The Colorado Rockies Are Lowering Payroll - Is Third Baseman Ryan McMahon Available?

[wallus]

16 minutes ago, nate82 said:

McMahon is still a horrible offensive 3B.  

Lots of red on here.... https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/ryan-mcmahon-641857?stats=statcast-r-hitting-mlb

[wiguy94]

11 minutes ago, wallus said:

Lots of red on here.... https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/ryan-mcmahon-641857?stats=statcast-r-hitting-mlb

He basically just can't hit LHP outside of Coors which is the only downside to him in addition to his pricier contract. I can easily see him being a 3 WAR player if you limit his PA against LHP and get him out of Coors.

I know everyone always assumes that Coors is a hitter's paradise and it is, but it's not considered enough that Rockies hitters play half their games in a park where pitches move differently than the other 29 parks in the MLB which isn't exactly ideal. 

[wallus]

23 minutes ago, wiguy94 said:

He basically just can't hit LHP outside of Coors which is the only downside to him in addition to his pricier contract. I can easily see him being a 3 WAR player if you limit his PA against LHP and get him out of Coors.

I know everyone always assumes that Coors is a hitter's paradise and it is, but it's not considered enough that Rockies hitters play half their games in a park where pitches move differently than the other 29 parks in the MLB which isn't exactly ideal. 

He isn't my number one choice but we have a massive hole at 3rd that he could fill until our minor leaguers are ready to take over. I would trade Williams, let Willy walk and worry about 3rd and maybe look for a guy with power to fill another spot.

[sveumrules]

1 hour ago, nate82 said:

McMahon is still a horrible offensive 3B.  

League average wRC+ at 3B has gone from 100 in 2021 to 105 in 2022 to 96 in 2023 to 97 last year.

McMahon has a 101 wRC+ vs RHP since 2021 so he has essentially been average as long as he doesn't face lefties (only a 71 wRC+ against southpaws). 

[Brewin]

I understand McMahon isn't an all-star caliber player, but comparing him to Monasterio is more than a little over the top IMO. He fits the profile of a ++ defender and many left handed hitters have had success at AmFam. I think he would be a real nice add, for someone like Black (who has no defensive value at all and I'm not sure isn't a 4A guy offensively) plus a lottery ticket to Colorado 

[TURBO]

1 hour ago, wallus said:

I would trade Williams, let Willy walk and worry about 3rd and maybe look for a guy with power to fill another spot.

What other spot?

1B?  Hoskins will be back, we aren't going to pay him 18 million to ride the bench.

DH?  We know Yelich will be there, Contreras on off days, and probably some other unwanted journeymen that we sign in hopes of catching lightning in a bottle.

2B/SS?  Pretty sure those positions are already covered with Ortiz and Turang, they aren't going anyplace.

C? Contreras, enough said.

OF?  We have Chourio, Mitchell, Frelick and Yelich when he isn't DHing.  Who would we replace?

Seems to me that we will have to add some kind of power at 3B, or we keep Ortiz at 3B and add a power hitting SS?  Unlikely.

[wallus]

3 minutes ago, TURBO said:

What other spot?

1B?  Hoskins will be back, we aren't going to pay him 18 million to ride the bench.

DH?  We know Yelich will be there, Contreras on off days, and probably some other unwanted journeymen that we sign in hopes of catching lightning in a bottle.

2B/SS?  Pretty sure those positions are already covered with Ortiz and Turang, they aren't going anyplace.

C? Contreras, enough said.

OF?  We have Chourio, Mitchell, Frelick and Yelich when he isn't DHing.  Who would we replace?

Seems to me that we will have to add some kind of power at 3B, or we keep Ortiz at 3B and add a power hitting SS?  Unlikely.

I have advocated for signing Dejong as a super utility guy (replacing Monasterio) and trading for Luis Robert. Both of those guys would help provide power.

[brewmann04]

We need a power bat someone e in the infield 

[wntrtxn21]

1 hour ago, wallus said:

I have advocated for signing Dejong as a super utility guy (replacing Monasterio) and trading for Luis Robert. Both of those guys would help provide power.

I don't think the Brewers want to pay Robert $17M (w/buyout) for one year, especially with his extensive injury history. They just can't afford to throw money away like that. I'm with you on DeJong. I think he would be a great signing for a utility guy/3B, and probably easily in their price range. If they could make a deal for Baty and have DeJong in reserve, that could fix the problem at 3B..

[wallus]

4 minutes ago, wntrtxn21 said:

I don't think the Brewers want to pay Robert $17M (w/buyout) for one year, especially with his extensive injury history. They just can't afford to throw money away like that. I'm with you on DeJong. I think he would be a great signing for a utility guy/3B, and probably easily in their price range. If they could make a deal for Baty and have DeJong in reserve, that could fix the problem at 3B..

