The Colorado Rockies are still hanging around in the NL playoff race just past the halfway point of the 2020 season, which led them to make a move on Sunday for Orioles relief pitcher Mychal Givens.
Colorado, which heads into the new week with a 17-17 record and right on the edge of playoff qualification, wanted to upgrade its bullpen, which holds the third-worst ERA in the entire league at 5.81.
The Rockies are getting a version of Givens that looks much like the one that became one of the best setup men in the Major Leagues during his first few seasons. After having trouble as the team’s closer last season, Givens has excelled back in his old role this year with a 1.38 ERA and a 38% strikeout rate.
Colorado, which is missing important players like Scott Oberg and Wade Davis in its ‘pen this season, will add an important veteran arm to go along with a cast of plenty of inexperienced pitchers in its bullpen as the team looks to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2007.
Baltimore, in turn, has acquired Rockies prospects Tyler Nevin and Terrin Vavra as well as a player to be named later in exchange for their former star reliever.
