Colorado Rockies Give Jorge De La Rosa Two Year, $25 Million Extension
By Andrew Dill
Jul 23, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies pitcher Jorge De La Rosa (29) fields a ground ball during the fourth inning against the Washington Nationals at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
The Colorado Rockies got it right Wednesday afternoon as the team reportedly worked a deal out with ace Jorge De La Rosa, extending him for two years, $25 million. The Rockies held on to De La Rosa after the trade deadline in hopes of keeping him after the season.
De La Rosa, 33, has pitched phenomenal this season for the Rockies and his record at Coors Field stands out above everything. He currently owns a record of 44-14 at Coors Field with a 75.9% win percentage. To me, this is a rare occurrence from the front office as they show they are ready to spend the money to win.
Jorge currently leads the Rockies in four pitching categories; ERA (4.26), wins (13), strikeouts (119), and WHIP (1.24). De La Rosa is scheduled to pitch this Saturday at home against the San Diego Padres as he looks for his 14th win of the season.
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If the Rockies didn’t get a deal done in place, I’m sure Rockies fans like myself would have flipped out. With Jhoulys Chacin shut down for the rest of the season due to a lingering shoulder problem, the Rockies rotation would have looked bleak heading into Spring Training; not to mention they have a decision to make whether to pick-up Brett Anderson‘s option.
Who would be the so-called ace of the Rockies staff? Jordan Lyles? Tyler Matzek? I can tell you one thing, it might not have been pretty. Nothing against Lyles and Matzek as they have both pitched good for the Rockies this season, but Colorado needs a shutdown guy and that would be De La Rosa.
Who knows what will happen come Spring Training next season regarding free-agent pick-ups and whatnot, but Colorado’s farm system with names like Tyler Anderson and Jon Gray could be names to keep an eye on.