The roster decisions due Wednesday could provide an indication of just how tight the Rockies’ purse strings will be this offseason.
Is it possible that right-handed starter Jon Gray, whose 2021 contract is projected to be close to $6 million, will be non-tendered and become a free agent?
Wednesday is the deadline for teams to tender their arbitration-eligible players a contract offer for next season. Players who do not receive a contract offer are considered “non-tendered” and become free agents.
The number of non-tendered players has grown in recent years, jumping from 36 in 2015 to 53 in 2019. In the wake of lost revenues due to the coronavirus pandemic and a 60-game season, the expectation is that a record number of players will be non-tendered this offseason in an effort to save teams money.
Gray, 29, the third overall pick in the 2013 draft, is in his third and final year of arbitration. He’s scheduled to become a free agent after the 2021 season. He’s flashed brilliance during his six seasons but he’s also disappointed and been injured. He is projected to earn $5.9 million through the arbitration process, according to MLB Trade Rumors. That would make him the most expensive of Colorado’s 13 arbitration-eligible players.
A shoulder injury — the first arm issue of Gray’s career — led to reduced pitch velocity and a poor performance in 2020 (2-4, 6.69 ERA in eight starts). The Rockies, however, have said that Gray’s arm simply needed rest and some rehabilitation.
The Rockies must decide if Gray will join German Marquez, Kyle Freeland and Antonio Senzatela as part of the starting rotation’s core next season, or if it’s time to move on. The Rockies also might want to explore the non-tender list for a starter who would cost less than Gray. Another option would be for Colorado to gamble by non-tendering Gray with the hope of re-signing him as a free agent by outbidding other teams. Or, Colorado could explore signing Gray to a multi-year deal, with the idea of saving money in 2021, then paying Gray more the next season.
Other Rockies who might be non-tendered include catchers Tony Wolters and Elias Diaz, right-handed starter Chi Chi Gonzalez and right-handed relievers Carlos Estevez and Jairo Diaz.
Following is the full list of the Rockies’ arbitration-eligible players, with projected salaries, according to MLB Trade Rumors:
- RHP Daniel Bard ($1.7 million)
- OF David Dahl ($2.6 million)
- C Elias Diaz ($850,000)
- RHP Jairo Diaz ($800,000)
- RHP Carlos Estevez ($1.5 million)
- LHP Kyle Freeland ($3.9 million)
- RHP Mychal Givens ($3.6 million)
- RHP Chi Chi Gonzalez ($1.2 million)
- RHP Jon Gray ($5.9 million)
- INF Ryan McMahon ($1.7 million)
- RHP Antonio Senzatela ($2.2 million)
- OF Raimel Tapia ($1.5 million)
- C Tony Wolters ($2.0 million)
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