Projecting the Rockies Rotation after adding Kyle Kendrick

The Rockies have made a couple of moves this week in an effort to bolster their pitching. The club signed John Axford on Monday and added longtime Phillies starter Kyle Kendrick yesterday.

Here’s how the rotation may project entering spring training.

1. LHP Jorge De La Rosa (14-11 4.10 ERA)

Jorge “Mr. Coors Field” De La Rosa is just 4 wins away from becoming the all time winningest pitcher in Rockies history. He’s the closest thing they have to a true number one starter.

2. RHP Jhoulys Chacin (1-7 5.40 ERA)

Chacin just made 11 starts in 2014 battling Shoulder issues all year long. New Rockies GM Jeff Bidrich has set out a plan to hopefully get Chacin back to his 2013 form, where he won 14 games with a 3.47 ERA.

3. RHP Jordan Lyles (7-4 4.33 ERA)

Lyles also missed extended time last year only starting in 22 games, but showed promise, especially early in the season. Lyles and the Rockies avoided arbitration this offseason and is set to make 2.475 million in 2015.

4. RHP Kyle Kendrick (10-13 4.61 ERA)

The newest face/victim to the Rockies staff as Colorado signed the veteran to a 1 year deal to make $5.5 million. Kendrick won 74 games in Philadelphia over  eight seasons with a 4.42 career ERA. Bottom line Kendrick is a career end of the rotation guy, he doesn’t have phenomenal stuff, but should be good enough to get you 10-12 wins a season.

5. LHP Tyler Matzek (6-11 4.05 ERA)

Matzek made his MLB debut in 2014 and by season’s end had one of the more impressive ERA’s on the team. Matzek should get a chance to lock down that 5th starter spot this spring.

Even with some added arms and hopes of others returning from injury, its likely that this will still be one of the worst rotations in baseball. Until their top prospects are ready to take the next step, the Rockies will have to continue to re-shuffle the players in their rotation as if they are chairs on the deck of the Titanic.