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Rockies looking at big-ticket first basemen
- Updated: December 6, 2016
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — General manager Jeff Bridich said on Monday at the Winter Meetings that the Rockies are considering the heavy price tag for free-agent first basemen Mark Trumbo and Edwin Encarnacion. Additionally, multiple Major League sources said there have been preliminary talks about White Sox slugger Jose Abreu as the Rockies attempt to boost run production at the position.
According to FanGraphs’ weighted runs created-plus statistic (wRC+), which measures offensive effectiveness, Rockies first basemen tied for third-worst in the Majors at 82, with 100 being considered the MLB average in the park-adjusted stat. As a comparison, the Tigers, because of Miguel Cabrera, had a 158 wRC+ at the position.
According to reports, Trumbo is seeking a four-year contract in the $80 million range. The Rockies would lose the No. 11 overall pick in the 2017 MLB Draft as compensation for signing anyone who received a qualifying offer from his 2016 club, which Trumbo did from the Orioles after leading the Majors with 45 home runs in 2016.
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Encarnacion, who has hit 193 home runs over the last five seasons, also received a qualifying offer. He turned down the Jays when they tried to retain him on a four-year, $80 million offer and has been reportedly seeking a five-year contract. The Blue Jays’ landing of Steve Pearce on a two-year, $12.5 million contract appeared to be part of a strategy to move on from Encarnacion.
The Astros, Yankees and Red Sox also have been connected to Encarnacion, but there is no indication any of them are moving toward a deal.
“In terms of adding talent right now, we’re wide open — we’re open to all avenues,” Bridich said Monday, when asked about Trumbo during a briefing with reporters on the first day of the Winter Meetings.
The idea of trading for Abreu came up in discussions during the recent General Managers Meetings. According to sources, the White Sox seek several prospects from what is considered a strong Minor League system in Colorado. Talks haven’t gone beyond the preliminary …
