due this season and next, and he leads the league in hits given up. The Phillies face both this week, so let’s not try to improve that trade value guys.

Kyle Freeland has a bloated ERA and makes $16m this year and next, but his 3.29 FIP (fielding independent pitching) suggests that he is just really feeling it from bad defense and Coors Field. It seems like someone in need of a lefty starter could make a solid deal with them for the 32 year old. He has always pitched well against the Phillies it seems, so let’s watch out in Game 1.

Matchup: Phillies at Colorado

Monday, May 19 @ 8:40p Cristopher Sanchez v. Kyle Freeland (L)

Tuesday, May 20 @ 8:40p Jesus Luzardo v. Antonio Senzatela (R)

Wednesday, May 21 @ 8:40p Taijuan Walker v. Carson Palmquest (L)

Thursday, May 22 @ 3:10p Ranger Suarez v. German Marquez (R)

On Deck: Phillies at Athletics

Picture: Kyle Kendrick

There are not a lot of guys to share these two franchises and much fewer who did well on either side. Kyle Kendrick was famously not traded for a hot dog champion and had one forgettable year in Colorado after 8 successful ones in Philly including a World Series championship.