GM Bridich still searching for answers at first base
A sure- handed, slugging first baseman used to be central to the Rockies’ identity, such as Andres Galarraga and Todd Helton.
Heck, you can even throw Justin Morneau into the mix. After all, he won a batting title playing first base for the Rockies in 2014.
Now, however, first base remains one of the Rockies’ biggest question marks. Is Josh Fuentes the answer? What about Ryan McMahon? Is there an affordable free agent out there who can fit the bill for the short term?
Filling the hole at first has been general manager Jeff Bridich’s albatross since he took over as GM after the 2014 season, even though Bridich has thrown plenty of money at the problem.
Prior to the 2017 season, he signed Ian Desmond to a five- year, $ 70 million deal. The experiment to convert Desmond from a shortstop/ outfielder into a first baseman was a bust. Moreover, Desmond, 35, has produced a meager .252 average and .741 OPS in three seasons in Colorado. He opted out of the 2020 season but recently was reinstated to Colorado’s 40- man roster in anticipation of the 2021 season. It remains to be seen if he will actually return in a role as a fourth outfielder for $ 8 million.
The Rockies recently declined Daniel Murphy’s $ 12 million option and paid him a $ 6 million buyout. The 35year- old, who signed a twoyear $ 24 million in December 2018, played poorly in the field and was a disappointment at the plate. He hit .269 with 16 home runs, 94 RBIs and posted a .742 OPS in 172 games with the Rockies. He was hampered by a finger injury in his first season in Colorado.
Last season, Murphy was bumped out of the starting lineup by Fuentes, who staked a claim as the starter for 2021. In 24 games in September, Fuentes was impressive, hitting .316 and driving in 17 runs. Fuentes knows he’s not a slugger. He describes himself as a gap- to- gap hitter. He did, however, strike out 28.2% of the time and has a tendency to chase pitches outside the strike zone.
Fuentes’ glovework was excellent. He pulled off several great plays and committed only one error. Still, he’s only played in 54 bigleague games with a .289 on- base percentage, so questions remain if he could handle the position on a daily basis.
If prospect Brendan Rodgers stays healthy and finally blossoms as a second baseman, that might enable the Rockies to move McMahon to first base. Or, perhaps, Fuentes and McMahon
would share time there.
Down on the farm, Grant Lavigne and Michael Toglia ( Colorado’s first- round pick in 2019), could evolve into the first basemen of the future, but neither player figures to debut until 2022, at the earliest.
Could the Rockies sign a veteran free agent for the short term? It’s possible, though the Rockies say they aren’t planning to spend much. Perhaps they’ll make a bid for veteran Carlos Santana, who has a terrific pedigree but is coming off a bad season for Cleveland where he hit just .199. Santana, however, did lead the American League in walks with 47 and slugged eight home runs.
Yes, he turns 35 in April, but he hit 34 home runs and posted 4.4 WAR in 2019, so he there still might be some thunder in his bat. If the Rockies offer him a oneyear deal for about $ 6 million he could be a fit in Colorado.