The next Rockies team should be too good for González Germen

From December 2014 to February 2015, González Germen was designated for assignment four times. He was, briefly, a member of the Mets, Yankees, Rangers, and Cubs. After the Cubs cut him loose, the Rockies picked him up off waivers in July 2015. That’s where he made his home for the next year, which for him must have felt like a comfort.

On the surface, Germen pitched well in 2015. He posted a 3.86 ERA in 32.2 innings. However, those “peripheral” stats that are in fact central to a pitcher’s success, strikeouts and walks, told a truer story. He struck out 6.9 batters per nine innings, which is fine, but he also walked 5.8 per nine innings, which is not at all fine. Not at all.

In 2016, his ERA caught up to his strikeouts and walks. He threw 40.2 innings, and struck out 7.1 strikeouts batters per nine and walked and 5.5 walks. Those are similar to the previous year. But his ERA hopped to 5.31. That he pitched so many innings from April until August shows how poorly off the Rockies’ bullpen was most of the season.

2017 Outlook

The Rockies designated Germen for assignment in August. He cleared waivers and has since declared free agency. It’s tempting to say that we’ve seen the last of Germen in a Rockies’ uniform, but we went through that same song and dance last offseason. The difference this time around is that it looks like the Rockies will have some bullpen depth to work from, especially in the form of young pitchers who need big league experience.

Germen is the same, but the Rockies are different, so now, really and truly, we’ve very probably seen the last of Germen in a Rockies’ uniform. Probably. Hopefully.