SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Sunday morning’s reported settlement with switch-hitting Jurickson Profar addressed main wants the Rockies have hoped to fill all offseason.
Per a supply, the 30-year-old is ready to affix Colorado on a one-year, $7.75 million contract with a further $1 million potential if he reaches 400 plate appearances. He profiles because the staff’s beginning left fielder and leadoff hitter.
The membership has not confirmed the deal, which is pending a bodily.
If all goes as anticipated Profar can be in camp later this week and could have a few week to organize for the season opener on March 28 at Petco Park in San Diego – the place he known as residence in 2021 and ‘22 earlier than opting out of the ultimate 12 months of his three-year, $21 million contract with the Padres.
During the World Baseball Classic, Profar hit .231 (4-for-13) with one residence run, three strikeouts and three walks for the Netherlands, a squad managed by Rockies hitting coach Hensley Meulens.
As San Diego’s beginning left fielder in 2022, Profar logged profession highs in video games performed (152), plate appearances (658) and bWAR (3.1) whereas slashing .243/.331/.391 with 15 homers, 36 doubles, 58 RBIs and 73 walks.
The signing is the ultimate piece wanted within the Rockies’ plan to maneuver Kris Bryant from left subject to proper subject, with Yonathan Daza anticipated to play heart.
Bryant was restricted to 42 video games final 12 months – the primary of a seven-year, $182 million contract – due to accidents to his again and proper foot. Upon becoming a member of the Rockies, Bryant discovered the deep left-center hole to be “a graveyard.” Right has a tough out-of-town scoreboard and includes extra throwing however has much less floor to cowl than left. Designated hitter Charlie Blackmon, who is anticipated to return quickly from again soreness and be prepared for the beginning the common season, can play proper subject when Bryant has a time without work.
Profar additionally improves the membership’s depth. Before the beginning of Spring Training, Randal Grichuk underwent bilateral sports activities hernia surgical procedure that can delay the beginning of his season. Throughout camp, non-roster utility man Harold Castro emerged as the most suitable choice in left. Now Castro can be utilized because the multi-position, left-handed bat he was throughout his 5 seasons with the Tigers.
Since the beginning of camp, the Rockies have added three veterans in hopes of a shock marketing campaign within the NL West after final 12 months’s 68-94, last-place end. They added lefty reliever Brad Hand to a bullpen already bolstered with offseason pickups Brent Suter and Pierce Johnson. Two weeks in the past, the Rockies reached a Minor League contract with nook infielder Mike Moustakas, who entered Sunday 9-for-18 with a house run, three doubles and eight RBIs and is on monitor to make the Opening Day roster.
Profar has come a good distance since a number of retailers listed him as No. 1 general prospect in 2013 whereas with the Rangers. Although he made his MLB debut on the age of 19 in 2012, it will be one other six years earlier than he turned a fixture in Texas’ lineup.
Profar was set to take over because the Rangers’ beginning second baseman when the membership traded Ian Kinsler previous to 2014, however he harm his proper shoulder throughout Spring Training and wound up lacking the whole season. Surgery on the identical shoulder the next February value Profar all of 2015 as properly.
After taking part in simply 112 video games throughout 2016-17, Profar had one thing of a breakout in 2018, serving as a utility infielder and hitting .254 with 20 homers, 10 steals and a .793 OPS over 594 plate appearances for the Rangers. However, Texas despatched him to the A’s that December in a three-team, seven-player commerce that additionally concerned the Rays.
He spent a season with Oakland earlier than being traded to the Padres in December 2019, and he returned to San Diego on a three-year contract after changing into a free agent the next offseason.
Profar is a profession .238 hitter with 78 residence runs, 313 RBIs and a .708 OPS over 836 video games on the big-league stage.
