MEDIA CLIPS – Nov. 19, 2018

Inbox: Will Rox pursue star starting ? Beat reporter Thomas Harding answers questions Thomas Harding | MLB.com | Nov. 19, 2018

How much do you think the emergence of German Marquez and (and to a lesser degree the rest of the pitching staff) will have an effect on the upcoming offseason? It doesn't seem like the Rockies need to go after a big name starting pitcher.

- @Eric_C_Swanson

Thomas Harding

@harding_at_mlb

· Nov 14, 2018

#Rockies fans, I will be putting together an @EdwardJones Inbox to early next week. Please tweet me your questions here.

Eric Swanson

@Eric_C_Swanson

How much do you think the emergence of Marquez and Freeland (and to a lesser degree the rest of the pitching staff) will have an effect on the upcoming offseason? e.g. it doesn’t seem like the Rockies need to go after a big name SP.

The two years of this incarnation of Rockies' rotation -- based on young -- has been more successful than forays into free agency -- no matter how accomplished the names -- have ever been. is just a year removed from a

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solid season, and he appears to have a workable plan after a difficult 2018, and was regaining his pre- testicular cancer form before chronic finger blisters sidelined him and eventually forced him to the .

Tyler Anderson could be next to reach prominence. He proved his durability by making 32 starts in 2018 -- the first time he had started more than 23 games in any professional season. had a couple of injury bouts in '18, but he made a step forward by being productive at the end.

What do you think of DJ LeMahieu's future playing elsewhere should that happen? Is Ryan McMahon the in 2019?

- @natejundt

Thomas Harding

@harding_at_mlb

· Nov 17, 2018

Please tweet me questions for my next @EdwardJones #Rockies Beat Reporter's Inbox

Nate 🌲🌲

@natejundt

What do you think of DJ’s future playing elsewhere should that happen? Is McMahon opening day 2b in 2019?

If LeMahieu signs elsewhere, and there is no indication of the Rockies making a bid to retain him, or if he comes back, my assessment is the same. He's a standout defender, he can for average and hit a career-high 15 homers last season, so he'll be a winning player wherever he goes.

If the Rockies are replacing LeMahieu, I'm far less concerned about Opening Day than the long-term plan. Second base is one of several routes to playing time for McMahon, a left-handed hitter, and right-handed-hitting .

We keep hearing about Garrett Hampson playing the outfield. Does he have experience or is this just an idea?

- @SamCampfield

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Thomas Harding

@harding_at_mlb

· Nov 14, 2018

#Rockies fans, I will be putting together an @EdwardJones Inbox to run early next week. Please tweet me your questions here.

Sam Campfield

@SamCampfield

We keep hearing about Garrett Hampson playing the outfield. Does he have experience or is this just an idea?

Hampson has played center for nine Minor League games and for three for the Rockies last season. Rather than make a judgment on the small sample size, I'll pass along senior player development director Zach Wilson's assessment.

"We did a number of things with Hampson because of his unique tool set," Wilson said. "He can run and he has great instincts for the game. A year ago he was in instructional ball and we gave him some opportunities in center field.

"Last year when the opportunity arose, we put him in center field and he was very natural, very fluid out there -- without a lot of experience or practice time."

Should the Rockies go after a big-name free-agent like (Indians) or A.J. Pollock (D-backs)?

Also what are the chances they land Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto?

- @ZSchwaGaming

Thomas Harding

@harding_at_mlb

· Nov 17, 2018

Please tweet me questions for my next @EdwardJones #Rockies Beat Reporter's Inbox

ZSchwaGaming

@ZSchwaGaming 3

Should the Rockies go after a big name outfielder like Brantley or Pollock? Also what are the chances they land

Realmuto?

Early indications had the Rockies exploring value in the relief and catching markets. The Rox, and just about everyone else, have been linked to former Astros multi-position player Marwin Gonzalez. But there are many ways to improve the offense. Brantley's consistent contact and low rate would make him a fit, as would Pollock's consistent production when healthy. There are many ways to improve the offense.

As I reported earlier in the offseason, based on a Major League source, it doesn't appear Rockies will offer the bounty the

Marlins would want for Realmuto.

Will the new hitting be a former player of the Rockies?

- @Dlmtheman

Thomas Harding

@harding_at_mlb

· Nov 17, 2018

Please tweet me questions for my next @EdwardJones #Rockies Beat Reporter's Inbox

Daniel miller

@Dlmtheman will the new hitting coach be a former player of the rockies?

The departures of first-base coach , who became the Twins' third-base coach, and hitting coach Duane Espy, who parted ways with the club, leave two openings. But the hitting coach opening, after the team won 91 games despite a franchise-low .256 team batting average, has drawn much speculation. But I'm wondering more about the structure of the job.

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The success of the pitching staff is at least partly due to the creation of a director of pitching operations job, when then- general Dan O'Dowd hired Mark Wiley after the 2012 season. Wiley's work with pitchers and coaches in the

Minors and Majors has helped focus the teaching and strategy.

Can the hitting program at the Major League level be restructured?

When took over as manager, the Rockies expanded from one hitting coach to two, with Espy and former

Rockies outfielder filling the roles. Much of baseball had already done that, since dealing with the needs of individual hitters is more than a one-person job.

But with the long-acknowledged difficulty of balancing the difference between hitting at and on the road, would the Rockies be best served with a game-plan supervisor in addition to one or two hands-on hitting coaches?

Will baseball ever do a salary cap? Why should fans attend games if three players on a rich team make more than your team's entire roster?

- @Maureen_Burnett

Thomas Harding

@harding_at_mlb

· Nov 14, 2018

#Rockies fans, I will be putting together an @EdwardJones Inbox to run early next week. Please tweet me your questions here.

Maureen Burnett

@Maureen_Burnett

Will baseball ever do a salary cap? Why should fans attend games if three players on a rich team make more than your team’s entire roster?

I can't see a salary cap happening, but to answer the second question, I don't think it's necessarily a big deal. Two of the last four World Series champions were the Royals and the Astros, who proved you can win with a rebuilding franchise as long as you make the right moves when the opportunity comes. 5

You still have more balance in baseball than the NFL, where the few championship-type quarterbacks rarely change teams, or the NBA, which has its championship determined by less than a handful of players.

