Mile High Maniac
Fansided

Colorado Rockies: Five Free Agents to Target

By Matthew Schoettler

Sep 6, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; A general view of Coors Field before the first inning of the game between the Colorado Rockies and the San Francisco Giants. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 6, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; A general view of Coors Field before the first inning of the game between the Colorado Rockies and the San Francisco Giants. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 6
Next

Ian Desmond Provides Depth, Versatility

Ian Desmond gambled on himself in 2015, which proved to be ill-fated. Before the 2015 season, the Nationals offered Desmond a seven-year, $107M contract, but after his terrible season last year, he will be looking for a short-term, bounce-back contract in the meantime. The downfall to acquiring Desmond is the fact that he is tied to a compensation pick; however, the Colorado Rockies have a protected first round pick, meaning they would part ways with a second round pick.

With Jose Reyes’ cloudy future with the Colorado Rockies, they may look to bring in a shortstop via free agency, and Ian Desmond presents the best option for them moving forward. In addition to playing shortstop, Desmond provides versatility for any team that lands the hard-hitting player, with the ability to play the corner outfield positions.

The Colorado Rockies have a slew of left-handed hitting outfielders, so the addition of a right-handed hitting player offers a change-up to the norm for the team. There is speculation that Jose Reyes may miss extended time for the Colorado Rockies heading into 2016, and Ian Desmond offers a more offensive-forward shortstop. However, Desmond’s defensive was atrocious last year with the Nationals, where he committed 27 errors on the year.

To Desmond’s defense, he committed nine of his 27 errors in the first month of the season, and many believe that he put too much pressure on himself to out-perform the contract he turned down in the offseason. However, with the ability to hit 20 home runs as a shortstop, Ian Desmond is among a short list of shortstops who can mash.

Another downside to Ian Desmond’s game is the fact that he has seen constant regression over the past four seasons, seeing his average drop from .292 to .233, stolen bases from 21 to 13, and home runs from 25 to 19. However, a move to the Colorado Rockies should see his stats trend in a positive direction. While it would be tough for the Colorado Rockies to swallow the draft pick compensation, it might be worthwhile for one of the best offensive shortstops in baseball.

Next: Relief Help, But Not in the Short-Term

Home/Colorado Rockies