Opinion: Are Rockies rebuilding in signing Jose Quintana and Tomoyuki Sugano?

Jose Quintana (Arturo Pardavila III, Wikimedia Commons)

Even though the Colorado Rockies are rebuilding, they made two rather intriguing signings to their starting rotation this past week. They signed Tomoyuki Sugano of Kanagawa, Japan to a one-year contract worth $5.1 million and Jose Quintana of Arjona, Colombia to a one-year contract worth $6 million according to Rogers Sportsnet. 

These free agent signings are rather interesting because Quintana is 37 years old, and Sugano is 36 years old. It may seem peculiar that a franchise that is clearly rebuilding would decide to sign these pitchers. The lengths of the contracts are noteworthy here. They are one-year deals. So do not be surprised if new Rockies general manager Josh Byrnes trades Quintana and Sugano for prospects by the trade deadline.

Quintana is joining his ninth Major League Baseball team. He has previously been with the Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs, New York Mets, Los Angeles Angels, Milwaukee Brewers, Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants. This past season in Milwaukee, he went 11-7, with 89 strikeouts and an earned run average of 3.96. During 24 games, 131 2/3 innings pitched, Quintana gave up 120 hits, 58 earned runs, 18 home runs and 50 walks, to go along with a WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched) of 1.29. In 2016, Quintana was an American League All-Star with the White Sox.

Sugano was a rookie this past season with the Baltimore Orioles. He had a record of 10 wins and 10 losses with 106 strikeouts and an earned run average of 4.64. This free agent signing could be puzzling. That is because Sugano led the American League with 33 home runs allowed. and now he is going to the most hitter friendly ball park in the Major Leagues.