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Rox looking to fill vacancies on Black's staff Matt Kelly | MLB.com | Nov. 17th, 2018

Rockies manager Bud Black has a pair of holes to fill on his coaching staff, after the club announced the departures of first-base coach Tony Diaz and hitting coach Duane Espy on Wednesday.

After nearly two decades in the Rockies' organization, including the last two at the Major League level, Diaz moved to the

Twins to serve as third-base coach for rookie manager . Espy, who spent 15 total years in the organization, wrapped up his second tenure as 's hitting coach (he previously served in that role from 2003-06). He oversaw an uncharacteristically tough season for the Rockies' offense -- which hit .256 as a unit, the lowest mark in franchise history (including just a .225 average on the road).

"We thank both Duane and Tony for their many years as coaches and leaders within our organization," Rockies general manager Jeff Bridich said in a statement shared via the club's Twitter account on Friday. "We wish them nothing but the best in their future endeavors."

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Next year's top free agents -- 1 for each team Sale, Arenado among marquee players who could hit the market Will Leitch | MLB.com | Nov. 18th, 2018

Free-agent season is just getting started, and one of the challenges of assessing free agents sometimes can be separating what they did in the last year of their most recent contract and what they can expect to do in the future. There's not a ton of evidence that players are healthier or better in their contract year than they are the rest of their career, but teams can't help but bid sometimes on what they saw most recently.

So, today, we look at the most prominent pending free agent for next year, the guys who will be playing for their next contract in 2019. These are the names we'll be talking about a year from now come Hot Stove time … though the sort of offers they'll get will depend on what happens next season.

AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST

Blue Jays: Justin Smoak

The Blue Jays actually have several big free agents coming up -- , Kendrys Morales, -- but Smoak is coming off the best season of any of them.

Orioles:

That hefty contract he signed before the 2017 hasn't paid off well for the Orioles, and the market has definitely contracted for players like Trumbo since.

Rays: None

Think the Rays are meticulous planners? They have no impending free agents on their team at all. Even Tommy Pham, who is 30 and playing on a minimum contract, has three years of team control.

Red Sox: Chris Sale

The final year of that team-friendly deal he signed in 2013 is finally upon us, and he could be the most coveted a free agent a year from now. Xander Bogaerts is also poised to hit the market, and J.D. Martinez has an opt-out in his deal, so the Red Sox could look a lot different in 2020.

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Yankees: Didi Gregorius

This is a player who could make himself a lot of money with a terrific 2019, but he just underwent Tommy John surgery and could miss a decent chunk of the year.

AL CENTRAL

Indians: Jason Kipnis

The Indians have three "expensive" players with club options -- Kipnis, Edwin Encarnacion and Corey Kluber -- and Kipnis seems like the one they're least likely to pick up.

Royals:

It is extremely unlikely that the club will pick up his $23 million mutual option.

Tigers: Nicholas Castellanos

He could be a sleeper option for someone next offseason … and an obvious Trade Deadline candidate.

Twins: Kyle Gibson

He was sneakily the Twins' best pitcher this year. If he can do that again, he could be another Kyle Lohse.

White Sox: Jose Abreu

Both Abreu and Avisail Garcia seem like obvious Trade Deadline candidates this year. It's a little surprising neither has been traded already.

AL WEST

Angels: None

Here's another team with no pending free agents. Unfortunately for the Angels, it's for very different reasons than the

Rays. has just two years left, friends.

Astros: Gerrit Cole 9

Here's another pitcher who has made himself quite a bit more money in the last calendar year.

Athletics: Khris Davis

Davis will be one of the most fascinating free-agent cases next season. If the A's are excellent again, that'll help.

Mariners: Felix Hernandez

There might be no pitcher in baseball whom the sport will be cheering for to have a great final (?) season in Seattle.

Rangers: Drew Smyly

He'll be on his way out the door before most Rangers fans had a chance to even say hello.

NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST

Braves: Arodys Vizcaino

He might quietly be the best closer on the market next season.

Marlins: Martin Prado

That extension he signed after the 2016 season feels like it happened in a different lifetime.

Mets: Todd Frazier

Whatever you think of the Mets, they don't have many long-term contracts laying around the roster anymore.

Nationals: Anthony Rendon

It's possible the biggest contract next season might end up going to Rendon.

Phillies:

The Phillies are clearly ready to spend this offseason, and they should be.

NL CENTRAL

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Brewers: Jhoulys Chacin

He ended up being their best pitcher last season. Do that again, and he might be one of the top starters on the market.

Cardinals: Marcell Ozuna

If he has the year in 2019 that the Cardinals had wanted him to have in 2018 he might end up the big-ticket item next winter.

Cubs: Cole Hamels

The arbitration hearings are starting to pile up for all those young Cubs stars.

Pirates: Francisco Cervelli

One of the most underrated catchers in the game. Corey Dickerson's deal will be up too.

Reds: Scooter Gennett

Has any player raised his profile more in the last two seasons than Gennett?

NL WEST

D-backs: Paul Goldschmidt

There are some trade rumors swirling around Goldschmidt, so it's possible he isn't with Arizona next winter when he hits the market.

Dodgers:

In case you were wondering whether next year's Hot Stove will lack for hot takes … it will not.

Giants: Pablo Sandoval

That deal he signed with the Red Sox finally expires next year, presuming the Giants don't pick up the club option.

Padres: Craig Stammen

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Stammen is destined to be the reliever your team signs whom you're not excited about but is the only reliever you trust in

September.

Rockies:

Surely they're going to get an extension done at some point … right? Otherwise he's all we'll be talking about next winter.

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Tinoco's fastball velocity, MLB stock rising No. 20 prospect impresses Rockies with improvements showcased in AFL Thomas Harding | MLB.com | Nov. 17th, 2018

DENVER -- A clear uptick in fastball radar readings has helped right-hander Jesus Tinoco increase his standing on the

Rockies' radar heading into next season.

Tinoco, who is headed into his second year on the Rockies' 40-man roster and turns 24 on April 30, posted a 1.72 ERA with a .190 batting average against and 14 (against six walks) in 15 2/3 relief innings for the . But the stat line isn't the only impressive figure.

A starter at -A Hartford during the Minor League season (9-12, 4.79 ERA in 26 starts), Tinoco is throwing harder in more limited outings (two innings or less).

