Rockies shouldn't let Spring injury bug force their hand on Jon Gray

Another one bites the dust.

First Jorge De La Rosa, then David Hale, now add Eddie Butler to the ever growing list of potential rotation members that will likely start the season on the disabled list.

Butler was almost a lock to join the Rockies rotation right out of the gate before he informed the Rockies training staff about discomfort in his shoulder. Butler injured his rotator cuff in his Major League debut last summer.

So the Rockies are down to three healthy rotation members mere days before the season starts.

1. Kyle Kendrick

2. Jordan Lyles

3. Tyler Matzek

With an off day in the first week of play, Colorado may be able to get along with just four starters until mid April. The choices to fill the final Spot(s) are underwhelming to say the least. Christian Bergman will likely get one of the spots, who has given up 18 hits, and 9 runs in 14.2 innings pitched this spring.

Then they are left to choose between Chad Bettis, or John Lannan, both of who probably couldn’t start for 20 big league clubs. An opening day rotation consisting of Kendrick, Lyles, Matzek, Bergman, Bettis/Lannan could be the worst in all of baseball.

Or the Rockies could make a bold move. A move that shows they ARENT waving the white flag before the season even starts.

Enter Jon Gray.

But they shouldn’t make this move. Gray has looked great at times this spring but has had his share of struggles as well. That trend is likely to continue when he joins the big league club. Pitchers don’t typically take the league by storm when they are first called up. Yes, they can show signs of the dominance they can potentially bring, but to hastily call up your top prospect in hopes of saving your lack luster rotation isn’t exactly the movie script Jon Gray should have to live through.

Then there’s the issue of the arbitration clock. If the Rockies were to start Gray’s service time now as opposed to waiting a few weeks, they would lose an entire season of control over the right hander in 2021. Rockies GM Jeff Bridich has already said Gray’s arbitration is a “non-factor” when it comes to him making the team, but it should be. What’s worth more? A few meaningless starts at the beginning of another likely lost season in 2015, or 20-25 starts in 2021 after Gray has developed into the ace of the Rockies rotation? Give me the latter.

Even if the Rockies were in a “Win now” mentality, teams are showing they value long-term control over top prospects than what they can contribute now. Chicago Cubs slugger Kris Bryant was sent down earlier this week despite hitting .425 this spring with nine homers and 15 RBIs in 40 at-bats. All due respect to Jon Gray, his 5.93 spring ERA doesn’t exactly scream that he is as MLB ready as Bryant.

The Rockies should show patience with Gray and their pitching staff. None of the injuries they have sustained this spring should be more that of  the 15 day DL variety. Their rotation may be laughable to start the year, but they’ll get the last laugh if Gray turns out to be the player they hope he will be.