Bard appears to be the closer to start the season
Q: After the rough season(s) by Wade Davis, will the Rockies turn to Daniel Bard in the ninth inning this year? Or is it a healthy Scott Oberg’s job to lose this spring? Thanks and be well.
— Greg Jewett, Syracuse, N.Y.
Patrick: Greg, I think Oberg would be the better closer, but given his health history with blood clots, I imagine the closer role on opening day will belong to Bard.
Oberg was sensational in 2019, posting a 2.25 ERA and limiting opponents to a .196 batting average. In a year when baseballs were rocketing out of ballparks, he went 5-0 with four saves and a 1.71 ERA in 28 games at Coors Field.
But his season ended prematurely for third time due to blood clots in his right arm. The blood clots have appeared in August each time, so the plan is for the Rockies to monitor Oberg’s innings and pace him throughout the season in hopes that the blood clots don’t reoccur.
Last September, he underwent thoracic outlet surgery (involving the removal of a rib) and the hope is that the procedure will alleviate blood clotting.
As for Bard, his remarkable comeback 2020 season was no fluke. He’s got excellent stuff and is tough-minded.
Q: All things Rockies have been relatively quiet from a national and local standpoint. Are the chances that they just stand pat and run the same team back next season greater than the chances of any additions/trades at this point?
— Ron, Denver
Patrick: Ron, I think it’s pretty clear that the Rockies are going to remain quiet unless they trade Nolan Arenado or Trevor Story. I’ve been monitoring those situations closely and I’ve been told that there’s nothing imminent regarding either player. That being said, while Arenado has a notrade clause, Story does not, so Story could be traded without being involved in the process. In other words, he could be traded with very few people seeing it coming (shades of the Troy Tulowitzki trade in
July 2015). According to numerous people I’ve talked to in the industry, there has been no movement in regard to locking up Story to a long-term deal before he reaches free agency after the 2021 season. I think there is a very good chance that this will be Story’s last season in a Rockies uniform.
As for free agency, I still think it’s possible the Rockies will add an outfielder — perhaps Kevin Pillar returns — but I don’t foresee any major additions. Finally, let me add one more point. I realize that fans like to cast general manager Jeff Bridich as the villain because he hasn’t signed any big names, but from what I’m hearing, it’s owner Dick Monfort who has dictated that the Rockies are not going to spend money this offseason. Bridich can’t pursue players if he can’t offer them competitive contracts.
Q: Who made the decision to let DJ LeMahieu go? They should be fired.
— Marty Kling, Westminster
Patrick: Marty, this topic has been rehashed in this space many times, but in the wake of LeMahieu signing a six-year, $90 million contract with the Yankees, we’ll revisit it one more time. From what I’ve been told by numerous people, including LeMahieu, the second baseman had interest in returning to Colorado after the 2018 season. The Rockies front office, however, showed little interest in re-signing LeMahieu. That’s what I’ve been told. GM Jeff Bridich does not discuss the internal workings of contracts, etc., so I have not heard his side of the story. As we all know, the Yankees ended up initially signing LeMahieu for two years, $24 million. He became a star in New York. The Rockies signed Daniel Murphy for two years and $24 million and he ended up being a huge disappointment.