The Rockies have agreed to a minor league contract with free-agent first baseman Greg Bird, reports Thomas Harding of MLB.com (via Twitter). He’ll be in Major League camp this spring.
Bird, 28, had a promising rookie debut with the Yankees back in 2015 when he hit .261/.343/.529 with 11 homers in 178 trips to the plate. Injuries have torpedoed his career since that showing, however, as he’s undergone surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder and to remove bone spurs in his ankle. It’s hard to believe that five seasons have elapsed since Bird first broke into the Majors, but that is indeed the case, and he’s batted just .194/.287/.388 in 522 plate appearances since that time.
Bird spent much of the 2020 season with the Rangers organization, but he didn’t play in a big league game with Texas. Bird does carry a career .296/.370/.528 batting line in parts of three Triple-A seasons, and first base has been a problematic position for the Rockies in recent years. Colorado doesn’t have a set option at first base currently. Veteran Ian Desmond seems the likeliest candidate, but he’s also played outfield and bounced around the infield, so he could play elsewhere should Bird, Ryan McMahon or Josh Fuentes seize an opportunity at first base.
Another flash-in-the-pan Yankees prospect. Same with Miguel Andujar.
Miggy has more potential than Bird ever did
Bird and Andujar for Trout.
2 for 1 seems a little one-sided. Make it Trout and Adell.
Throw in Marsh and we’ll even let you have Refsnyder.
Go back and look at Bird’s numbers his rookie year. And Bird had a position he could play. He was actually a HS catcher for what it’s worth.
Shut the Front door. Bird had the potential of all yanks. Miguel was hurt and he’ll be fine.
And Gary Sanchez.
Like other teams and their fans don’t hype their prospects. C-Daddy sounds a bit jealous.
Why would I be jealous of failed prospects? That’s an odd thing to say.
I am a little jealous of a guy who’s made $4million basically rehabbing.
Andujar was great in the only season he got to play in. He can absolutely hit, just lost his job due to injury and his own poor defense.
IF Bird can stay healthy he can mash but that’s a very BIG IF.
Yeah, I’ll bet he’ll hit around .271 this year, which would be an improvement of about 100 points, which is the typical inflated amount that Coors-Pin-Ball-Field adds to players’ averages.
BTW Cards fans, here’s betting that Arenado’s average in the coming year, if he’s healthy, comes in around .265 or so, which is his typical avg away from Inflated-Stats-Field.
Are you trying to say that Bird in Coors is better than Nolan in a Busch?
Ha, good one.
Health permitting, I think Bird has a 2-4 year run of very solid production in him. His career has been derailed, but the talent is there if he can ever stay on the field consistently.
Nice pick up
The Yankee legend
Don’t be surprised if Bird goes to the Rockies and morphs into Andres Galarraga. The air at Coors will do that to any middling corner infielder.
You aren’t really giving Galarraga very much credit. His 2 best seasons came with the Expos and Braves. He wasn’t a failed major leaguer when he went to Colorado. He was all ready an All-star caliber guy. Not saying Colorado doesn’t help a guy but Galarraga was much more than a middling infielder.
I also wouldn’t undervalue Bird. He had a great year or two in New York until injuries decimated him.
A great “year or two”? He had a good 46 games in ‘15.
I honestly didn’t check. I do remember one year where he raked. That was it but signing him to a minor league deal is not bad when you consider that we just traded Benintendi for a guy who has had even less success.
*Trade Arenado*
*replace with Greg Bird*
*Rockies fans crack open the whiskey*
Fun story: Greg Bird’s rookie year was better by both wRC+ and OPS+ than Nolan Arenado has ever done. And Bird is younger.
178 PAs though.
You’re right – that is a fun story. Please continue to fill this thread with meaningless, cherry picked facts that serve no purpose to humanity.
I’ll go next: when Blackmon wears black sleeves, his batting average is different than when he wears purple sleeves.
Try not to take yourself so seriously
@seamaholic
Arenado is a Def wiz at 3B
Bird is a below average 1B who can’t stay healthy
Results are Arenado averaging 4.0 WAR a season with a peak of 6.0. Bird? Averaging 0.2 WAR with a peak of 1.1
So how are the two comparable in any possible way?
Now subtract $35m of value every year from Arenado’s ledger. I’ll hang on until you figure it out.
Literally, what are you talking about?
