By Jordan Long
The Colorado Rockies will play their first Spring Training game today against Arizona. Their first regular season game is on April 8th hosting the L.A. Dodgers. The Colorado Rockies made a splash signing free agent Kris Bryant. Bryant agreed to a 7-year deal worth $182 million, paying him $26 million a year.
Bryant is entering his 8th MLB season and the Colorado Rockies are his third team. Bryant started his career with the Chicago Cubs in 2015. He helped the Cubs end the “Curse of the Billy Goat” in 2016 when the Cubs knocked off the then Cleveland Indians in 7 games to win their first World Series in 108 years.
Last year Bryant began the year with the Cubs before being dealt to the San Francisco Giants on July 30th, 2021. Before the trade, Bryant was hitting .267 with 18 home runs and 51 RBI’s. At the time of the trade, Chicago stood at 50-55, 12.5 games back of the Milwaukee Brewers for first place in the National League Central. The Cubs decided they were rebuilding and wanted to shred his salary. He was going to be a free agent anyway once the year was over.
Bryant helped San Francisco earn a playoff spot. The Giants won the National League West Division with a 107-55 record. Bryant had 187 plate appearances for the Giants in the regular season and had a batting average of .262 with 7 home runs and 22 RBIs.
San Francisco was beaten out in the Divisional Series by the L.A. Dodgers in 5 games. In that series, Bryant hit .471 with 1 home run and 2 RBIs. Once the season was over, Bryant had to decide on his future.
The offseason was interrupted by the lockout which started on December 2nd, 2021, and lasted until March 10th, 2022. The Colorado Rockies were one of the teams interested in him.
The Rockies agreed to a deal with Bryant. The perplexing part about the Rockies going after Bryant is they don’t normally spend money in free agency. They usually stand pat. The Colorado Rockies are also not a team that could win the National League West Division this season or even earn a playoff spot. This feels like Bryant went for the money over winning.
Bryant should be able to improve the Rockies’ offense. Coors Field, the Rockies’ home stadium, is a hitter’s ballpark. He might smack home runs, drive the ball in the gap for doubles and triples to score his teammates.
When it comes to defense, Bryant can play 3rd base, right field, and left field. The Rockies have a third baseman, Ryan McMahon. At right field, it is All-Star Charlie Blackmon. Blackmon can also be placed at center field. Bryant is most likely going to be at left field. It is possible Colorado could put him at 3rd base when Ryan McMahon needs a day off.
The longevity of the deal for Bryant means he will be in Colorado long-term and anticipates turning the franchise around. It could be in a few years for Colorado to build a winning ball club around him. The Rockies will have to wait and see if this gamble for Bryant pays off. At least they have 7 years to find out.
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