Imagine your MLB team having a catcher who has batted .277 with 62 home runs and 204 RBIs in 344 games over the past three seasons? Most teams would be hard-pressed to find such a player, but the Colorado Rockies did. Then they sent him down to the minor leagues.
Wilin Rosario is that man. The catcher has made only 14 plate appearances in 10 games this season because the Rockies signed Nick Hundley this offseason in an effort to improve the team's defense behind the plate. Rosario isn't regarded as a good defensive catcher and is said to be a "subprime game caller," which Colorado likely wanted to change because they have such a young pitching staff.
As a result, Hundley has gotten a majority of the time at catcher and is batting .333/.388/.489 with four runs scored, one home run and three RBIs in 12 games. Rosario notched five hits in his 14 at-bats, including three doubles, one home run and two RBIs, but the Rockies sent him down to Triple-A Albuquerque on Wednesday to make room for reliever John Axford.
Rumors in the offseason suggested Colorado was exploring a trade for Rosario, particularly one with an American League team because it is believed he best profiles as a designated hitter. However, general manager Jeff Bridich noted he would need to be overwhelmed by a trade offer to part ways with Rosario, despite clearly upsetting the 26-year-old after sending him down to the minors.
"I don't feel good," Rosario told Nick Groke of the Denver Post. "I need to be here. I'm playing at a big-league level.
"I feel really good swinging. It's something I can do, is hit. Whether they play me here or not play me every day, when I get an opportunity, the time that I do get, I play well. I give the team a chance to win."
Manager Walt Weiss weighed in on the matter as well.
"Our hands were tied on this one," he said. "It was really the only possible move we could make... The bullpen is what needs protecting at the moment."
There was talk in the offseason about moving Rosario to first base or the outfield, but there isn't much room for him at the present moment. He has played five games at first base thus far, but Justin Morneau occupies that post, while the outfield is filled with contributing players such as Carlos Gonzalez, Charlie Blackmon, Corey Dickerson and others.
So would it be in the Rockies' best interest to begin exploring other trade options throughout the MLB?
"Rosario seemed a plausible trade candidate over the offseason, though he was coming off of a tough 2014 and probably would not have drawn a palatable return. He has been productive at the plate since transitioning out of the regular backstop mix, but was not able to earn much playing time," writes Jeff Todd of MLBTradeRumors.com.
"It is worth noting that Rosario entered the season with 3.023 years on his service clock, meaning that a lengthy minor league stint could deliver an additional year of club control."
Perhaps the plan for Colorado is to delay his free agency and use him at first base because Morneau is slated to become a free agent when the season ends (unless the team picks up his $9 million mutual option).
We'll see what the Rockies' plan is as the season progresses.
