The Rockies signed infielder Thairo Estrada on January to a one-year deal. Estrada was a valuable infielder for the Giants from 2021-23. However, Estrada, who dealt with a wrist sprain last summer, fell out of favor in San Francisco amidst a poor 2024 campaign.
A Look at Estrada
For three seasons, Thairo Estrada was a very solid find for the Giants. A good prospect with the Yankees who just hit, Estrada never got a solid chance in The Bronx but did in San Francisco. Estrada posted a .813 OPS over 52 games in 2021, then slashed .266/.319/.408 (.727 OPS) with 28 home runs and 44 stolen bases between 2022-23.
However, Estrada fell out of favor in 2024 thanks to poor production. Estrada posted a .590 OPS over 96 games in 2024, playing over half the season as the team’s regular second baseman. The Giants outrighted Estrada to Triple-A in August and thanks to free agency rules, went to market in October.
The ex-Giant had multiple IL stints in 2024 thanks to a left wrist sprain.
Estrada is a strong defender as far as advanced metrics are concerned. While the 28-year-old clocked in with one of the poorest arms in baseball, he did have a +9 Outs Above Average last season per Statcast. The new Rockie is very fast, an asset useful both on the basepaths and in the field.
The 28-year-old has a short swing (7.2 in.) but is a habitual chaser. Estrada posted 30+% Chase% rates in each of the last three seasons, including a sky-high 38% in 2023.
He’s not a natural power hitter but Estrada is a natural pull hitter. He will often get out in front on baseballs and loft baseballs out of the park with fringe-average pop.
Lastly, Estrada is a low-walk hitter. Not a shock, given he’s a high-chase hitter. Last season, his BB% was 2.6%, second-lowest among hitters with 300+ PA. Only Ernie Clement (2.4%) had a lower number.
Per the team, the Rockies will give Thairo Estrada $4MM for one year, plus a mutual option for 2026.
Analysis
The Rockies non-tendered former first-round pick Brendan Rodgers after 13 home runs and a .721 OPS (94 OPS+) last season.
Rodgers never developed into the superstar some expected him to be out ten years ago in the 2015 MLB Draft. However, the 27-year-old — despite not doing so well in the hitters’ paradise of Coors Field — had a higher Barrel/PA (6.0%) between 2022-23 than Estrada (3.4%).
While Rodgers technically hit for more power over those two seasons — and 2024, as well — that doesn’t tell the whole story, here. Estrada has graded as a better runner and defender. Rodgers posted a -3 Outs Above Average last season, two years after he won a NL Gold Glove at second base.
That speed can be a critical asset for Estrada, who has the heightened ability to turn singles into doubles and despite the chase problems, made more contact than Rodgers.
However, Estrada won’t likely be the Rockies’ long-term solution at second base. Colorado has Adael Amador, who made his MLB debut last season, as a long-term option. However, Amador didn’t particularly well in Double-A, with a .719 OPS but better numbers as the year went on. Over his last 11 games with Hartford, Amador hit .311 with two home runs and five extra-base hits.
Ryan Ritter, who exploded in 2023 but played less than 100 games in 2024, is another long-term option to play alongside Ezequiel Tovar.
It’s the second notable infield addition for Colorado this winter. The Rockies previously signed ex-Twins infielder Kyle Farmer.