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The Colorado Rockies have non-tendered Yohan Flande, Jason Gurka, and Rosell Herrera, according to news that broke Wednesday night. Now that the club has decided not to tender contracts to them, the three players are free agents and available to sign with any team over the winter.
Flande, 29, is a bit of a surprise considering his cheap contract and relatively underrated ability the last two seasons as a bullpen swingman and spot starter. In 2015, the lefty was 3-3 with a 4.74 ERA in 19 games (10 starts), though he did allow 14 home runs in just 68⅓ innings. Flande has now logged a 4.95 ERA (4.90 FIP) over 127⅓ innings in two big league seasons with the Rockies.
We weren't the only ones surprised about Flande's non-tender:
37 on the roster. Dumb thumb.
— Nick Groke (@nickgroke) December 3, 2015
Though, it should be noted, these guys may well sign minor league deals with the Rockies and return in the spring. Flande himself was taken off the roster last year, too, and signed to a minor league deal before 2015.
Gurka, 27, is less of a surprise for a non-tender after he appeared in just nine games in 2015, logging a 9.39 ERA and allowing 16 hits in 7⅔ innings. After playing his entire career in the Orioles' organization, 2015 was his first year in the Rockies' organization.
Herrera, 23, repeated at High-A Modesto in 2015, where he slashed .260/.314/.354 in 466 at bats. Once a promising prospect, Herrera dealt with injuries and a move into the outfield before he stalled with the Nuts the last two seasons. Still not yet 24, he'll get an opportunity somewhere in 2016, but having never played above High-A, the Dominican still has a ways to go.
With these moves, there are now 37 players on the Rockies' 40-man roster.