Matrix Reloaded: February 6, 2026
After a week off owing to a lack of action around the league, we’re back with a fresh Matrix Reloaded, and this past week didn’t disappoint. We saw what will probably be the last nine-figure contract of the offseason, as well as a fun three-team trade. As always, the full Offseason Matrices document with summary statistics, remaining free agents, and much more can be found here.
Significant Signings
Tigers Sign Framber Valdez for Three Years, $115 Million (Includes Deferrals)
Effect on the Tigers
As if one top-shelf lefty wasn’t enough for opposing bats to deal with, the Tigers now boast two of the game’s best southpaws, with Valdez slotting behind the all-world Tarik Skubal in the Tigers’ rotation. While it crossed my mind (and those of many others) that adding another lefty with a large salary might lead to a Skubal trade, that reportedly won’t be the case. With Skubal winning his arbitration case and set to earn $32 million this year, he and Valdez will combine for $70 million in AAV, depending on how Framber’s deferrals shake out.
The signing pushes the Tigers up to the no. 2 spot in projected starting pitcher WAR — at 17.9, they’re just 0.1 behind the Red Sox — and while Skubal and Valdez will justifiably get all the headlines, the depth in the rotation beyond them is important too. Projected no. 3 starter Jack Flaherty was better in 2025 than his ERA would indicate, and Casey Mize was an All-Star, though he faded after the break. The fifth spot will be filled by Reese Olson, Troy Melton, or Drew Anderson. Olson and Melton have each shown significant promise in their big league time, and Anderson was guaranteed $7 million in his return from the KBO, though he can slide to the bullpen.
Valdez’s signing also gives the Tigers some longer-term clarity, at least until the former Astro has the opportunity to opt out at the conclusion of the 2027 season. Skubal, Mize, and Flaherty will all be free agents after this year, and Anderson has a club option. Having Valdez around to potentially slide from the no. 2 spot to front the rotation is valuable, as is having arms like Olson, Melton, Keider Montero, Jackson Jobe (out for most or all of this year after undergoing Tommy John surgery), and prospect Jaden Hamm in the organization.
Effect on Other Teams
The Orioles were widely considered the likeliest to sign Valdez as his free agency wore on… until they didn’t. In the most literal sense of the word “need,” the Orioles don’t need a starter; they’ve got the fivesome of Trevor Rogers, Kyle Bradish, Shane Baz, Dean Kremer, and Zach Eflin, plus depth arms like Cade Povich and Tyler Wells, as well as a close-to-the-big-leagues prospect in Trey Gibson. As such, they have to ask themselves if another starter is worth spending free agent dollars on, or if only Valdez cleared that bar.
On the Matrix, you’ll see that they reportedly have interest in Zac Gallen, Lucas Giolito, and Justin Verlander, three of the five best remaining starting pitchers. Signing any of those three wouldn’t be as big of a needle-mover as adding Valdez, of course — and Gallen would also cost a draft pick — but such an addition would at least allow them to slow play Eflin’s return from back surgery if they feel the need to be extra cautious. It would also offer protection against further injuries; you can never have too much starting pitching, after all, even if it’s not a top-of-the-rotation-type arm like Valdez.
Effect on Similar Players
Nobody matches Valdez in terms of impact on the mound, but for the free agent starters still languishing on the market, his signing offers plenty of clarity. Gallen is the final free agent tethered to a qualifying offer, and the list of starters who should still find nice major league deals also includes Giolito, Verlander, Chris Bassitt, Nick Martinez, and Zack Littell.
Giants Sign Harrison Bader for Two Years, $20.5 Million
Effect on the Giants
The addition of Bader finalizes the Giants’ starting outfield and drastically improves a unit that was third-worst in the majors by FRV. Jung Hoo Lee cost the Giants two runs by that metric and was a horrid -18 by DRS; getting him into a corner might not make him better, but it ought to at least minimize his impact. Bader is, of course, a fabulous defender and will be flanked by Lee and Heliot Ramos, with Ramos presumably staying put in left and Lee heading to right.
Bader’s offense is more up for debate. His age-31 season was his fullest (146 games and 501 plate appearances) and also his best by wRC+, home runs, and hard-hit rate, with the shortened 2020 season the only time he posted a better barrel rate. But he also hugely outperformed his xBA, xwOBA, and xSLG, proving that “career-best” doesn’t inherently mean “sustainable good.” Plus, it’s not as if San Francisco is a good place to hit. The price reflects that teams may well have felt that they’d be paying more for Bader’s defense than anything special with the bat.
