Outfielder Jurickson Profar has agreed a one-year deal with the Colorado Rockies worth at least $7.75 million. according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Profar’s deal will include incentives tied to his playing time.
Profar, 30, has spent the last three seasons with another National League West team. In more than 1,200 plate appearances with the San Diego Padres, he hit .244/.333/.375 (103 OPS+) and amassed 4.4 wins over backup (including 3.1 last season).
Profar was the last uncommitted member of CBS Sports’ free-agent Top 50. Here’s what we wrote about his entry into the offseason:
This isn’t the career evaluator that was expected of Profar back when they predicted he would become an All-Star shortstop, but it’s a respectable way of making a living nonetheless. His racquet still doesn’t fit the corner-outfield archetype: he cares more about walks and singles than home runs, and his ball-tracking data is more like Jake Cronenworth’s than Kyle Schwarber’s. However, what Profar does has value, and fate may have brought him to the open market at the perfect time. It’s at least possible that the Cleveland Guardians’ success with a roster of similar hitters could inspire imitators in the league to overindex contact and walks to the extent that Profar benefits with a little extra coin than he would otherwise have netted.
Profar joins a Rockies team that was bogged down by injuries this spring. One outfielder, Randal Grichuk, was ruled out for the opening day after undergoing sports hernia surgery. Another, Sean Bouchard, is expected to miss most if not all of the season following bicep surgery. The Rockies will also start the year without second baseman Brendan Rodgers after suffering a shoulder injury.
Profar is the second notable veteran to join the Rockies this month. They recently signed infielder Mike Moustakas to a minor league deal.