October 18th 2024.
The offseason for the Rockies was off to a busy start as they made some roster changes on Friday. Outfielder Jake Cave, along with right-handed pitchers Dakota Hudson and Peter Lambert, all opted for free agency after being sent to Triple-A Albuquerque. This came as a surprise since all three players were originally on the Rockies' opening-day roster.
With Cave now a free agent, there's an opportunity for Sam Hilliard to compete for a spot on the roster during spring training as the team's fourth outfielder. Hilliard had a solid performance last season, with a .239 batting average, .305 on-base percentage, and 10 home runs in just 58 games.
Cave, who was acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies for cash considerations right before the start of the season, quickly became a fan favorite thanks to his hustle and energetic playing style. He had a career-high 123 games, slashing .251/.290/.396 with seven home runs and 37 RBIs.
Hudson, on the other hand, struggled during his time with the Rockies, both as a member of their rotation and due to injuries. Despite signing for a relatively low amount of $1.5 million, he posted a disappointing 2-12 record with a 6.17 ERA over 18 starts. His walk rate of 12.4% was not only above the league average but also higher than his strikeout rate of 12.1%.
Lambert had a similar experience, splitting his time between Triple-A Albuquerque and the Rockies. He was used as both a spot starter and a long reliever, but unfortunately, he has yet to regain his form after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2020. Although he was finally healthy in 2023, he struggled with a 5.51 ERA over 148 2/3 innings in the past two seasons.
On a more positive note, three Rockies players were recently named as 2024 Gold Glove finalists, which is a testament to the team's talent and defensive prowess. As the 2024 season comes to a close, the Rockies' top 10 prospects are also being ranked, giving fans an idea of who to look out for in the future.
In other news, it's been three decades since the Colorado Silver Bullets made history by becoming the first women's baseball team in the modern era to compete against men. Although there have been some strides made towards gender equality in the sport, there's still a long way to go before the next groundbreaking moment.
As the Rockies continue to make changes and evaluate their team, one question remains: will they follow in the footsteps of the 2024 Kansas City Royals, who went from 106 losses to making the playoffs? Only time will tell.
With these recent roster moves, the Rockies now have 38 players on their 40-man Major League roster, not including right-handed starter German Marquez, who is currently on the 60-day injured list. To stay updated on all things Rockies, be sure to sign up for the Rockies Insider newsletter to get all the latest MLB analysis.
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