Jake McGee signs one-year, $5.9M deal with Rockies; club non-tenders Matt Carasiti, Stephen Cardullo | The Denver Post
On Friday, the Rockies agreed to terms with reliever Jake McGee on a one year, $5.9 million contract to avoid salary arbitration. McGee finished the season with 15 saves and a 4.73 ERA, after missing the entire month of June to a knee injury. General manager Jeff Bridich told media that he expects a more productive 2017 season from McGee — as well as Chad Qualls and Jason Motte -- who were brought in to bolster the bullpen with veteran presence.
Also ahead of Friday’s non-tender deadline, the Rockies did not tender contracts to rookie reliever Matt Carasiti and first baseman Stephen Cardullo. The Rockies now hold just 37 players on their 40-man roster.
Homers still play with new Coors Field fences | MLB.com
Coors Field looked (and played) a bit different in 2016, after the addition of heightened fencing along segments of the outfield wall. The fences, reaching their peak height of 16 feet 6 inches in front of the bullpens in right-center field, saw their biggest impact on the home run totals of right handed batters. The Rockies two biggest right-handed run producers, Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story, each lost home runs to the playfully dubbed “Bridich Barrier”. But the overall effect of the fences didn’t hinder Rockies offense. The team hit more home runs at Coors Field in 2016 than in 2015 — 215 to 202, respectively. Due primarily to impressive showings from Charlie Blackmon and DJ LeMahieu, as well as Story’s historic spring. The fences also had instances that worked in favor of Rockies pitching. Read all about that and more in this fascinating breakdown from MLB.com’s Thomas Harding.
2016 Winter Meetings Preview | Hardball Talk
Get information on available free agents, potential trade chips, Hall of Fame votes, and the Rule 5 draft ahead of this weekend’s Winter Meetings. Craig Calcaterra has the rundown in this Winter Meetings Preview.