Effect on Other Teams
Bader signed for significantly less than expected (the median prediction, on the Total Spending Projection tab of the Matrix, was two years and $31 million), presumably in part because of skepticism about his bat, but also because he lost the game of Center Fielder Musical Chairs. Teams that had reported interest in Bader looked elsewhere in the days before he signed, with the Mets working out their trade for Luis Robert Jr. and the Yankees bringing back Cody Bellinger.
If other teams towards the bottom of the projected center field production list want to upgrade, the trade market is their best bet. But it’s slim pickings there too; of the starting center fielders in the top half of the projections, only Jake Meyers has had his name come up in public trade rumors.
Effect on Similar Players
Bader was the last starting-caliber center fielder on the free agent market, so his signing likely won’t spur anyone to agree to a deal.
Reds Sign Eugenio Suárez for One Year, $15 Million
Effect on the Reds
Despite playing in the hitter’s paradise that is Great American Ball Park, the Reds didn’t have a 30-homer hitter in 2025… or 2024… or 2023… or 2022, which was incidentally the first year the Reds played without Suárez. (Suárez himself was one of three 30-homer bats for the Reds in 2021, along with Joey Votto and Nick Castellanos.) So perhaps it’s kismet that Suárez’s market didn’t materialize beyond the Reds’ comfort zone as they looked for their first big bopper in a half-decade.
For the first time in his career, Suárez will serve as a primary DH, with his career high in games at that position sitting at just 19 in 2022. It’s the obvious move for the Reds and the 34-year-old Suárez, whose defense has usually graded out as average or better by FRV and below-average by DRS, but was firmly in the red by both metrics last year. With glovework maestro Ke’Bryan Hayes entrenched at third, there’s no reason to give Suárez anything but sparing time at the hot corner.
Suárez could see some time at first base, but that position will mostly be manned by top prospect Sal Stewart, who built on his 152 wRC+ in 118 minor league games with a 124 mark in his first 58 major league plate appearances. That’s bad news for Spencer Steer, who hasn’t been able to follow up a strong 2023 with better-than-average production. He has experience at all four corners as well as second base, and will slide into a super-utility role. He’ll factor in against southpaws, with lefty-swinger JJ Bleday likely getting most of the time in left field against righties.
Effect on Other Teams
The runner-up for Suárez appeared to be the Pirates, who made him a similar offer and may have been willing to go even higher. Righty pop is an obvious need for the club, with their most imposing hitters all batting from the left side (or both sides, in the case of Bryan Reynolds). Top global prospect Konnor Griffin could help out with that imbalance as soon as Opening Day, but that’s a lot to put on the shoulders of a 19-year-old.
On the Matrix, you’ll see that the Pirates have interest in Marcell Ozuna, the best right-handed power bat in a shrinking group that also includes Rhys Hoskins. Adding either of those two would make for an inelegant position fit, as current projected starting DH Ryan O’Hearn would have to spend more time in the outfield, or Spencer Horwitz would have to move from first base to second and/or third, at least occasionally, to accommodate O’Hearn at first.
The trade market may be a better path. The Astros have a glut of infielders and have reportedly made third baseman Isaac Paredes and first baseman Christian Walker available. Paredes’ pull-heavy approach won’t work as well at PNC Park as it does in Houston, but straight down the left-field line in Pittsburgh is very pull-friendly. Walker has the Hoskins/Ozuna roster fit problem but is an excellent defensive first baseman and could paper over some of the shortcomings created by moving Horwitz around. Elsewhere around the league, and this is purely speculative: Mark Vientos is without a clear path to playing time on the Mets (though he’s rough defensively); first basemen Ryan Mountcastle and Coby Mayo are blocked by Pete Alonso in Baltimore; the Cubs’ Matt Shaw has shifted to a super-utility role with Alex Bregman signed; and Steer is blocked by Suárez and Stewart.
Effect on Similar Players
Suárez was the last slam-dunk starting infielder left on the free agent market, so all his signing serves to do is move things along for the other free agent bats. I don’t think the amount he signed for will have much of an effect on those players.