Through Tinoco's first 10 outings, his four-seam and two-seam fastballs combined for a 95.3-mph average according to

Statcast™, and his four-seamer has an average projected spin rate of 2,566 RPM. For comparison, of the 332 Major

Leaguers who threw at least 250 four-seamers, only 12 had higher spin rates, which hints at swing-and-miss stuff high above the swing plane.

A San Antonio de Maturin, Venezuela, native who joined the Rockies from the Blue Jays as part of the 2015 deal that sent away star , Tinoco flashed his potential during a scoreless seventh for Salt River against

Glendale on Oct. 31. He is ranked No. 20 on Colorado's prospects list, per MLB Pipeline.

After yielding a one-out bunt for a hit and another to put runners at first and third, Tinoco fanned Laz Rivera (the

White Sox No. 28 prospect) and worked Yu Chang (Indians) into an inning-ending grounder. Tinoco's average pitch was

96.4 mph that inning.

"He had an explosive fastball that was 96-98 -- he was just blowing it by guys," Rockies senior player development director Zach Wilson said. "They really had no shot to hit his fastball because it was coming out of his hand so easy."

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Tinoco, who is 6-foot-4 and looks to have filled out beyond his 190-pound listing, was sent to when he joined

Colorado. 2018 marked his first Double-A season, as the Rockies worked with him to develop a smoother delivery.

Tinoco's numbers at Hartford showed improvement during his final six starts (3-2, 2.84, 31 strikeouts to seven walks).

The Fall League plan for Tinoco resembles what the Rockies did last year with righty , who had a taste of relief in the fall and broke into the Majors in the bullpen in 2018. The Rockies haven't converted Tinoco and could still bring him to as a starter, but bullpen work won't be foreign if that's where his Major League opportunity arises.

Starting remains on the table, however, because his and curveball have improved, and Colorado is seeing improvement with his .

"Next year will be big for him," said Mark Wiley, the Rockies' director of pitching operations. "We are very pleased with him in the AFL. If all goes well, he could definitely show up next year. "

Tinoco is using the Fall League experience to learn to attack hitters quickly.

"My fastball location is really good right now, early in the count," Tinoco said. "It's a little different because you don't know what day you're going to pitch, but I feel good."

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10 biggest trades in Rockies history Thomas Harding | MLB.com | Nov. 17th, 2018

DENVER -- The Rockies found quick success -- a postseason appearance in 1995, their third season in existence -- largely on the expansion draft and free agency. The best years since then have been driven by their Minor League system. Trades, frankly, have been more a backstory than a driving force.

In fact, two trades that didn't happen created almost as big a stir as any deal consummated:

• In late November 2002, a deal with the D-backs fell through when the Rockies' and Arizona's Matt Williams refused to waive no-trade clauses.

• In January 2007, a deal sending -- considered the all-time face of Colorado's franchise -- to the Red Sox, primarily for , fell through. Helton and Boston met in that year's World Series, which the Red Sox won.

Rockies' trades have often cleared money or made room for younger players. One example was a deal (that didn't crack this top 10) that sent Walker to the Cardinals and cleared money to sign outfielder Dexter Fowler out of the 2004 Draft.

While some deals are known more for who departed than who arrived, Colorado has made several deals that simply made it better.

1. Holliday for CarGo

Rockies got: OF Carlos Gonzalez, RHP Greg Smith, RHP

Rockies traded: OF

Date: Nov. 10, 2008

Unable to reach agreement on a multi-year contract with Holliday, a young star, the Rockies shipped him to the Athletics.

Colorado scored big with Gonzalez, who over 10 seasons appeared in the All-Star Game and the postseason three times apiece, and won three Gold Glove Awards and two Silver Slugger Awards. Gonzalez and Street helped the Rockies to the

2009 postseason. Holliday flourished after the A's dealt him to the Cardinals at the '08 deadline.

2. DJ was a hit 15

Rockies got: 2B DJ LeMahieu, OF

Rockies traded: 3B , Minor League RHP

Date: Dec. 8, 2011

Other deals were bigger news at the time, but this deal with the Cubs as much as any was a perfect Colorado storm.

Stewart flashed big-time potential, and he and Weathers were first-round Draft picks. But LeMahieu was an undervalued gem who earned a trophy case full of defensive awards, was a two-time All-Star and took home a batting title in 2016.

3. Tulo was just the beginning of the Story

Rockies got: SS Jose Reyes, RHP , Minor League RHPs and Jesus Tinoco

Rockies traded: SS Troy Tulowitzki, RHP LaTroy Hawkins

Date: July 28, 2015

Neither Reyes nor Castro were Rockies for long, and Hoffman and Tinoco have yet to establish themselves. But after all the smoke and money (the Blue Jays picked up a big chunk of Tulowitzki's salary) cleared, the result was that Colorado's shortstop position ended up in the hands of budding star .

4. Dante turned hot in Colorado

Rockies got: OF

Rockies traded: OF Kevin Reimer

Date: Nov. 17, 1992

Yes, this counts, even though the Rockies were just names rather than a team at the point of this deal. Colorado selected

Reimer from the Rangers ninth in the expansion Draft, but at the behest of then-manager Don Baylor dealt him to the

Brewers for Bichette -- with whom Baylor had worked as hitting coach previously. Bichette represented the Rockies in four

All-Star Games and hit 201 home runs in purple pinstripes.

5. Jorge hooray

Rockies got: LHP 16

Rockies traded: RHP Ramon Ramirez

Date: April 30, 2008

For much of De La Rosa's nine seasons with the Rockies after he was acquired from the Royals, Colorado struggled with quality and depth. But De La Rosa's 15.2 wins above replacement (WAR) according to Baseball Reference is third-highest among pitchers in club history, behind Ubaldo Jimenez and .

6. Fuentes found his form

Rockies got: LHP , RHP Jose Paniagua, RHP

Rockies traded: 3B

Date: Dec. 16, 2001

A 25th-round Draft pick of the Mariners in 1995, Fuentes was the least-heralded player the Rockies received from Seattle for Cirillo, an All-Star in 2000. Fuentes eventually developed into a three-time All-Star and on-and-off closer for Colorado over seven seasons.

