Colorado Rockies: Seunghwan Oh is a Final Boss the Bullpen Needed
Despite a dismal month of June for the Colorado Rockies, the team showed resiliency to pull within 1.5 games of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the tightly contested National League West. The Rockies are now 7 games over .500 which has caused the ownership to decide to become buyers prior to the trade deadline.
The Toronto Blue Jays are 9 games below .500 and decided to move a short-term piece to the Colorado Rockies for two prospects.
Seunghwan Oh is currently in his third MLB season after nine seasons in the KBO and two seasons in the JPL. In 2018, Oh is 4-3 with a 2.68 ERA through 48 appearances. He has 55 strikeouts compared to only 10 walks (5.50 strikeout-to-walk ratio). He also holds a 3.03 FIP and a 1.00 WHIP.
Oh will be owed the prorated amount of his $1.75 million salary for the remainder of this season. If he performs well in Colorado, he can be retained next season on a $2.50 million team option, or he can be bought out at $250,000. If he pitches in at least 22 games for the Rockies down the stretch, his team option becomes guaranteed.
Chad Spanberger was drafted by the Rockies in the sixth round of the 2017 MLB draft. According to MLB Pipeline, Spanberger was ranked 24th on the Rockies top 30 prospects list. The 22-year-old first baseman throws right-handed and bats left-handed.
Through 92 games with the Asheville Tourists (Rockies single-A affiliate), Spanberger held a .383 on-base percentage and a .579 slugging percentage.
Forrest Wall was drafted by the Rockies in the first round of the 2014 MLB draft. The 22-year-old center fielder and second baseman bats throws right-handed and bats left-handed.
Through 46 games with the Hartford Yard Goats (Rockies double-A affiliate), Wall held a .289 on-base percentage and a .359 slugging percentage.
The Blue Jays will also receive a player to be named later in the trade.
Seunghwan Oh is known as the “Final Boss,” which is something the Rockies have needed despite spending a large amount of money on their bullpen over the offseason.
The Rockies signed Wade Davis to a three-year, $52 million contract over the offseason. They also signed Bryan Shaw (three-years, $27 million) and re-signed Jake McGee (three-years, $27 million). The trio also each have pending options for fourth seasons in 2021.
According to baseball-reference, Shaw and McGee would need to either be healthy for the start of 2021 and have either 60 pitching appearances or 40 games finished in 2018, or 110 pitching appearances combined between 2019-2020. Davis would need to finish 30 games in 2020. If any of these pitchers meet the requirements, their 2021 team options would turn into player options.
These looming options could potentially affect re-signing Adam Ottavino or DJ LeMahieu over the offseason. If all current arbitration eligible players and players already under contract are kept, the Rockies are estimated to have a payroll north of $150 million in 2021 without factoring in the options for Davis, Shaw, and McGee. This payroll number also does not include what Nolan Arenado could potentially earn if he re-signs with the Rockies during the 2019 offseason.
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Outside of Adam Ottavino, the Rockies bullpen has not performed as the team anticipated prior to the season. Although Davis has 28 saves, he holds a 4.61 ERA, a 4.23 FIP, and a 1.22 WHIP through 41.0 innings pitched.
Davis has been decent for the Rockies, but they definitely expected more after handing out $52 million to a player that made the All-Star team in each of the last three seasons.
On the other hand, Shaw and McGee have been large disappointments. Shaw holds a 6.98 ERA, a 5.41 FIP, and a 1.88 WHIP through 40.0 innings pitched. McGee holds a 5.97 ERA, a 4.60 FIP, and a 1.47 WHIP through 34.2 innings pitched.
Due to these poor numbers, the Colorado Rockies had to invest two prospects into Seunghwan Oh in order to prevent losing leads at the end of games. Oh and Ottavino should form quite the 7th and 8th inning duo to bridge the gap to their expensive closing pitcher. Oh was worth the prospect investment as he can be a difference maker in the Rockies hunt for “Rocktober.”
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The Colorado Rockies players put in a lot of effort to get back into the playoff race, so it is great to see ownership reward their effort by further strengthening an already pricey bullpen.