Rockies Sign Wade Davis

Wade Davis: 4-2, 2.30 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 79/28 K/BB, 58.2 IP
Three Years, $52 million, $15 million vesting/mutual option for 2021

After re-signing Jake McGee and adding Bryan Shaw, the Rockies made their biggest move yet with the bullpen by adding Wade Davis to be the closer to replace Greg Holland, signing him for three years and $52 million. That contract, on a per-year basis, is the most expensive contract ever for a reliever, just barely eclipsing Aroldis Chapman's five year, $86 million deal from last offseason ($17.3 million to $17.2 million). At this point, with the likes of Chris Rusin, Mike Dunn, Adam Ottavino, and Scott Oberg also in the bullpen, the Rockies will have a very strong relief corps in 2018 to match a very strong rotation led by Jon Gray, Kyle Freeland, German Marquez, and Chad Bettis, among others. This combination of a deep rotation and bullpen gives Colorado perhaps the best pitching staff it has ever had, though the offense needs significant work. Aside from Charlie Blackmon and Nolan Arenado, there are no consistent, productive hitters in the lineup, aside from DJ LeMahieu's average contact bat. Now, back to Davis. The 6'5" right hander is a converted starter who was pretty decent in that role (4.57 ERA, 1.45 WHIP in 88 career starts), but he has been beyond excellent as a reliever (1.65 ERA, 0.98 WHIP in 305 appearances). He was at his best in 2014 and 2015, but his 2017 season saw him put up a very solid 2.30 ERA, a 1.14 WHIP, and a 79/28 strikeout to walk ratio in 59 appearances (note the high strikeout rate), and he is still one of the game's best relievers. His ERA will jump in Colorado in this 2018-2020 period, but there aren't many out there who are better than Davis. It should also be noted that Davis is the first player to sign this offseason after rejecting a qualifying offer, so he will cost the Rockies their third highest draft pick in 2018. Now, it's time for them to go pick up a bat or two.