7. Marquez hitting the mark

Rockies got: RHP German Marquez, LHP Jake McGee

Rockies traded: OF Corey Dickerson, Minor League INF Kevin Padlo

Date: Jan. 28, 2016

After landing in Colorado the trade with Tampa Bay, McGee has been up and down over three seasons, and he is looking to bounce back in 2019. Marquez emerged as a young star in '18, when he struck out 230 in 196 innings pitched and earned a as the National League's top hitting pitcher. This deal could end up higher on this list if

Marquez keeps producing.

8. Betancourt brought better days

Rockies got: RHP Rafael Betancourt

Rockies traded: Minor League RHP Connor Graham

Date: July 23, 2009 17

Betancourt spent seven seasons with the Indians and played a key relief role during their 2007 postseason trip. Colorado was looking for bullpen help in '09 and made the deal more than a month before the non-waiver Trade Deadline.

Betancourt helped the Rockies win the NL Wild Card that year and went on to make 309 appearances and convert 58 saves in six seasons with Colorado.

9. Getting the most from a rental player

Rockies got: C Jonathan Lucroy

Rockies traded: Minor League OF Pedro Gonzalez

Date: July 30, 2017

Colorado spent much of the year looking to add experience and offensive production behind the plate, and swung the deal with the Rangers for Lucroy -- who hit .310 over 46 games and helped the club into the postseason. The Rockies and

Lucroy could not agree to a deal for 2018.

10. A mega-contract bust led to a mega-trade

Rockies got: RHP Vic Darensbourg, INF/OF Pablo Ozuna, C Charles Johnson, OF Preston Wilson

Rockies traded: RHP , OF Juan Pierre

Date: Nov. 16, 2002

The eight-year, $121 million signing of Hampton worked out for about half of a season before Hampton's effectiveness disappeared into the mountain air. Colorado took a big haul from the Marlins, who flipped Hampton to the Braves. Wilson had an All-Star performance and led the NL in RBIs in 2003, and Pierre eventually helped the Marlins win a World Series.

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These 8 players stood out in the AFL title game Jim Callis | MLB.com | Nov. 17th, 2018

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Braxton Davidson delivered one of the most dramatic home runs in Arizona Fall League history, propelling the Peoria Javelinas to their second consecutive championship Saturday afternoon.

The Braves first baseman hammered a 2-1 pitch up in the strike zone from Salt River Rafters left-hander Taylor Guilbeau

(Nationals) to give Peoria a 3-2 victory in the bottom of the 10th inning. Davidson's blast cleared the picnic area above the right-field bullpen at Scottsdale Stadium, making the Javelinas the only team to successfully defend their AFL title besides the 2004-08 Phoenix Desert Dogs. He apparently injured himself as he celebrated while rounding the bases and was taken to a nearby hospital to check on a possible fracture in his left foot.

A first-round pick in 2014, Davidson struggled mightily during the regular season in High Class A. He homered 20 times but also batted just .171 and struck out 213 times (second in the Minors) with a whiff rate of 44 percent. His feast-or- famine results continued in Arizona, where he tied for the regular-season lead with six but also ranked second with 31 strikeouts while batting .227.

The only other walkoff in AFL championship game history also came from a Braves first-base prospect. Mike Hessman hit a to cap a seven-run rally in the ninth in 2001, providing the Desert Dogs with their first title. Hessman retired in 2015 with a Minor League-record 433 homers, and also went deep 14 times in 109 big league games over five seasons.

While Davidson was the biggest hero for the Javelinas, he wasn't the only standout in the Fall League finale. Here are seven more:

Miguel Diaz, RHP, Peoria (Padres): Diaz didn't produce the cleanest line as the Javelina's starter, giving up two runs (one earned) on three hits and two walks over 3 2/3 innings. But he did strike out five, pitched at 94-98 mph with his fastball and also recorded strikeouts with his slider and changeup. While he doesn't look like he has the command to stick in a rotation, he could make for an interesting bullpen weapon.

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Lucius Fox, SS, Peoria (Rays): Fox is still a work in progress but shows the potential to become a top-of-the-order catalyst. He drew two walks and used his well above-average speed to steal a base, then laced a pitch from nasty sidearming right-hander Justin Lawrence (Rockies) into the left-center gap for an opposite-field double during the game- tying two-run rally in the bottom of the ninth.

Monte Harrison, OF, Salt River (Marlins): After topping the Minors with 215 strikeouts during the regular season, Harrison toned down his approach throughout the fall. He fell behind 1-2 in the count during his first at-bat against Diaz but didn't panic or try to do too much, grounding a single up the middle to drive in the game's first run. He went hitless in his next three plate appearances but saw 17 pitches while doing so.

Keston Hiura, 2B, Peoria (Brewers): The league MVP and one of the best pure hitting prospects in the game, Hiura managed only a walk in his first four trips to the plate. Then he displayed his measured approach in the ninth, grounding a single up the middle against Lawrence to score Fox and tie the game 2-2.

Carter Kieboom, 2B, Salt River (Nationals): Another of baseball's best hitting prospects, Kieboom had a hand in both of

Salt River's runs, scoring after getting hit by a pitch in the second and singling to set up a run in the fourth. Normally a shortstop, he displayed a strong arm while turning two double plays at second.

Jesus Tinoco, RHP, Salt River (Rockies): Tinoco had the most effective fastball among the game's 11 relievers. He relied almost solely on his heat, working from 94-98 mph with good life and retiring six of the seven batters he faced. He needed just 19 pitches to breeze through two innings and fanned Hudson Potts (Padres) on a 97-mph fastball.

Jordan Yamamoto, RHP, Salt River (Marlins): Yamamoto blanked Peoria for five innings on Monday and again for four innings in the championship game. As usual, his best pitch was his curveball, and he also spotted his fastball (which sat around 90 mph) and mixed in some effective sliders and . He walked five, including three in a row in the third, but allowed just two hits and struck out six (four on curves).

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Twins hire away Rockies first base coach Tony Diaz, hitting coach Duane Espy will not return in 2019 Diaz just completed his second season on Colorado’s major league staff after 17 years coaching in the minors Kyle Newman | DenverPost.com | Nov. 16, 2018

Rockies manager Bud Black will have at least two offseason positions to fill on his staff.

Colorado announced that first base coach Tony Diaz will be joining the Twins staff to become their third base coach under new manager Rocco Baldelli.

Diaz, 41, just completed his second season on Colorado’s major league staff under Black after spending the 17 prior seasons as a minor league coach or supervisor in the Rockies organization. He also was a mentor to many of the Latino players on the Rockies and served as the team’s Spanish interpreter.

