Paul DePodesta wasted no time in making his first trade as the President of Baseball Operations of the Colorado Rockies. On Tuesday, November 18, per the organization, the Rockies traded minor league outfielder Braiden Ward to the Boston Red Sox for left-handed reliever Brennan Bernardino. In addition to the trade, DePodesta made two moves involving players who saw time with the Rockies this season. Designating first baseman Michael Toglia and left-handed pitcher Ryan Rolison for assignment. Both players could remain in the Rockies organization if they clear waivers. But it is the latest development in what has been a devastating year for Toglia.
Rockies Make Flurry of Moves as DePodesta Era Begins
Rockies Acquire Brennan Bernardino from Red Sox
Bernardino was a heavily used reliever for the Red Sox, ranking 5th among the pitching staff in games played. The 33-year-old made his Major League debut in 2022 at age 30 with the Seattle Mariners, playing in two games. From 2023-25, Bernardino has been a dependable reliever for the Red Sox. In 153 1/3 innings pitched over those three seasons, Bernardino posted an impressive 2.1 WAR with a respectable 3.46 ERA. He also had an impressive 0.6 HR/9 and a K: BB ratio of 2.38.
Bernardino relies mainly on a sinker that averages 90.7 mph. He also utilizes a curve 26% of the time, which averages 79.2 mph. Followed by a change, cutter, and slider. He utilized his repertoire effectively this season out of the Red Sox bullpen. Per Statcast, Bernardino was in the upper half of the league in numerous categories:
- 5 Fastball run value: 73rd percentile
- 4 off speed run value: 82nd percentile
- 10 pitching run value: 77th percentile
- 87.6 avg exit velo: 87th percentile
- 35.8 hard hit percentage: 85th percentile
- 50.3 Ground ball percentage: 84th percentile
His ability to limit hard contact and effectively get ground balls will be particularly advantageous for Bernardino when pitching at Coors Field. The veteran reliever immediately becomes the oldest player on a very young Rockies team. Joining an intriguing bullpen that was the bright spot this season on a historically bad Rockies club. To get a solid reliever for a prospect heading for the Rule 5 draft is a nice start to the DePodesta era in Colorado.
Toglia’s Time With the Rockies Likely Over
Toglia had a brutal season in what was supposed to be a breakout year for the 27-year-old first baseman. He finished 2024 strong, collecting 25 home runs in just his second season in the Majors. Good for second on the Rockies, behind only shortstop Ezequiel Tovar (26). But Toglia experienced a power outage this season and was in the bottom one percent in Major League Baseball with a 39.2 K%.
He forced the Rockies’ hand to remove him from the lineup, experiencing several demotions to Triple-A Albuquerque. There was continually no improvement from Toglia in the strikeouts department. His last call-up was on September 9. In three games against the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, Toglia went 0-7 with six Ks. He was then promptly sent to Triple-A yet again on September 12, finishing with a .190 batting average and 11 home runs on the season.
It remained to be seen if the Rockies would do what they did with Nolan Jones last year. Allow him to play in Spring Training, and if there is no improvement, ship him off. But clearly, the new regime had seen enough and moved on from Toglia now. Again, Toglia could clear waivers and return to Triple-A. But he is behind Warming Bernabel and Blaine Crim at first. Additionally, considering his several demotions this season, there is little else he can prove to the Rockies at Triple-A, and he will likely look for a fresh start elsewhere if the opportunity arises. After all, Toglia struggled mightily to “get on base.”
Pitching Moves
It is a quiet end to former first-round pick Ryan Rolison’s career in Colorado. Rolison was drafted 22nd overall by the Rockies out of the University of Mississippi (Oxford, MS) in 2018. But the left-hander suffered significant setbacks in both 2022 and 2023 due to left shoulder injuries. He was finally healthy this season and played in 31 games for the Rockies. But Rolison struggled pitching at altitude. In 31 games, he posted a 7.02 ERA, allowing 11 home runs, and a K: BB ratio of just 25:20. The 28-year-old, like Toglia, could decide to return to Triple-A Albuquerque. But will likely want to try pitching away from altitude.
Of the three players selected to avoid the Rule 5 draft, two of them were LHP Welinton Herrera and RHP Gabriel Hughes. MLB.com ranks both pitchers in the top-19 of the Rockies’ farm system, with Herrera (19th) and Hughes (14th). Herrera is a reliever signed in the 2021 international signing period from the Dominican Republic. MLB.com grades Herrera’s fastball and slider as above average and average, respectively.
He was stellar in 15 games with the High-A Spokane Indians this season. Posting a 0.49 ERA with 10 saves in 15 games. Limiting opposing lineups to a .129 batting average and 0.76 WHIP. Herrera was then promoted to Double-A Hartford. In 37 games with the Yard Goats, he posted a 3.50 ERA with seven saves. While not quite as dominant with Hartford, Herrera has shown potential to be a quality reliever with the Rockies in the future as his development continues.
Gabriel Hughes Is a Player To Watch
Hughes was drafted by the Rockies out of Gonzaga University 10th overall in 2022. The 24-year-old reached Double-A in 2023 but suffered a serious elbow injury and required Tommy John surgery. Hughes relies on a fastball that averages 93 mph and has some sink to consistently force ground balls. He also utilizes a mid-80s slider and upper-80s changeup.
He played 14 games this season with Triple-A Albuquerque in the very hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. On the surface, his 5.11 ERA with Albuquerque isn’t pretty. But pitching stats can be somewhat taken with a grain of salt in the PCL. More importantly for Hughes is that he stayed consistently healthy and had some quality outings to end the season. With spots open in the Rockies’ rotation, Hughes is a player to watch if he has a solid spring.
The other player selected was outfielder Sterlin Thompson, 15th in the Rockies’ top 30. The 24-year-old was stellar offensively with Triple-A Albuquerque this season and made a strong case to be a September call-up. All in all, it’s an encouraging start for DePodesta, and perhaps a sign of things to come, as DePodesta recently expressed his willingness to improve the roster through trades in an interview with the Denver Post’s Patrick Saunders.
Main Photo Credits: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
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