Left-hander Chris Rusin has agreed to a minor league contract with the Rockies, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic tweets.
This will be the second stint in the Colorado organization for the 34-year-old Rusin, who appeared in the majors with the Rockies in each season from 2015-19. During his best two-year stretch with the team, 2016-17, Rusin ate up 169 1/3 innings and recorded a stingy 3.19 ERA with a quality 6.1 percent walk rate and a similarly impressive 58.5 percent groundball mark.
Unfortunately, Rusin’s career has fallen off track since his halcyon days with the Rockies. He struggled to a 6.09 ERA over 54 1/3 frames in 2018 and then dealt with back problems in 2019, when he threw only one inning. Rusin latched on with the Braves last year, though he totaled just 3 1/3 innings and yielded three runs before they released him in September.
Also a former Cub, the 34-year-old Rusin owns a 4.65 ERA/4.10 SIERA with a 16.8 percent strikeout rate, a walk percentage of 7.6 and a 53.2 percent grounder rate in 468 2/3 big league innings.
Didn’t even know he left
Rusin? Seriously? The point of a rebuild is to build your next winning team, not your last winning team.
The Rockies will never rebuild!
Of course, that term indicates they at one point built something, which is debatable.
They’ve been in the World Series more recently than several teams. And in the playoffs more recently than many.
I know, I was being somewhat hyperbolic. Their approach is different from most other teams, and ownership doesn’t seem to realize the team is bad and heading downhill in a really tough division.
Is it possible to say Colorado Rockies without laughing? Because it isn’t for me.
Until they rebuild the farm system, they need a few guys like Rusin and Chacin to eat innings in AAA and/or the bigs if required by injuries.
Rebuild?! The Monfort’s are not interested in rebuilding the team. They sell tickets to people who want a place to party and socialize with a baseball game in the background, BOYCOTT COORS FIELD.
Maybe this guys the second coming of Jamie Moyer……………
It’s crazy to think that 49 year old Jamie Moyer pitched for the Rockies his last year in 2012? Somewhere around then I think. It pays to be a left handed pitcher in the MLB. You definitely get more chances and opportunities if you are a southpaw.
While it’s fun to make fun of Nova and Rusin, the Rockies need some guys who can just eat innings especially this year. If these signings were actually blocking young players development, that would be one thing but it’s not.
Exactly. They don’t have a farm system with players good enough to make the jump. I have been an avid Rockies fan since “93 but the last couple of years beginning with letting DJ LeMahieu leave and that started the Arenado frustration and departure. I have nothing against the players, but Monfort and Bridich will not get a dime of our money.
I read that as Rockies to sign Chris Russo.
This guy was no-bull the best relief pitcher in baseball in 2017, or one of the half dozen best. Astonishingly good, considering where he was pitching.
Relief pitchers … ya just never know.
If you have pitched in MLB games in your life and still have both arms attached, call the Colorado Rockies GM. Need some arms to get through this season.
I wanted to clown Lucroy but comments closed.
Dude got it done in spring training and his 5 games with WAS (.357 BA), and still can’t stick with a team. Gotta feel for the guy
Bryan Shaw was a hot mess in COL and SEA. Now that he’s returned to CLE he’s back to his old self, so anything is possible I guess.
why??