Diaz views the move to Minnesota as a great opportunity for his future in baseball.

“It’s the next step in my career,” Diaz said. “I’ll have more responsibilities with the Twins.”

Diaz wanted to thank both the Rockies organization and the fans for how he was treated during his time in Colorado, as well as the minor leagues.

“The Rockies will forever hold a special place in my heart and I’s so grateful for the opportunities they gave me,” Diaz said. “The people in that organization are like family to me and that will never change. I’ll always remember how well the fans treated me at every level.”

The Rockies also announced hitting coach Duane Espy will not be retuning for the 2019 season. Espy, 63, had just finished his second season back as the Rockies hitting coach, his sixth overall at the Major League level. He had been with while the organization in some capacity since the 2003 season where he worked under manager Clint Hurdle.

Jeff Salazar, 37, was the assistant hitting coach the last two seasons. He remains with the team as of now.

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Colorado’s offense struggled in 2018, posting a .256 batting average that was the lowest in franchise history. The

Rockies’ road batting average of .225 was also the lowest in history, although the 91 home runs the Rockies slugged on the road were the third-most.

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AFL Report: Wrapping up the season with standouts from around the league Emily Waldon | TheAthletic.com | Nov 16, 2018

Almost as quickly as it arrived, the Arizona Fall League will come to an end this weekend.

Split between two divisions, the league has played host to six teams of roughly 180 players from all 30 major-league clubs.

The Peoria Javelinas, consisting of prospects from the Braves, Brewers, Padres, Mariners and Rays have already clinched a place in the championship game slated for Saturday, Nov. 17. The Javelinas lead the league in home runs,

RBI, OBP%, SLG% and OPS through 27 games, sitting second overall in runs, hits, triples, and batting average. They’ll be facing the Salt River Rafters, home club to prospects from the Diamondbacks, Rockies, Marlins, Twins and Nationals.

Salt River sits atop the league in hits, batting average and stolen bases, and was second only to Peoria in runs scored.

With this being the final week of the AFL, we’re taking a look at the players who showed some of the most impressive work with their respective clubs. For the players, these last weeks have been an opportunity to polish what skills they already have, and for their parent clubs, it’s been an opportunity to observe their progress in a comfortable climate.

Here are my selections for the standouts from the 2018 Arizona Fall League.

East Division

Salt River Rafters

Teams: Diamondbacks | Rockies | Marlins | Twins | Nationals

Manager: (Twins)

Pitcher of the Fall: Jesus Tinoco, RHP, Rockies

15.2 IP, 1.72 ERA, 11 H, 3 ER, 6 BB, 14 K

Runner-up: Jordan Yamamoto, RHP, Marlins

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Originally signed out of Venezuela by the Blue Jays, Jesus Tinoco was sent to Colorado in the exchange for Troy

Tulowitzki and LaTroy Hawkins in 2015. Tinoco, 23, works two above-average offspeed offerings in his curve and slider, adding a developing changeup and a 93-96 mph fastball with good sink.

Over 10 outings in Arizona, Tinoco held his ERA to 1.72, striking out 14 and walking six. Tinoco is still ironing out some mechanical inconsistencies but showed progress in Arizona that will hopefully carry into 2019.

Player of the Fall: , 1B, Rockies

54 AB, .426/.535/.593, 23 H, 9 R, 3 2B, 3 3B, 20 RBI

Runner-up: , RF, Rockies

After an up-and-down battle with his health, Tyler Nevin’s performance in Arizona left little doubt that he’s ready to go — and that’s exactly what the Rockies have been hoping for.

At 6-4 and 200 pounds, Nevin already commands attention, and a 1.126 OPS only adds to the appeal. Nevin, 21, also put his contact rate on display this fall. There isn’t the degree of power you’d expect from someone of Nevin’s build, but his five strikeouts over 54 at-bats show plenty of patience and a sharp eye in the making.

If Nevin can stay healthy, what he showed at full strength could be a real asset for Colorado down the road.

Mesa Solar Sox

Teams: Red Sox | Cubs | Tigers | Angels | Athletics

Manager: Lou Marson (Angels)

Pitcher of the Fall: Eduardo Jimenez, RHP, Tigers

13.2 IP, 1.32 ERA, 8 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 12 K

Runner-up: Erick Leal, RHP, Cubs

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Reunited with his former pitching coach, Jorge Cordova, High-A reliever Eduardo Jimenez provided a promising trend with his work out in Arizona.

One of multiple high-heat arms in the Tigers’ farm on a quest for command, Jimenez made some Cordova-directed mechanical tweaks that resulted in some of his strongest work on the year.

For Jimenez to advance, consistency is key and this is the type of outing that Detroit needs to continue to see from him.

Player of the Fall: Nico Hoerner, SS, Cubs

89 AB, .337/.362/.506, 30 H, 10 R, 4 2B, 4 3B, 1 HR, 11 RBI

Runner-up: Eli White, SS, Athletics

Quickly acknowledged as one of the hardest-working players to arrive in Arizona, Nico Hoerner found a way to set himself apart and did so quickly, specifically at the plate.

Still fresh into his career, the Cubs’ 2018 first-round pick is a sound defender. It’s still being debated on whether Hoerner will stay at shortstop or if a move to second base may occur.

Hoerner, 21, has an innate ability to maneuver the barrel with advanced strike zone control, and as he showed this fall, contact comes naturally. There is a lot of growth ahead for Hoerner, but his progress over such a short period of time has been impossible to ignore.

Scottsdale Scorpions

Teams: Reds | Astros | Mets | Phillies | Giants

Manager: Willie Harris (Giants)

Pitcher of the Fall: , RHP, Astros

26 IP, 2.42 ERA, 18 H, 7 ER, 7 BB, 36 K

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Runner-up: J.B. Bukauskas, RHP, Astros

Despite a shortened regular season campaign, Forrest Whitley entered the Fall League season as the most seasoned arm to keep an eye on.

Whitley played as advertised, despite having to shake off a bit of rust early on. Whitley, who just turned 21 in September, has an arsenal that sits an easy above-average to plus across the board. Over 26 innings, Whitley carried a 0.96 WHIP, and lead the league with 36 strikeouts.

Out of all the arms in Arizona this fall, Whitley is poised to move the quickest in 2019.

