The Colorado Rockies could really use a left-handed reliever.
As of early-December, the Colorado Rockies do not have a single left-handed reliever on their projected bullpen roster, according to Fangraphs Roster Resource, meaning they should probably look at bringing one in. Just a thought.
Brad Hand is the top left-handed reliever, meaning he won’t be going to Colorado. But there are a handful of intriguing options available.
Andrew Chafin has plenty of experience in the NL West after spending seven seasons with the Diamondbacks, posting three-straight seasons of a FIP lower 3.39 from 2017-2019, but despite the ability to rack up strikeouts, Chafin walks high rate of hitters and really struggled in 2020 in both Arizona and Chicago.
Chasen Shreve is an interesting option after being non-tendered by the New York Mets on Wednesday. Shreve has bounced around the league since 2014 but is coming off 17 outings in New York where he struck out 33% of hitters and held opponents to a .189 average. Some of the red flags with Shreve would be his high walk and home run rates.
Lastly, there’s Sean Doolittle. Doolittle strugged in Washington last season and was shut down early with an oblique strain, but he is a bounceback candidate a team like the Rockies could take a flyer on. From 2017-2019, Doolittle recorded 78 saves and was worth 4.5 Wins Above Replacement.
Best case scenario, one of these arms, or someone similar, rebounds in Colorado and can be flipped at the deadline when relievers are in high demand.
It won’t be an exciting offseason for the Colorado Rockies, but there are a few gambles worth taking to see if at least one pays off.