Giants Sign Luis Arraez for One Year, $12 Million
Effect on the Giants
Just as Bader finalized the outfield mix for the Giants, Arraez did the same for the infield. He’ll be returning to his original position of second base, a spot where his defense could best be described as “ghastly.” And with Rafael Devers or Bryce Eldridge playing to his left at first base, he’ll need to be a lot better than that. Devers was actually just a tick below average by FRV in his first experience at the position, but our prospect team has Eldridge as below average there. Maybe new infield coach Ron Washington can make everyone on the right side better; he’ll certainly have his work cut out for him.
The 2025 version of Arraez won’t cut it for the Giants, even if he’s an upgrade over what the club got from second base last year. If he produces like he did in 2024 — or better yet, in 2022 and 2023 — he’s somewhere between a fine value and an absolute coup for $12 million. That’s the type of hitter you’d want anchoring the top of your lineup, not the one Mike Shildt insisted on hitting first or second in the order for way too long in San Diego last year. The spacious outfield in San Francisco should work well for Arraez, as he’ll have more space to lob singles in front of outfielders, and might add more doubles and triples when he turns on one to right-center.
Effect on Other Teams
I was going to use this section to talk about how Arraez’s signing changed the list of teams that could use Brendan Donovan, but then he got traded to the Mariners! More on that in the Trades section.
Effect on Similar Players
Arraez is really a singular player in today’s game, so there’s nobody to whom he can be even tangentially compared.
Rapid-Fire One-Year Deals
White Sox Sign Austin Hays for $6 Million
Hays backfills Luis Robert Jr.’s spot as a starting right-handed outfielder, though he’ll presumably stay in a corner (most likely right field with Andrew Benintendi in left field). That’ll keep Brooks Baldwin and Luisangel Acuña vying for time in center, with Acuña also a backup option for Chase Meidroth at second and Colson Montgomery at short.
Playing time was a priority for Hays in free agency, so while there was widespread interest in the righty swinger, he may have been limited to platoon plate appearances in a number of other spots. That makes sense, as Hays has a career 155 wRC+ against lefties compared to an 88 against righties. If all goes well, he’ll probably be on the move at the trade deadline to a team that can maximize his southpaw-smashing output.
Red Sox Sign Isiah Kiner-Falefa for $6 Million
The Red Sox reportedly had at least some interest in bringing in free agents Alex Bregman, Bo Bichette, Kyle Schwarber, Kazuma Okamoto and J.T. Realmuto, but obviously failed to do so. Indeed, IKF is the first free agent position player they’ve added, joining new first baseman Willson Contreras, who was acquired in trade from the Cardinals.
Where Kiner-Falefa ends up playing, as well as how often, is still up in the air with spring training beginning next week. He figures to spend most of his time at second and third base, and should especially factor against lefties; he makes sense as a platoon partner for Marcelo Mayer at third. Fellow righty Romy Gonzalez will have a roster spot, with Kristian Campbell and David Hamilton also jockeying for playing time, though they could start at Triple-A.
Padres Sign Miguel Andujar for $4 Million
Andujar’s 2025 was his best by both WAR and wRC+ since he finished second to Shohei Ohtani in Rookie of the Year voting in 2018, though he only got into 94 games. When he did play, he mashed, with a 125 wRC+, which broke down to an above-average 108 against righties and fabulous 171 against southpaws. Andujar has the ability to stand at all four corners (though he plays none of them well), which should allow the Padres to rotate DH time and keep Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado fresh.
Diamondbacks Sign Carlos Santana for $2 Million
Despite an 82 wRC+ that barely bested the 81 he put up in a trying 2021 season, the 39-year-old Santana was still able to secure a major league deal with what will be his ninth team. The switch-hitter is a stronger defender than Pavin Smith and should get the lion’s share of the playing time at first base.
Pirates Sign José Urquidy for $1.5 Million
Urquidy has thrown just 2.1 big league innings since 2024 due to an elbow surgery, but he got a fully-guaranteed deal nonetheless. Despite having more than six years of service time, he’s evidently consented to being optionable to the minors as part of the deal. He’ll be in the mix for the Buccos’ fifth starter spot.
