Colorado Rockies 2016 Fantasy Outlook

Mar 20, 2016; Salt River Pima-Maricopa, AZ, USA; Colorado Rockies center fielder Charlie Blackmon (19) bats in the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /

Colorado Rockies 2016 Fantasy Outlook

Colorado still has some issues in their pitching staff, but a lot of their future is going to crack the rotation this spring. This team could be really good in a couple of years. Will they be worth using in fantasy before then? Who knows.

Colorado Rockies 2016 Projected Starting Lineup:

C: Nick Hundley (.301, 10HR, 43RBI in 366AB)
1B: Ben Paulsen (.277, 11HR, 49RBI in 325 AB)
2B: DJ LeMahieu (.301, 6HR, 61RBI, 23SB)
SS: Jose Reyes (.274, 7HR, 53RBI, 24SB with TOR/COL)
3B: Nolan Arenado (.287, 42HR, 130RBI)
LF: Gerardo Parra (.291, 14HR, 51RBI 14SB with MIL/BAL)
CF: Charlie Blackmon (.287, 17HR, 58RBI, 43SB)
RF: Carlos Gonzalez (.271, 40HR, 97RBI, 2SB)

If Hundley plays a full season, he could be worth a look at the bottom of the catcher heap in standard leagues. He has good power in a hitter’s park, and he keeps up a solid average. His health is a concern, but I would have no problem taking him late in a standard league draft.

What you see is what you get from Paulsen. He won’t really be anything special. I wouldn’t be surprised if he wound up in a platoon with Mark Reynolds. If you are in a deep league though, Paulsen’s solid average and decent power make him worth a look.

LeMahieu is a nice source of cheap steals later in drafts. He is nothing flashy, but he will help out in average and steals at a position where it is pretty barren outside the top four or five.

The question with Reyes has always been health. Perhaps the most disturbing thing though is how he struggled at Coors Field. Most players see an uptick in offense and Reyes did not. There is also the impending suspension. His domestic violence trial doesn’t even start until April 4th, which is Opening Day. MLB is going to wait until the trial concludes before they dole out their punishment, but considering Aroldis Chapman got a month in an incident that didn’t involve an arrest, I would say that the earliest Reyes would be back would be the second week of May. If you have a deep bench, he may be worth stashing, but he is 32, awaiting suspension, and has top prospect Trevor Story breathing down his neck. There is a great chance that Reyes wont have any fantasy impact this year.

Arenado is a consensus first round pick. He is likely a peg below Josh Donaldson, but not much. I have seen Arenado go as high as fifth overall. He hits for a good average, has a lot of power in a hitter’s park, and bats behind guys that get on base. He is a safe pick in the first round.

Parra looks like he was built to bat second in this lineup. He struggled in Baltimore after the trade deadline last year, but now he heads to a place where his offense should see a nice increase. He has an outside shot at a 20/20 season and 100 runs. He is worth taking a chance on late in standard league drafts.

Blackmon has established himself as an elite leadoff hitter. He hits in a park where 20 home runs is a possibility and he had over 40 steals last year. With the gaggle of big bats hitting behind him, he should score plenty of runs as well. Blackmon is a solid second round pick, and could even sneak into the end of the first round. I couldn’t argue against taking him there.

CarGo’s speed has gone the way that Vladimir Guerrero‘s did. So if you are looking for a MVP candidate, that CarGo is gone. What you can get though is a guy that is still going to flirt with a .300 average and 40 home runs. He is a solid pick late in the second round or early in the third.

Next: How Will The Rotation Shape Up?

Mar 7, 2016; Salt River Pima-Maricopa, AZ, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jon Gray (55) throws during the second inning against the Chicago Cubs at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /

Colorado Rockies 2016 projected pitching rotation:

Jorge De La Rosa (9-7, 4.17 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 134K)
Chad Bettis (8-6, 4.23 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 98K in 115IP)
Tyler Chatwood (1-0, 4.50 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 20K in 24IP in 2014)
Jordan Lyles (2-5, 5.14 ERA, 1,49 WHIP, 30K in 49IP)
Jon Gray (0-2, 5.53 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, 40K in 40.2 IP)
Jason Motte (8-1, 3.91 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 34 K in 48.1 IP, 6/7 saves with Cubs)

When Jorge De La Rosa is the ace of your staff, you have issues. De La Rosa has had some good year, but his numbers are nowhere near worth gambling on in standard leagues. I would venture to say that you could find a pitcher with more upside in 12 team leagues as well. I wouldn’t touch him or Bettis except in deep leagues.

Chatwood is coming back from Tommy John surgery in July of 2014. He has looked solid this spring, and could be a decent find in 12 team leagues. He is at least worth taking a chance on.

I don’t trust Jordan Lyles, even in deep leagues. I wouldn’t even use him as a spot start in deep leagues.

Gray struggled in his first stint in the majors late last year, but he has pitched well this spring, and he is still only 24 years old. I would gamble on him late in 12 team drafts. The upside is there. Just wait to see how he fares in his first couple of starts in April before using him.

Motte pitched pretty well out of the Cub bullpen after imploding as the Cardinals closer in 2014. Can he regain his 2012 form where he saved 42 games for St. Louis? While it is possible, I’m not taking him until the middle of the draft, if at all. He wont get a lot of save opportunities here, and he only has one full season of closing experience. There are red flags galore here.

Next: What Prospects Are Worth Watching?

Oct. 14, 2014; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Colorado Rockies shortstop Trevor Story plays for the Salt River Rafters during an Arizona Fall League game against the Surprise Saguaros at Salt River Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

We will take a look at a few prospects that could crack the majors for Colorado this year, and in what type of leagues you should be looking for them in. Let’s get started!

Tom Murphy, C: Murphy has good power (he hit three homers in 35 September at bats last year), but is blocked by Hundley. That said, Hundley hasn’t been the pillar of health lately. If Hundley struggles or gets hurt, Murphy could be in the majors soon. He could safely be picked up in leagues of 12 teams or more once he is playing every day. The power is legit.

Trevor Story, SS: Story hit 20 homers in the minors last year, and is a strong bet to do it in the majors as long as he can hold off Jose Reyes. He will get at least a month so show his stuff while Reyes stands trial, so he is worth a look in 12 team leagues or larger to start the season. Just make sure you have a safe backup option in case he flops.

Miguel Castro, CP: Castro started last year as Toronto’s closer and came over in the Troy Tulowitzki deal. He struggled as the Jays’ closer, but he pitched very well in the minors last year. Motte is far from a sure option, and the 21 year old Castro could take his job with a good spring or solid April. He is worth stashing on your pitching staff in any league if he pitches like he did in the minors last year. He is a nice late round target even in standard leagues.

Carlos Estevez, CP: If Motte and Castro both fail, keep an eye on Estevez. He is believed to have the best arm in Colorado’s system and could be ready to take over as a closer. He saved 18 minor league games last year. Give him a look if he gets the job in all leagues of 12 or more teams.

Christhian Adames, IF: Adames hit just .245 in 53 at bats last year, and is behind Trevor Story right now, but if Story falters, Adames could be worth a look. He has decent speed and could be useful in deep leagues.

Next: Can Alfred Morris Bounce Back?

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