Player of the Fall: Taylor Trammell, CF, Reds

84 AB, .298/.359/.393, 25 H, 10 R, 4 2B, 2 3B, 6 RBI

Runner-up: , 3B, Astros

Since his CBA selection in 2016, Taylor Trammell’s ascent through the Reds’ farm system has been steady. Trammell,

21, was among the Scorpions’ hits leaders throughout the entire season.

Trammell is a well-proportioned 6-2, 195 pounds, with an ability to barrel the ball from a fluid compact stroke. He’s able to run the game at his pace, producing good plate patience.

While he isn’t the flashiest hitter, Trammell works equally well on both offense and defense and has shown this fall that his work on both sides of the ball is only getting stronger.

West Division

Peoria Javelinas

Teams: Braves | Brewers | Padres | Mariners | Rays

Manager: Daren Brown (Mariners)

Pitcher of the Fall: Anthony Misiewicz, LHP, Mariners 26

16.1 IP, 2.76 ERA, 13 H, 5 ER, 4 BB, 13 K

Runner-up: Thomas Burrows, LHP, Braves

A 15th-round pick for the Mariners in 2015, Anthony Misiewicz has had to build his identity on deception more than on pure stuff. Misiewicz, 24, leads off with an above-average low-80s curveball, complimenting a low-90s fastball and a below-average changeup.

The Michigan State alum worked five outings this fall, leaning on pitchability and enough consistency to allow him to throw strikes. Misiewicz doesn’t dazzle, but his production in Arizona was enough to stand out of the crowd.

Player of the Fall: Buddy Reed, CF, Padres

66 AB, .333/.397/.485, 22 H, 13 R, 5 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 6 RBI

Runner-up: Keston Hiura, 2B, Brewers

In addition to the value that being a switch-hitter brings, Buddy Reed showed this fall that not only can he handle hitting from either side, but he can do it with some added power.

Reed makes his living off of pure athleticism, plus-plus speed and a fearless ability on the base path. The 23-year-old held a key role in multiple occasions for Peoria this fall, adding his developing skill set to both sides of the ball.

In addition to some adjustments to his swing, Reed is honing in on his identity as a hitter and should show more of the same power in 2019.

Surprise Saguaros

Teams: Royals | Pirates | Cardinals | Rangers | Blue Jays

Manager: Stubby Clapp (Cardinals)

Pitcher of the Fall: Nate Pearson, RHP, Blue Jays

20.1 IP, 6.20 ERA, 23 H, 14 ER, 13 BB, 23 K 27

Runner-up: Evan Kruczynski, LHP, Cardinals

Nate Pearson’s work out west went far beyond a stat line. Pearson’s dominant fastball (which reached 105 mph at one point) wasn’t without flaw, but the growth and self-correction leading into the final weeks of the league set Pearson apart.

Led by an above-average slider, Pearson’s three-pitch offspeed mix had to work to locate throughout his six starts, but leading into his final two starts, things began to click. To end the year, the 22-year-old elbowed his way through a combined nine scoreless frames for Surprise.

As Pearson’s arsenal continues to take shape, he’s poised to advance quickly.

Player of the Fall: Jr., 3B, Blue Jays

77 AB, .351/.409/.442, 27 H, 8 R, 7 2B, 17 RBI

Runner-up: , SS, Pirates

It was already solidified that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. would be the top offensive prospect even before he arrived in Arizona.

Much to the dismay of the fans, Guerrero didn’t post a home run, instead putting his bat speed on display, along with solid base running and defensive work at third base.

The combination of hand/eye coordination and natural raw strength, along with his patience at the plate, make Guerrero more challenging to opposing pitchers as each year passes. With his serviceable play at the corner, he’s being propelled to a Major League debut in 2019.

Glendale Desert Dogs

Teams: Orioles | White Sox | Indians | Dodgers | Yankees

Manager: Dave Anderson (Orioles)

Pitcher of the Fall: Chris Lee, LHP, Orioles 28

20.2 IP, 3.05 ERA, 18 H, 7 ER, 8 BB, 13 K

Runner-up: Ben Holmes, LHP, Dodgers

Although pitching was in short supply across the league this fall, Glendale, in particular, struggled on the mound. But there was a silver lining: Desert Dog Chris Lee sat among the more impressive pitchers able to produce.

The 26-year-old Double-A Baltimore lefty struggled with inconsistency during the regular season, turning his trip to

Arizona into a perfect opportunity to polish off his arsenal. Lee, who mixes a hard, above-average slider and a mid-90s fastball is teetering on the line of needing to produce for Baltimore and will hope to carry a solid fall performance into next season.

Player of the Fall: Ryan McKenna, CF, Orioles

61 AB, .344/.474/.590, 21 H, 16 R, 6 2B, 3 3B, 1 HR, 9 RBI

Runner-up: Yu Chang, SS, Indians

After introducing himself during the regular season with a career-best .315 batting average between High-A and Double-

A, Ryan McKenna carried his quiet success story into his work this fall.

The 21-year-old can work corner to corner of the field with enough line-drive power to do some damage. Posting multiple four-hit games, the outfielder proved contact was no issue. McKenna’s ability to barrel the ball, despite below-average natural power, has positioned McKenna to be a top name to watch in Baltimore’s pipeline in 2019.

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Coaching Notes: Rangers, Twins, Rockies, Jays, Phillies Jeff Todd | MLBTradeRumors.com | November 16, 2018

Many teams are putting the finishing touches on their coaching staffs, though there are still some openings. Here are the latest moves:

The Rangers announced that they have hired Julio Rangel as their new pitching coach. He’ll come over from the Giants organization, where he had served as the minor-league pitching coordinator. The 43-year-old Rangel also spent 11 years in the Indians system but has never previously worked at the MLB level as a player or coach.

Rounding out their staff under new skipper Rocco Baldelli, the Twins announced the additions of third-base coach Tony

Diaz and first-base coach Tommy Watkins. The 31-year-old Diaz comes over from the Rockies, while Watkins is moving up from a minor-league managerial role in the Minnesota system. Yesterday, the club finalized deals with its coaches dedicated to pitching.

Also departing the Rockies will be hitting coach Duane Espy, the club announced. It’s not clear what the team’s plans are in this area. For the time being, at least, assistant hitting coach Jeff Salazar is evidently remaining in his role.