Trades
Mariners Acquire Brendan Donovan from Cardinals; Cardinals Acquire Jurrangelo Cijntje, Tai Peete, and a Competitive Balance Round B draft pick from Mariners and Colton Ledbetter and a Competitive Balance Round B draft pick from Rays; Rays Acquire Ben Williamson from Mariners
- Ben Clemens’ Write-Up of the Deal
- Updated Mariners Roster Projection
- Updated Cardinals Roster Projection
- Updated Rays Roster Projection
- Updated Mariners Payroll Projection
- Updated Cardinals Payroll Projection
Effect on the Mariners
The Mariners did their heaviest lifting very early in the offseason, as their re-signing of Josh Naylor to a five-year deal was the first significant free agent contract across the league. Their moves since then have been smaller, though still for the sake of bettering the roster, acquiring reliever Jose A. Ferrer in trade from the Nationals and signing lefty destroyer Rob Refsnyder to a one-year deal. But with Jorge Polanco heading to Queens and Suárez leaving for the Queen City, the Mariners needed to add an infielder.
Sure, they could have let Williamson handle third and Cole Young second until wunderkind Colt Emerson was up with the big club, potentially early on in the season. But they already tried a version of that for a big portion of last year and it didn’t work, which is what necessitated the trades for Suárez and Naylor in the first place. Inexperienced players can get better, of course, but neither Young nor Williamson was expected to be a key cog in the lineup this year, which Donovan certainly will be (at least against righties). And Donovan’s versatility is crucial as well: With Williamson gone, he can start out at third base but move to second if Young struggles or Emerson comes up and plays third. Randy Arozarena is a free agent after the year, and knowing that Donovan can head out to left field opens up more possibilities for the Mariners. He’ll never be blocking anyone by being tethered to just one position; Jerry Dipoto can make moves knowing he’s got fungibility with Donovan rather than having to make moves to accommodate him.
Effect on the Cardinals
Trading Donovan wasn’t nearly as important to the Cardinals rebuilding effort as moving on from elder statesmen Sonny Gray, Willson Contreras, and Nolan Arenado. Those guys are all in their 30s and making significant money; Donovan is 29 and will make just $5.8 million this year, with another year of team control after. Clearly, though, the Cardinals felt the package they got from the Mariners and Rays was enough to pull the trigger.
The headliner is the switch-pitching Cijntje, who’s much better from the right side even though he’s a natural lefty. Just before the trade, the Mariners released their spring training roster and listed Cijntje as a right-handed pitcher, intending for him to only work from that side in games for the time being. The Cardinals haven’t quite committed to the same course, but they weren’t exactly effusive in billing him as a switch-pitcher, either. Even if he ends up exclusively being a righty, he’s a talented arm (and maybe even arms — I’m still holding out hope!) who could make an impact in the big leagues as soon as this year.
Peete was the 30th overall pick in the 2023 draft and performed decently well in his first full pro season in 2024, with a 104 wRC+. But he struck out over 30% of the time, a troubling sign that repeated itself in 2025 as his wRC+ dropped to 79. However, he’s still just 20, and while his hit tool leaves much to be desired, he’s got above-average marks for his raw power and speed, and has taken well to center field. Coincidentally, Ledbetter was Cijntje’s teammate at Mississippi State, selected 25 picks after Peete in the draft. He also had a downturn in production from 2024 to 2025, but at least remained above-average. Having spent the entire year at Double-A, he’s closer to the majors than Peete. We also shouldn’t overlook the Cardinals receiving two draft picks in this deal; they now own picks 13, 32, 50, 68, 72, and 86 in this year’s draft.
Lastly, Donovan being out of the picture is great news for the club’s top prospect, shortstop JJ Wetherholt. Gold Glover Masyn Winn is entrenched at Wetherholt’s natural position, but in preparation for coming up to the Cardinals in short order, he got some work at second and third in the minors last year. Barring any further additions, he’ll be jockeying for playing time at those two positions with Nolan Gorman and Thomas Saggese.
Effect on the Rays
The Rays played the smallest part in this trade, but it’s entirely possible that it wouldn’t have happened at all without their participation; Ledbetter and the second draft pick may have greased the wheels enough for the Cardinals to say yes to the deal.
Williamson heads southeast as the newest Ray. His first big league experience, which spanned 85 games and 295 plate appearances, was promising on defense (8 DRS) and trying at the plate (76 wRC+, just one home run). He won’t be expected to jump into a starting role with the Rays, if he’s on the big league roster at all, but he could play against lefties and as a late-game defensive replacement. With Junior Caminero entrenched at third, I’d expect Williamson to work hard at shortstop and second, two positions he has nascent experience at relative to the hot corner.
