The Rockies are set to accumulate first baseman/outfielder Jake Cave from the Phillies, according to Matt Gelb of The Athletic. Patrick Saunders of The Denver Submit reports that the Rockies can be sending money to Philadelphia in alternate for Cave’s companies. Each golf equipment have since introduced the transfer.
Cave, 31, was a sixth-round choose by the Yankees within the 2011 draft and made his massive league debut with the Twins again in 2018. He spent 5 seasons in Minnesota as a reserve outfielder, slashing a collective .235/.297/.441 (92 wRC+) throughout that point whereas splitting time between all three outfield spots. Cave’s tenure with the Twins got here to an finish in October 2022, when he was claimed off waivers from the membership by the Orioles. Whereas he went on to signal a contract with Baltimore to keep away from arbitration, he didn’t enter the season with the membership as he was as soon as once more claimed off waivers that December, this time by the Phillies.
Cave entered the Phillies group shortly after star proper fielder Bryce Harper underwent Tommy John surgical procedure, leaving the the membership with a considerably unsure outfield combine. That made Cave a priceless depth choice as a left-handed bat able to enjoying all three outfield spots, although he confronted stiff competitors from the likes of Kody Clemens and Darick Hall for a spot on the membership’s bench coming into the 2023 season. Issues modified for Cave, nevertheless, when first baseman Rhys Hoskins suffered a torn ACL that may trigger him to overlook all the marketing campaign. With a sudden gap at first base, the Phillies determined to roster Cave as an choice each within the outfield corners in addition to at first base, a place he had not but performed on the main league degree.
The experiment didn’t go notably effectively. Whereas Cave carried out solidly at first base with the glove, he fell effectively under expectations with the bat as he slashed simply .212/.272/.348 (66 wRC+) in 203 journeys to the plate with the membership regardless of posting a career-best 27.1% strikeout fee. That efficiency wasn’t sufficient to discourage the Phillies from providing Cave a contract this winter, as the edges efficiently averted arbitration again in November. Since then, nevertheless, it has develop into more and more clear that there wasn’t a roster spot obtainable to Collapse Philadelphia because the membership as an alternative dedicated bench spots to the likes of Whit Merrifield. Given the truth that Cave is out of choices, the Phillies would have wanted to go him by way of waivers to maintain him within the group.
That offered the Rockies with the chance to accumulate Cave for nothing however money. The 31-year-old veteran figures to fit right into a bench function with Colorado coming into the season, providing a left-handed complement to the membership’s righty outfielders Brenton Doyle and Sean Bouchard whereas additionally offering a substitute for Kris Bryant and Elehuris Montero at first base. Whereas Cave’s 2023 numbers actually go away one thing to be desired, the Rockies will rely on the veteran bouncing again to the shape he confirmed throughout his time in Minnesota. If he can achieve this, his profession .240/.309/.421 slash line towards right-handed pitching ought to permit him to contribute in a bench function. Ought to Cave wrestle to open the season, different choices on the Rockies’ disposal embrace Greg Jones, Sam Hilliard, and Bradley Zimmer.