The Blue Jays will hire Guillermo Martinez to become their new hitting coach, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports. Martinez is just 34 years of age, but obviously made quite an impression in his first year as minor-league hitting coordinator in

Toronto. He played professionally but never reached the majors. Previously, Martinez coached in the minors with the Jays and Cubs.

To complete their staff, the Phillies announced, they’ll install Dave Lundquist as assistant pitching coach. He was most recently the organization’s Triple-A pitching coach, so this was a natural profession. The former big leaguer has worked his way up the chain in the Philadelphia organization since landing there in 2008.

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No Offense: Rockies Looking for New Hitting Coach Tracy Ringolsby | InsidetheSeams.com | Nov. 18, 2018

While the Rockies were claiming back-to-back invites to MLB’s post-season for the first time in franchise history in 2018, the offense was in a funk.

Something, obviously, did not fit.

And the Rockies took the first step in looking to solve that concern recently. They informed hitting coach Duane Espy his contract would not be extended, creating two vacancies on Rockies manager Bud Black’s staff.

Tony Diaz, the first base coach in Black’s first two years, accepted the third base coaching job on the staff of Twins new manager Rocco Baldelli. Diaz had been in the Rockies organization since 2000, when he became the hitting coach for the

Rockies affiliate in the Arizona Rookie League.

Espy spent two terms as the Rockies hitting coach. He was on the staff of manager Clint Hurdle in 2003, but was reassigned to the minor leagues the next season. He returned to the big-league staff when Black was hired prior to 2017.

In 2018, the Rockies did advance to the post-season, but offensively had what was arguably the worst offensive season in the franchise’s 26-year existence, underscored by the fact the Rockies hit .256 as a team, the lowest average in team history, and for the first time in franchise history did not have a player hit .300.

As a team, the Rockies .256 batting average ranked third in the NL, but more telling is they had a .322 on-base percentage, seventh among the 15 NL teams.

The Rockies had 61 players qualify for the batting title and hit .300 or better in their first 25 years. They also scored two or fewer runs in 41 games, and three or fewer in 65 regular-season games.

The offensive woes were evident in the final week of play.

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Starting with a Game 163 loss to the Dodgers that denied the Rockies the first NL West title in franchise history, and including the Rockies four post-seasong games, the Rockies scored a total of two runs, and lost four games.

In the only victory, they pulled out a 2-1, 13-inning victory against the Cubs in the wild-card game. They were shutout by the Brewers in the final two games of being swept in three games in the NLCS.

ROCKIES 2018 AT THE PLATE

(Miniumum 100 At-Bats)

Player G AB AVG

Nolan Arenado 160 606 .294

Trevor Story 161 616 .291

Gerardo Parra 145 409 .289

Charlie Blackmon 160 641 .287

DJ LeMahieu 132 548 .274

Carlos Gonzalez 136 475 .274

David Dahl 80 260 .262

Noel Cuevas 75 146 .233

Ian Desmond 164 572 .233

Ryan McMahon 95 184 .228

Chris Iannetta 114 308 .218

Tony Wolters 77 185 .178

Pat Valaika 69 123 .154

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Rockies prospects reflect on the 2018 Arizona Fall League Tyler Nevin talks about his dominating AFL performance Samantha Bradfield | PurpleRow.com | Nov 19, 2018

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. — The Arizona Fall League wrapped up on Saturday with the Salt River Rafters falling late to the

Peoria Javelinas 3-2 at Scottsdale Stadium. About a week ago, I caught up with a few of the Rockies prospects about their experience representing the team in the AFL.

Infielder Tyler Nevin (no. 12 PuRP) was a late addition to the roster, but has absolutely dominated all of his competition — hitting .426/.535/.593 with three doubles and three triples in 17 games with the Salt River Rafters. After spending two separate stints on the 7-day disabled list in 2018, Nevin was eager to get the extra at bats.

“To be honest, [my goal] was just going out there, just looking forward to extra at bats” he said. “I missed a little time this year, in previous years I’ve missed more time than I would’ve liked so I was excited for the opportunity to come out here and get some more at bats against high quality competition.” All that hard work paid off, as Nevin took home the AFL

Batting Title on Saturday afternoon. Going into 2019, he said he was most looking forward to “a good, long, healthy year.”

Since he was drafted in 2015, Nevin has been plagued by injuries. With the exception of his short season in Grand

Junction, he has spent time on the DL during each of his full professional seasons. In 2016, he was taken out by hamstring issues; in 2017, he battled a wrist injury for two months; and in 2018 he hopped on and off the DL with quadriceps strains. “I’m just planning to stay on the field and let my ability take care of itself” he continued, “No more ‘hey he got hurt again.’ I just want to play a full season, have fun with my teammates and, you know, play some baseball.”

Outfielder Sam Hilliard (no. 13 PuRP) was also looking to take advantage of the opportunity for extra at bats. “My main goal was to get better at having consistent offensive at bats, being more under control, keep my head as still as possible, and just take good swings at good pitches and have good at bats,” he said. In 2018 with the , he hit

.262/.327/.389 with only 34 extra base hits (22 doubles, 3 triples, 9 home runs). He also led the team with 23 stolen bases.

He said he changed up his pregame routine a little bit, spending more time “in the cages doing a little bit more velocity work, BP instead of just flips and tee work.”

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“I feel like that helps me get ready for the game, get ready for actual pitching,” he continued, “I don’t manipulate my swing as much as I do when I’m hitting off a tee so I feel like that’s more helpful.” It certainly seems to have paid off, since

Hilliard trails only Tyler Nevin in batting stats — hitting .328/.389/.516 with two doubles, two triples, and two home runs with the Rafters.

PCL MVP Josh Fuentes had different goals coming into Fall League. “What I really wanted to do was to prove to the GMs or the scouts here that I’m not just a no-name guy, you know, someone who got lucky. I’m here to play in the big leagues,” he said. Fuentes is the cousin of Rockies Nolan Arenado, and he is working on making a name for himself beyond just “Nolan’s cousin.” After winning PCL MVP in 2018, he also takes the bronze atop the podium of Rafters’ hitters

— hitting .301/.356/.482 with four doubles, a triple, and three home runs in 21 games.