I would hope Robert would come back to his allstar production as he is still very young and then you have him for two extra years. Picking him up would depend on a reasonable price but who knows with the White Sox. 

Baty stinks so I am not with you on that one.

[Brock Beauchamp]

4 hours ago, wiguy94 said:

He basically just can't hit LHP outside of Coors which is the only downside to him in addition to his pricier contract. I can easily see him being a 3 WAR player if you limit his PA against LHP and get him out of Coors.

I know everyone always assumes that Coors is a hitter's paradise and it is, but it's not considered enough that Rockies hitters play half their games in a park where pitches move differently than the other 29 parks in the MLB which isn't exactly ideal. 

Finally someone brings it up. Coors is a pretty significant detriment to hitters because they play half their games where pitches move differently. The “Coors hangover” is real. 

[jesusoftheapes]

On 10/20/2024 at 8:07 PM, nate82 said:

No thanks.  If it only costs Monasterio or someone similar sure otherwise no.

Is he really any better than Monasterio at 3rd anyways? At best he is a Hoskins 2024 all the time at 3rd base .  I am not a fan of this guy for our situation at all.     

[jesusoftheapes]

11 hours ago, TURBO said:

What other spot?

1B?  Hoskins will be back, we aren't going to pay him 18 million to ride the bench.

DH?  We know Yelich will be there, Contreras on off days, and probably some other unwanted journeymen that we sign in hopes of catching lightning in a bottle.

2B/SS?  Pretty sure those positions are already covered with Ortiz and Turang, they aren't going anyplace.

C? Contreras, enough said.

OF?  We have Chourio, Mitchell, Frelick and Yelich when he isn't DHing.  Who would we replace?

Seems to me that we will have to add some kind of power at 3B, or we keep Ortiz at 3B and add a power hitting SS?  Unlikely.

Adding a power hitting SS is not happening .   Ortiz is probably moving there and 3rd is the open zone though I still think Sal plugs in there perfectly or leave Ortiz at 3rd and move Bryce to SS and Sal to 2nd.   Sal is a good infielder.   

What the Brewers need is help in Barn league.  They are moving so many pieces up that the well is a bit dry down there right now.    I think they have more development coming from the Brat Pack.  Turang, Ortiz and Sal are all going to start finding more power this coming season and look more like big league hitters after the 2025 season is done.       I have faith in this group to continue developing . the Barn league needs restocking and that should come from Devin Williams .   

[jesusoftheapes]

12 hours ago, wallus said:

He isn't my number one choice but we have a massive hole at 3rd that he could fill until our minor leaguers are ready to take over. I would trade Williams, let Willy walk and worry about 3rd and maybe look for a guy with power to fill another spot.

I do not agree on this point.  Their are no massive holes in Milwaukee.   The SS /3rd base issue has more than one in house cure.  the Brewers need to pool more talent for the coming years more this offseason than any other thing.     They need a handful of pieces at the Bigs but nothing so major as to call it a hole in the team.     Sal can play a good 3rd base and his power is just arriving.  

[Playing Catch]

I thought I heard at some point that the Rockies' owner loves McMahon, and is prone to keeping guys he loves regardless of their statistical merits.

I would guess that even if they were desperate to offload money, they would demand too much in return.

[sveumrules]

5 hours ago, jesusoftheapes said:

Is he really any better than Monasterio at 3rd anyways?

There are 46 players with at least 600 innings playing third base the last two years.

Monasterio has graded out at +4 DRS (17th) and -1 FRV (31st). I’d guess the Brewers internal evaluations are closer to the DRS number otherwise they wouldn’t have kept him around as the primary backup IF last year and given him 142 PAs with a 68 wRC+.

McMahon has come in at +27 DRS (3rd) and +14 FRV (2nd). He’s right up there with Ke’Bryan Hayes and Matt Chapman among the games best hot corner defenders. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

4 hours ago, Playing Catch said:

I thought I heard at some point that the Rockies' owner loves McMahon, and is prone to keeping guys he loves regardless of their statistical merits.

I would guess that even if they were desperate to offload money, they would demand too much in return.

Like I said in the piece, it's impossible to predict what the Rockies will do. Trading McMahon is an easy choice given the state of the franchise, which means they probably won't do it.

[Playing Catch]

7 hours ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

Like I said in the piece, it's impossible to predict what the Rockies will do. Trading McMahon is an easy choice given the state of the franchise, which means they probably won't do it.

Yeah, the thread has a lot of merit. I would like him on the Brewers. I doubt I'd like what they'd have to give up to get him.