That’s like saying ‘look at the difference in salary between Max Scherzer and Jake Jewell’
You’re basically comparing a prime, ripe Apple to a rotten, squished Grape and saying, “see” while thumping your chest …leaving the rest of us wondering if you were dropped a lot as a baby
Good for Bird going back to his home state
An interesting minor league signing by the Rockies of Greg Bird to say the least. Bird can hit the ball a long way and with the talk of MLB leveling the offense by “deflating” the ball, a team can always use someone like Bird. Of course, I don’t believe he’ll stay in one piece but the thought of Coors Field and Greg Bird is provocative. I would really feel peachy if there was a DH in the NL for 2021. The Rockies have Josh Fuentes and Ryan McMahon at the top of the depth charts for first base so this could all be for naught concerning Bird. But we have to admit as baseball fans, this idea is a little enticing.
I figured the Rockies were going to put McMahon at 3B now?
Greatest player of all time
Anyone who saw bird play in his rookie year and the minors would swear he would be a star. Injuries and perhaps not a strong desire to push through them derailed what looked like a promising career
I laughed when everyone said he would be a star, and I’m laughing again at the Rockies management. You just can’t play this game with that much swing and miss.
Awwww good I hope he stays healthy he’s had rooten luck with injuries
I just kind of hope the Rockies never go forth a major league signing. Just a super AAA team FA team.
ROCKIES GET THE BIRD !!
Could see a platoon of Bird and Fuentes at first with McMahon being the regular at third. Desmond was awful when they tried him at first; he should be a backup in the OF and maybe at 3B.
I genuinely hope Bird hits 40 home runs this year. Poor guy deserves it.
Ike Davis
2.0
Meh. Rather have Tina
Too bad Mark Fidrych is no longer available !!
Jack McDowell says “hi”
70-HR season coming.
Todd Helton’s all time best status is NOT in danger!
Bird could be the next Vinny Castillo if he stays health…. hope he has a good season !
Being the next Vinny Castillo is a pretty low bar. Being the next Vinny Castilla on the other hand is a much greater task
Jose Reyes will be the next signing; after they give away Story.
For the past 5 years Greg Bird has had nothing but bad luck. When I was watching him in Trenton I thought he was better overall than Judge. If Bird is able to stay healthy, he is still young enough to have a fine career. But staying healthy has been a big problem for him, unfortunately. Good luck to him!
This guy again bird will be lucky to even make the major leagues again. Can’t field.. Can’t even hit when he was healthy except his rookie year
His “rookie year” was the only time he was healthy.
Rooting for him. Odds are against him but the talent is there. Good fielder and good attitude. Wishing him the best of luck
Completely forgot about Greg Bird.
before his body fell apart he was absolutely worth the hype. i remember a home run in tampa that hit the wall above the right field upper deck. good guy and teammate as well. rooting for him to make it
Ahhh, see all you Rockies fans where all angry when they traded that third baseman, whatshisname. Sure he went to a few all-star games and won a few gold gloves but really, how good was he?
Now they went out and got a used up, always injured first sacker so all is right in the land of Purple once again? Bird for MVP in 2021!
May I be the first to say I am reserving my World Series tickets now before the rush because of the brilliant leadership of Bride of Chucky Monfort and his mini-me Jeff “McFly” Bridich.
Hey maybe they can get Todd Helton to come out of retirement and sober up, think of the possibilities with that dynamic duo at first!
Remember when Yankee fans said Bird was better than Conforto? Lol!
Remember when the Mets signed Jed Lowrie over DJ Lemahieu?
A little Bird told you that
No.
Bird played at Grandview HS in Aurora, a Denver suburb. He also played catcher in high school, and was a teammate of Kevin Gausman. Now he just has to stay healthy. The 1B job is his for the taking on what will be a very bad team.
Best corner IF prospect since Robin Ventura
It’s a good pickup. If he stays healthy, he will rake at Coors.
I’m happy for Kevin Maas.
A long long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, the Yankees considered Kevin Maas as a possible replacement for Don Mattingly. During the great Mattingly/Steinbrenner fued of the late ’80s Mattingly was almost traded to the Cardinals but they wouldn’t part with Joe Magrane and to the Giants for Will Clark. Maas, like Bird would have a nice sample of a rookie year but got exposed with regular playing time
A lot of FA still looking for a contract or invite to ST. Guessing Greg Bird is elated to have an opportunity to play again. Never know how long you’re going to get to do it, do you? For some, an opportunity is the best gift.
Bird bird bird bird is the word
Pencil him in for 10 ABs. Great pick up.
Will he play in AAA or AA?
The foot issues have been a problem, but I’m not sure he ever fully recovered from the shoulder surgery. If he can find his health, the bat will be dangerous at altitude.
RyMac will play 3B. Desmond needs to stay in the outfield platooning. Let’s just throw things against the wall and see what sticks, per usual. My bad I was suppose to start this post with The Owners need to sell the team, and fire the GM. I’m exhausted, booze will be the real MVP for this season.
forgot all about this guy