Newly signed Moniak already feeling 'at home' with Rockies

TAMPA -- Outfielder Mickey Moniak summed up the end of his time with the Angels as “the business side of baseball had other plans.” His arrival with the Rockies, to increase the team’s depth and ability to match up, had a little romance to it.

Moniak, 26, was awarded a $2 million salary from his arbitration case against the Angels over the winter. But he knew they could release him and void all but the first 45 days of the season, since the Angels made a similar move with utilityman J.D. Davis last year.

But Moniak’s move to the Rockies, for $1.25 million after the contract went official Thursday on the eve of the season opener against the Rays, had some romance to it.

It almost happened twice before, going back to 2016, when the Phillies made him the No. 1 overall pick out of La Costa Canyon High School in Carlsbad, Calif. The Rockies drafted pitcher Riley Pint (now in the Guardians' organization) fourth overall.

“If I wasn’t going to Philly, I was coming here -- that was what my agent was saying,” Moniak said. “Then in 2022, when I got traded over to the Angels, he was talking about me coming here because the Rockies were one of the teams showing interest. The fact that the Rockies organization has always shown interest in getting me over here makes me feel at home.”

The Rockies believe Moniak will enjoy his new home, and make it a more competitive castle than in recent years.

Colorado traded for middle infielder/outfielder Tyler Freeman from the Guardians for outfielder Nolan Jones on Saturday, and added Moniak while designating outfielder Sam Hilliard for assignment.

Freeman’s addition makes the roster more flexible, since he has starting experience in the infield and outfield, and has a Minor League option. Moniak, like Hilliard, can play all three outfield positions defensively. But he is a little more than four years younger and the Rockies believe there is greater upside.

Also, should Hilliard clear waivers, Colorado will send him to Triple-A Albuquerque in hopes that he can recapture his swing the way he did last season, when he earned a call-up and was a solid bench player offensively and defensively.

Beyond two-time Gold Glove winner Brenton Doyle in center field, the Rockies have offensive balance right-handed in Jordan Beck and Sam Bouchard and left-handed in Nick Martini and Moniak. They also can spell Doyle in center with Moniak or the right-handed-hitting Freeman -- who will share second base with Kyle Farmer with Thairo Estrada out for another three to seven weeks with a right wrist fracture. Farmer and Freeman play multiple infield positions.

“This is as versatile a team that we’ve had in a while,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “The outfielders are multi-positional players. Some left-right combinations, some speed and then you throw in Tyler Freeman, who can play the outfielder and in the infield.”

General manager Bill Schmidt said, “Our bench incrementally has gotten better. We're excited for the season to start.”

Moniak can make the move work by returning to his 2023 production, when he slashed .280/.307/.495 with 14 home runs, 21 doubles and two triples in 85 games. Last year, he hit another 14 homers and had 17 doubles and two triples, but dropped to .219/.266/.380 in 124 games.

If Colorado's left-right combinations are productive, Moniak can face far more righty pitchers (.710 career OPS) than lefty (.450 career OPS). Moniak can do his part by improving selectivity -- a challenge many Rockies have to meet to have the incremental improvements Schmidt discussed show up on the field.

“A lot of it is approach. Getting a good pitch to hit, trying to stay in the zone and not chasing hits, but chasing good, quality at-bats,” Moniak said. “I’ve always had the ability to put the bat on the ball. If the ball is in the strike zone, I’m pretty good. It’s just making sure the ball is in the zone.”