Thairo Estrada, Rockies agree to one-year deal, source says

DALLAS — The Rockies have found their second baseman — for 2025, at least.

Colorado agreed to a one-year, big-league contract with veteran Thairo Estrada on Tuesday, a major league source confirmed. The contract is for $3.25 million with a mutual option and a $750,000 buyout. However, if either side declines the mutual option, the Rockies would still have the opportunity to retain Estrada via arbitration for one more year due to Estrada’s Super Two status.

The deal is pending Estrada passing a physical, and the Rockies have not announced a signing.

Mark Feinsand of MLB.com first reported the deal and the contract terms.

Estrada is versatile enough to play around the diamond, but the Rockies plan to use him primarily as a second baseman. He’ll replace Brendan Rodgers, whom Colorado non-tendered last month before Rodgers entered his final season of arbitration.

Estrada, who turns 29 in February, began his career with the Yankees but made his mark with the Giants in 2021 after being traded. He had an injury-plagued 2024 season but was a productive player in San Francisco for three previous seasons. In 2023, he slashed .271/.315/.416 with 14 homers, 26 doubles and 23 stolen bases. He has a reputation as a solid fielder.

Over 312 games from 2021 to ’23, he slashed .266/.320/.416 with 45 stolen bases, but in 2024, Estrada had wrist and thumb injuries and hit just .217 with a .247 on-base percentage in 96 games before the Giants outrighted him in late August.

Although Colorado signed veteran Kyle Farmer to a one-year and $3.25 million deal last month and has rookie Aaron Schunk on the roster, the Rockies plan to use both as utility infielders rather than everyday second basemen.

Sasaki sweepstakes: Hard-throwing Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki is the biggest free agent left on the board, and the Rockies are theoretically in the mix, although the idea of Sasaki pitching at Coors Field seems unlikely.

Sasaki’s agent, Joel Wolfe, said Tuesday that the Rockies were among the first three teams to call regarding Sasaki. General manager Bill Schmidt noted that the Rockies “have shown interest.”

Sasaki, 23, was posted by his Japanese team, Chiba Lotte, this week and is free to sign with an organization no earlier than Jan. 15. Because of his age, international rules only permit him to sign a minor league deal, unlike last year’s top free agent pitcher, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who signed with the Dodgers for $325 million.

When asked why Sasaki didn’t want to wait until he turned 25 to make more money in the majors, Wolfe said: “Some of it is Japanese culture, some of it is just Roki Sasaki. There are no absolutes in baseball, there are no absolutes in life and through Roki Sasaki’s eyes — and if you look at some of the things that have happened in his life — some of the tragedies that have happened in his life, he does not take anything for granted.”

Sasaki’s father died in the aftermath of a 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Wolfe said that small- and mid-market teams, like the Rockies, could be in the mix, partly because Sasaki had a rough relationship with the media in Japan.

“There’s an argument to be made that a small- or mid-market team might be more beneficial for him as a soft landing for him coming from Japan,” Wolfe said.

Outfield trades?: Although nothing appears imminent, Schmidt said the Rockies will listen to trade offers for their talented young outfielders.

Asked what interest the Rockies might get, Schmidt said, “That’s hard to say. And it could be spring training; it could be anytime. We’ll see how it plays out.”

Colorado has a lot of talent in the outfield in Yanquiel Fernandez, Zac Veen, Jordan Beck, Benny Montgomery, and Sterlin Thompson, although it’s unproven at the big-league level. Schmidt gave no indication of which players have drawn interest.

Bryant update: Manager Bud Black is encouraged by reports about Kris Bryant’s offseason workouts. He remains hopeful that Bryant can still become a productive player and provide a spark to Colorado’s lackluster offense.

“We need Bryant to be Kris Bryant,” Black said. “And he’s still, in our opinion, very capable of that.”

Back issues (disc problems and arthritis) and plantar fasciitis have kept Bryant off the field and in the training room. He played just 37 games in 2024, after 80 games last year and 42 in 2022, the first year of his seven-year, $182 million contract. In three seasons, Bryant has a 90 OPS+, which puts him 10 points below the statistically average MLB hitter.

Schmidt said the Rockies have a game plan for Bryant if he can stay healthy. Bryant would be the primary designated hitter but also play some in the field.

“We’re hoping he can play the outfield a couple days a week, maybe potentially (first base), if Michael Toglia needs a day off,” Schmidt said.

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