The Rockies are set to activate right-hander German Marquez from the 60-day injured checklist tomorrow, supervisor Bud Black advised reporters (together with Mike Fitzpatrick of The Denver Put up) final night time. Colorado’s 40-man roster at present stands at 39, that means the membership will solely have to make a corresponding energetic roster transfer to activate Marquez except they add one other participant to the 40-man previous to activating him.
Marquez, 29, made it simply 4 begins into the 2023 season earlier than requiring Tommy John surgical procedure in early Might of final yr. On the time, the previous All Star was a pending free agent, however the sides hammered out a two-year, $20MM extension final September that has allowed Marquez to finish his rehab in a well-recognized group and re-establish his worth forward of free company, which now looms after the 2025 season.
For the Rockies, the transfer allowed them to retain a participant who has proven the uncommon means to pitch properly whereas calling Coors Subject house. From 2018 to 2021, Marquez posted a 4.22 ERA that was 17% higher than common by ERA+ and an excellent stronger 3.70 FIP throughout 106 begins for the Rockies. That’s the model of Marquez the membership absolutely hopes they’ll be including again to their rotation tomorrow, though it’s price noting that the righty’s 2022 season demonstrated some trigger for concern as he posted an eye-popping 6.70 ERA in 16 begins at Coors regardless of a superb 3.34 ERA in 15 begins on the street.
Marquez is slated to take the ball tomorrow in a begin in opposition to the Mets in New York, and is predicted to throw between 75 and 90 pitches in his return to the mound. The Rockies, with a dismal 33-62 document this season, is not going to be factoring into the postseason image in 2024 no matter how properly the right-hander performs in his return to motion. With that being mentioned, it’s at the least possible {that a} robust begin from the righty over the following few weeks may affect the membership’s considering forward of the commerce deadline on July 30. If Marquez can return to the membership’s rotation trying wholesome and efficient, it will add a high quality starter to a rotation that would make the membership extra snug dealing away items from its rotation.
Earlier this summer time, the Rockies have been reportedly listening on gives for right-hander Cal Quantrill and lefty Austin Gomber whereas additionally receiving curiosity in righty Ryan Feltner. Quantrill has pitched to strong ends in his first season with Colorado, posting 4.13 ERA (110 ERA+) in 19 begins regardless of a lackluster 4.77 FIP thanks partially to a career-best 46.4% groundball fee. Gomber, in the meantime, has posted a 4.61 ERA that’s basically league common (99 ERA+) after adjusting for park components. Feltner has been the least spectacular of the three by way of on-field outcomes with a lackluster 5.02 ERA, though extra superior metrics corresponding to SIERA (4.13) and xERA (4.04) look far more favorably upon him because of his microscopic 6.5% stroll fee and a capability to restrict onerous contact.
Dealing any of these controllable gamers can be powerful for a rotation that already has the league’s worst ERA, but when Marquez can show himself able to returning to the highest of the membership’s rotation that will go a protracted strategy to serving to spherical out a rotation that already parted methods with right-hander Dakota Hudson earlier this month.