White Sox Acquire Jordan Hicks, David Sandlin, Two PTBNL from Red Sox for Gage Ziehl and PTBNL
- Michael Baumann’s Write-Up of the Deal
- Updated White Sox Roster Projection
- Updated Red Sox Roster Projection
- Updated White Sox Payroll Projection
- Updated Red Sox Payroll Projection
Effect on the White Sox
Hicks showed potential in his first season as both a starter and a Giant in 2024, putting up 109.2 innings of 4.10 ERA/4.37 FIP ball, including some time spent in the bullpen as he ran out of gas. But he hit a wall in his second season in the rotation, posting a 6.55 ERA (albeit with a 3.51 FIP) in nine starts before hitting the IL with a toe injury. While still on the IL, he was sent to the Red Sox in the Devers trade, with his inclusion more of a salary offset than anything else. His stint in Boston went even worse despite him returning to the bullpen; he got hit around in 21 appearances and ultimately ended his season back on the IL with shoulder inflammation. That led the Red Sox to be the ones to try to dump his salary, finding a taker in the White Sox, who will pay $16 million of the $24 million owed to Hicks for the next two seasons. It’s unclear if he’ll be a reliever for the Pale Hose or get another chance to start.
While two years and $16 million for Hicks might be an okay value for the White Sox if they can get him back to throwing triple-digits (and possibly flip him to yet another team), the real impetus for the deal was Sandlin. The righty was shut down in September due to a shoulder injury of his own, but he still set a new high-water mark with 106 innings. In those frames, he struck out 23% of batters while walking 9% and recording a 4.50 ERA and 3.76 FIP. Sandlin’s best tool is a 60-grade fastball that can touch 100 mph. His secondary stuff and command are still developing — they’re all graded below 50 — but the heater is a strong foundation from which to start, and perhaps Chicago’s pitching department, led by Brian Bannister, can bump those grades up.
White Sox GM Chris Getz was clear that his new pitcher could make an impact for the White Sox this year, and it’s a unit that could certainly use the help. Shane Smith and Anthony Kay are the only locks to open the year as starters, with the team choosing from Sean Burke, Sean Newcomb, Rule 5 pick Jedixson Paez, Tanner McDougal, Duncan Davitt, Jonathan Cannon, Mike Vasil, Sandlin, and perhaps even Hicks to round things out.
Effect on the Red Sox
The money saved on Hicks’ salary is nice, but more important than further lining John Henry’s pockets is what the Red Sox do with that added roster flexibility.
They don’t have to reinvest directly in the bullpen, as they’re projected to be fourth-best unit in the league, but a large chunk of that is from the duo of Aroldis Chapman and Garrett Whitlock. Some of the rotation overflow could help in relief — Patrick Sandoval and/or Johan Oviedo might lose out on a starting spot, but throw key innings in the bullpen — but it’s a group that could use depth one way or another. The free agent options are scarce but not wholly uninteresting: On the Matrix, the club has reported interest in Danny Coulombe, Cionel Pérez, and Evan Phillips (who will miss much of the season off Tommy John), and perhaps a reunion with Justin Wilson is in order. Michael Kopech, Scott Barlow, and old friend Ryan Brasier are among the other relievers still unsigned in February.
Ziehl was lost in the shuffle of this trade a little bit, but he was a 35+ FV on the recent White Sox list, and he’s heading back to an AL East organization after Chicago originally acquired him for Austin Slater at last year’s trade deadline. His calling card is excellent control; his walk rate was below 5% in 2025, his first year in pro ball. He’ll likely spend most of his time this year in Double-A.
Orioles Acquire Blaze Alexander from Diamondbacks for Kade Strowd, Wellington Aracena, and José Mejía
Effect on the Orioles
While the Orioles have an offense that appears loaded and ought to have all nine starting positions settled, they were fairly light on versatile depth before acquiring Alexander. The out-of-options righty swinger leapfrogs Jeremiah Jackson on the depth chart, since Jackson can be optioned to the minors.
Alexander graded out terribly at shortstop by both FRV and DRS in 2024 before bouncing around the field more when he was in the majors in 2025. He didn’t play short but made 49 starts at third base and another 14 at second, with 28 innings in the outfield despite no experience on the grass as a professional prior to last year. Both defensive metrics thought he did average or better work at all four positions he played. He also had a 120 wRC+ against lefties and makes sense as at least an occasional platoon partner for lefty-swingers Jackson Holliday, Colton Cowser, and Dylan Beavers.