Fuentes said that his big goal was to “drive the ball more and strike out a little less,” but the big thing was hitting home runs. “I only had 14 [home runs] last year so to prove to these guys that I can hit homers, I think that’s huge” he continued,

“especially nowadays, everyone’s looking at homers and they want power numbers so if I can do that and hit a couple more homers, I think that’d be great.” He finished the AFL season with three home runs, which led among his Rockies teammates and tied him for fourth in the league alongside five other prospects. Diamondbacks prospect Jazz Chisholm also finished with three home runs, tying Fuentes for the Rafters lead.

Fall Star closer Justin Lawrence “wanted to attack hitters this year” he said. “I wanted them to know I was coming out here playing against some of the best talent in baseball so there was no reason to nitpick — I wanted to go right after these guys. My big goal was to attack and second goal was to work on a changeup.” He certainly has been attacking hitters, striking out 13 in 10 ⅔ innings and posting a 3.38 ERA. He only walked six batters. In comparison, Mitch Horacek struck out 12 in 11 ⅓ and Jesus Tinoco fanned 14 in 15 ⅔. He also said he’s been noticing a lot of success. “When I’m in the zone, I’m getting the results I want so there’s no reason to nitpick or try and be too fine — just put it in the zone.”

He also found common ground with Sam Hilliard with his big takeaway from AFL — just have fun. “You just gotta have fun,” Lawrence said, “it’s the exact same game. It doesn’t matter what level you’re at or what it is — it’s baseball and if you do what you’re supposed to do, you’ll be successful at any level.” Hilliard echoed that sentiment by saying his big takeaway was to “just have fun. It’s my first offseason playing and I can just never get enough of baseball, so just take every day one day at a time and enjoy.” 34

And what a fun season it was, even with such a bitter ending. Look for these four guys — as well as Ryan Castellani (no.

7 PuRP), Jesus Tinoco (no. 21 PuRP), and Mitch Horacek — to continue up through the Rockies minor league system and maybe even break the major league roster here soon.

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Colorado Rockies: Could Michael Brantley make sense in the outfield? Kevin Henry | RoxPile.com | Nov. 19, 2018

Earlier today, our friend Daniel Kramer from MLB.com explored the possibility of Michael Brantley‘s free agency and teams that could make sense for him to join. Those teams included the .

In Kramer’s article, the Colorado Rockies are one of five teams listed where Brantley’s services might make sense. The

Rockies join the , and White Sox and on Kramer’s list as potential homes for the 31-year-old outfielder.

Why the Rockies? Kramer discusses the need for Colorado to find bats that can contribute in the outfield with the losses of Gerardo Parra and Carlos Gonzalez. Certainly the Rockies could use a left-handed bat with some power (he has averaged 13 home runs and a .781 OPS in his 10 seasons with the ). The Rockies could also use someone with his proficiency for often avoiding the strikeout, a plus that Kramer highlighted in his article.

However, playing in the National League, Brantley’s -3 last season is a bit concerning. The spacious outfield at 20th and Blake is often unforgiving for those who lack defensively.

Also, Brantley is due for a considerable payday in free agency. He earned $12 million last season and

MLBTradeRumors.com is predicting he will grab a three-year, $45 million contract from the Braves. Would the Rockies be willing to take on that kind of price tag with Nolan Arenado‘s contract decision looming? At the moment, it seems unlikely.

For the Rockies, it would seem to make more sense to elevate into an everyday starting role and move him into center field. This would shift into right field and would open a spot for to move to his more natural position in left field. Again, while Rockies fans may not be thrilled with Desmond, thanks to his large contract and versatility, manager Bud Black and Rockies management will keep using him every day. Since this is going to happen, an outfield spot would be the best use for Desmond in 2019. Colorado general manager Jeff Bridich discussed that distinct possibility in a recent conference call.

With Desmond in the outfield, this would also mean the Rockies would need to fill first base. They have that possibility with Ryan McMahon.

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If (and yes, it’s a big if at this point) the Rockies go with their youth movement that could include Dahl in the outfield,

McMahon at first and Garrett Hampson or Brendan Rodgers at second, it would not only save salary but also let Colorado truly see what these prized prospects could do on a regular basis.

Could Brantley be a fit for the Rockies? Absolutely. Will he likely be coming to Denver? Probably not. Colorado has the pieces already to fill needs in the outfield and will likely focus on other areas such as catcher or first base.

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Colorado Rockies simulation: Who ended up with these three players? Kevin Henry | RoxPile.com | Nov. 18, 2018

Over the past few days, we have participated in the FanSided Fake Winter Meetings, acting as the general manager for the Colorado Rockies and making moves that we believe would help the team succeed.

As a quick recap, the simulated moves we made on behalf of the Colorado Rockies included a trade with the Kansas City

Royals for outfielder Jorge Soler, a swap with the for first baseman C.J. Cron, and re-signing reliever

Adam Ottavino to a two-year, $18 million deal.

Those were the transactions we made. Of course, there were plenty of other moves made by other teams that included now former Rockies players. We kept a close eye on what would happen with these players, which teams signed them and what their salaries became. Let’s run those down quickly today.

Again, as a reminder, all of the moves listed above and below are not real. These are simulated moves made by the experts running FanSided’s 30 sites.

First, let’s start with All-Star second baseman DJ LeMahieu. Heading into the simulation, we were curious to see what price the 30-year-old three-time Gold Glove winner would fetch. We were also willing to match it if the price seemed somewhat reasonable.

Our colleagues running the started the bidding at two years and $16 million and quickly got into a bidding war with our colleagues overseeing the . Eventually, the Giants won LeMahieu’s services for three years and $36 million.

While we hated to see LeMahieu go to a division rival, it wasn’t worth the price tag (in our eyes) with Ryan McMahon,

Garrett Hampson and Brendan Rodgers waiting in the wings for the Rockies.

Carlos Gonzalez didn’t receive much attention in the simulation, earning just one bid from the . That resulted in CarGo heading to the Windy City with a one-year, $5 million deal.

Gerardo Parra also received just one bid, but landed a two-year, $15 million contract with the Atlanta Braves. 38

In case you’re curious, in our simulation, Bryce Harper was given a 12-year, $485 million contract by the Philadelphia

Phillies and Manny Machado was handed a 10-year, $355 million deal by the White Sox. Of course, many expect a bidding war for both these players. We’ll be watching this and how it impacts Colorado’s chances in the race for the

National League pennant closely.

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