Rockies trade Juan Nicasio to Dodgers

The Colorado Rockies traded right-handed pitcher Juan Nicasio to the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to a team announcement Monday. Colorado will receive a player to be named later or cash considerations in the deal.

Nicasio was designated for assignment last Thursday by the Rockies, who needed to make room on their 40-man roster for minor league starter Tyler Anderson. Nicasio posted a career-worst 5.38 ERA in 93⅔ innings in 2014. The 28-year-old Dominican made 14 starts before being relegated to the bullpen for the first time in his career. Nicasio had modest success in that role, managing a 3.48 ERA with 17 strikeouts in 20⅔ innings spanning 19 relief appearances.

There's reason to believe Nicasio could find success with a change of scenery, but not necessarily because he'll be away from Coors Field, where he holds a career 5.24 ERA. Nicasio has a decent FIP of 4.39 in parts of four big league seasons, and for as good as the Rockies' defense can be when it is at full strength, that's rarely been the case during his tenure with the team. Colorado has had the worst park-adjusted defensive efficiency rating (explained here) in baseball in three of those years and was second-worst in the other.