Scott Oberg will remain the cornerstone of the Rockies bullpen for the foreseeable future.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Rockies signed Oberg to a three-year, $13 million extension. The deal also includes an $8 million club option in 2023.
Oberg, 29, was entering his second season of arbitration eligibility. Before the 2019 season, he avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.3 million contract.
In 2019, Oberg pitched in 49 games, recording a 2.25 ERA, 58 strikeouts, a 6-1 record, a 2.4 WAR, a 1.107 WHIP, and five saves over 56 innings. He would have pitched more, but a blood clot in his right arm required surgery that ended his season on August 17. The Denver Post ($) is reporting that he has since been given a “clean bill of health,” and that he will no longer need to take his blood-thinning medication after this week.
The right-handed reliever has been with the Rockies since 2015, combining for a 3.85 ERA and an 18-8 record in 257 1⁄3 innings. With a remarkable 3 1⁄3 inning shutdown performance in the extra innings Wild Card win over the Cubs in 2018, and combined with the loss of Adam Ottavino to the Yankees and the collapse in effectiveness of Wade Davis, Oberg has been the best thing the Rockies have going in the bullpen. Given his success, Oberg is in prime position to take over as the closer for the club in 2020.