MLB odds: Kris Bryant signing still makes no sense for Rockies

The Colorado Rockies have tried to make up for losing Trevor Story with moves like the Kris Bryant signing, but none of it is saving them from dismal odds.

Like every other MLB team besides the World Champion Atlanta Braves, Colorado are hoping for a better year in 2022.

The bar is set fairly low for Colorado, as the Rockies finished second-last in the NL West with a 74-87 record. It’s their third losing season in a row, and according to BetSided, they are expected to see their fourth losing season this year.

WynnBet Sportsbook has the Rockies winning a mere 70 games, and Colorado ranks only behind the Baltimore Orioles and the Pittsburgh Pirates in teams with the lowest odds to win the World Series.

With all of that information put together, it’s a wonder why Colorado splurged on a seven-year, $182 million contract for third baseman Kris Bryant.

Will Kris Bryant signing pay off and give the Rockies a winning season?

Even though the Bryant signing is intended to amend past mistakes, the reality is that the Colorado team is stuck in one of the most competitive divisions in baseball. Last season, the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers went head to head in the playoffs with 105-plus win regular seasons. The Dodgers put quite a distance between their 106 wins and the 79 wins of the San Diego Padres, yet the Rockies still lagged behind with only 74 wins.

Although Colorado has the roster to win at least 70 games, there is one statistic that becomes more troubling in the absence of Story.

“The one area that worries me a lot is the Rockies’ .217 batting average last year on the road,” wrote Matt De Saro for BetSided. “It marks the lowest by a club over the course of a full season since 1972.”

The Rockies will need a little hitting power and a little magic to make an impact in the NL West, considering the competition.