Effect on the Diamondbacks
Strowd was superb in his big league debut last year, with a 1.71 ERA, 2.77 xERA, and 3.40 FIP in 26.1 innings as a 27-year-old. On top of that, Stuff+ loved his repertoire, with an overall 113 led by a 137 slider and 135 curveball. And those two pitches were the two least-thrown of his five offerings, so he might be a usage tweak away from true dominance. (Despite the stuff, his strikeout rate was average.) The Snakes have as wide-open a bullpen as any, and Strowd will compete with Andrew Saalfrank, Ryan Thompson, Kevin Ginkel, and Taylor Clarke for saves, barring any further additions.
Aracena was acquired by the Orioles from the Mets in the Gregory Soto deal before last year’s trade deadline and now heads to his third pro organization. He throws in the upper 90s and probably walks too many hitters to stick as a starter for much longer. Mejía made it into a couple of High-A games in his age-19 season but spent most of the year on the complex, where he has a 132 wRC+.
Rockies Acquire Edouard Julien and Pierson Ohl from Twins for Jace Kaminska
Effect on the Rockies
Julien’s career has been arrow-down since the French Canadian broke onto the scene with a 134 wRC+ in 408 plate appearances in 2023. In the past two seasons and 509 trips to the plate, he’s tanked to a 79 wRC+; while his walk rate has still been strong, it’s down five points from his debut season. And with no defensive value — he’s a bad second baseman and has proven to be just as rough since giving first base a try — he has to hit to be any good. But with four years of club control left, he’s the type of guy the Rockies ought to take a chance on, especially with playing time at first and second base so wide open. Troy Johnston and Blaine Crim are currently the other options at first, with Adael Amador and Willi Castro (who can play anywhere) vying for second base time.
Ohl’s a really fun kitchen-sink swingman who’s completely allergic to walking hitters: His 3.9% walk rate in the minors last year was actually his worst as a pro. He even mixes in a hard knuckleball on occasion, though the utility of the pitch in Coors is up for debate. Only Kyle Freeland and Michael Lorenzen have guaranteed rotation spots, so Ohl has a real chance to open the season with one, or he could head to the bullpen if he’s not staying stretched out in Triple-A.
Effect on the Twins
The primary motivation for the Twins was to clear 40-man space, as Julien was out of minor league options and lacked a clear role on the 2026 club, and Ohl had already been DFA’d. In return, they get Kaminska, who was excellent in A-ball in 2024 but underwent Tommy John surgery last March and will miss a portion of the 2026 season as a result.
Astros Acquire Kai-Wei Tang from Giants for Jancel Villarroel, IFA Bonus Pool Space
Effect on the Astros
Teng flashed promise in seven starts and a relief appearance for the Giants last year, with a 3.81 FIP and 4.00 xERA in 29.2 innings thanks to a 28.1% strikeout rate. His walk rate was also high, though, and it’ll be an uphill climb for him to crack the Astros’ rotation at any point this year. He profiles best as an up-and-down multi-inning reliever, which should be valuable for the Astros since much of their bullpen can’t be optioned to the minors.
Effect on the Giants
As he will be for the Astros, Teng was buried on the Giants’ starting pitching depth chart in the wake of the signings of Adrian Houser and Tyler Mahle. At minimum, Trevor McDonald, Hayden Birdsong, Carson Whisenhunt and Carson Seymour were ahead of Teng for spot starts, making him superfluous. In jettisoning Teng to Houston, the Giants get some international bonus pool money to play with as well as Villarroel, a super-super-utilityman (he plays everywhere, including catcher) who had a 118 wRC+ in his age-20 season between A-ball and High-A.
Yankees Acquire Angel Chivilli from Rockies for T.J. Rumfield
Effect on the Yankees
Chivilli gives the Yankees another depth arm for the 40-man roster, though his chances of cracking the Opening Day bullpen are pretty slim as things stand. Jake Bird is the only arm in the projected bullpen who’s both optionable to the minors and not already assured of a spot, and Chivilli’s probably behind him, Brent Headrick, and Yerry De los Santos on the depth chart.
Effect on the Rockies
Rumfield isn’t on the 40-man roster and was passed over in the Rule 5 draft for a second time after a 121 wRC+ in his second season in Triple-A. He’ll start the season in Albuquerque.
Jon Becker manages RosterResource's team payroll pages and assists with all other aspects of RosterResource, too. Follow him at your own peril on Twitter at @jonbecker_ and on BlueSky at @jon-becker.com.