But as you said, the Rockies are ridiculous. Maybe the owner likes him so much that he does McMahon a solid and they just release him.

[Scooterfletcher]

Sorry to interrupt the thread but I feel our organization in particular has to feel one of Boeve/Wilken are only a year away and with that in mind should be looking at only two players:   Polanco at 2nd cheapesh or Moncada at third for 8-10 with an option.   Trading with Stearns and the Mets for Baty is the tunnel vision I’m in.    Get one of these three guys.

[SF70]

7 hours ago, Scooterfletcher said:

Sorry to interrupt the thread but I feel our organization in particular has to feel one of Boeve/Wilken are only a year away and with that in mind should be looking at only two players:   Polanco at 2nd cheapesh or Moncada at third for 8-10 with an option.   Trading with Stearns and the Mets for Baty is the tunnel vision I’m in.    Get one of these three guys.

Boeve isn’t really a 3B in an organization that values defense like we do, and Wilken, right now, seems more than a year away based on his abhorrent, lost season. 

[Playing Catch]

11 hours ago, Scooterfletcher said:

Trading with Stearns and the Mets for Baty is the tunnel vision I’m in.

Are you not concerned that in over 600 MLB plate appearances, his wRC+ is 72?

I just don't see this front office counting on that player to be their 3rd baseman for next season, let alone the next four seasons.

Also, why interrupt this thread when there is a Baty thread? Not that I really care that much.

[TURBO]

On 10/22/2024 at 5:01 AM, jesusoftheapes said:

I do not agree on this point.  Their are no massive holes in Milwaukee.   The SS /3rd base issue has more than one in house cure.  the Brewers need to pool more talent for the coming years more this offseason than any other thing.     They need a handful of pieces at the Bigs but nothing so major as to call it a hole in the team.     Sal can play a good 3rd base and his power is just arriving.  

DH, 3B and 1B as of now, today, are massive holes, especially when considering that those are typically power positions.  Can Hoskins rebound?  Might he be able to fill one of those holes either at 1B or DH?  We shall see.

We have no idea if Sal can even play a passable 3B, much less a good one.  Power is just arriving?  What does that even mean?  So he will be flying out to almost the warning track rather than short outfield?  Geez.

[sveumrules]

1 minute ago, TURBO said:

DH, 3B and 1B as of now, today, are massive holes, especially when considering that those are typically power positions.  Can Hoskins rebound?  Might he be able to fill one of those holes either at 1B or DH?  We shall see.

I'd say DH/1B are more question marks than massive holes. The players who are going to take those PAs are likely already on the roster between Hoskins, Yelich and Contreras with Black as a candidate to fill the Bauers roll from last year.

They might bring in some depth around the margins for the 1B/DH group, but the only real massive hole they are likely to devote offseason resources to is replacing Willy.

[BrewerFan]

On 10/21/2024 at 5:14 AM, wallus said:

Completely different situations and players. 

I would do Black and Uribe for him and take on the entire contract.

Yeah, the Arenado deal made far less sense than this would make for the Rockies. The Rockies don't operate under any type of coherent strategy.

But, McMahon's problem are the stark contrast between Coors and the Road.

.265/.340/.474 with an .814 OPS at home
.220/.306/.367 and .673 OPS on the road

Good BABIP at home. 335. But just under .300 on the road, so it's not like it's poor luck. 

 

Are we paying 3 years and 44M for a .673 OPS? Or even if you split the difference. .240/.325/.425?

Even at that price is that worth 12/16/16 million per year?

But now you're giving away Tyler Black, probably our best MLB ready trade chip AND the player I want to give up even less, Abner Uribe. Uribe has dominant, All-Star closer type upside. 

He's gotta grow up a bit and he needs to throw more strikes, but to be able to slide Megill into the closers role and have a guy like Uribe who can come in and put out the fires like Megill did, that's invaluable. Or be a lock down closer himself. 

 

This dude is a HEAVY GB pitcher who throws 103-104 at times, his slider is upper 90s and he's got a 60-grade slider. And yet...his value is low due to an emotionally immature outburst last year and a suspension that...I believe he'd have worked his way back by June, but he had a meniscus tear. 

 

So between the contract, the talent we're giving up and the home/road splits, they'd have to eat a big chunk of that deal...IMO. 

[Scooterfletcher]

I would do my Simien type idea for McMahon.   That is McMahon and his whole contract for Hoby Milner, Bryce Wilson, and Jake Bauers.   Bauers could do really well in Coors and Milner and Wilson may actually pitch well there too.  We save a bit of salary moving the three of them and opens up a bit of PT for Tyler Black to try grab as well.