Rockies Shifting Starter Antonio Senzatela to Bullpen

It has been a career-worst season for veteran Colorado Rockies starter, RHP Antonio Senzatela. He is last in Major League Baseball among qualified starters in losses (15) and hits allowed (171). He is third to last among qualified starters with 89 earned runs allowed. Senzatela’s 7.42 ERA is second-worst behind only former teammate Austin Gomber’s 7.49 ERA, among starting pitchers who have started at least ten games. It was time to explore a change for Senzatela as the 38-96 Rockies’ season heads into the final month.

Rockies Shifting Starter Antonio Senzatela to Bullpen

At 30 years old, Senzatela is now one of the few veterans left on the Rockies’ roster. Gomber was released following yet another poor start in an awful season for the left-hander. The next likeliest candidate to be released would be Senzatela. But Gomber was an unrestricted free agent at season’s end, making it easier for the Rockies to release him. Senzatela would be much more expensive to release.

The veteran starting pitcher is due $12 million guaranteed next season and has a club option of $14 million in 2027. So, since the Rockies are essentially stuck with Senzatela, the team is moving him back to the bullpen. Senzatela has not come out of the bullpen since 2018. Between 2017-18, Senzatela made 26 relief appearances. In those 26 games, Senzatela has recorded a 4.00 ERA, going 2-1 with 39 hits and two home runs allowed in 45 innings pitched.

Nothing earth-shattering, but enough of a sample size to show that Senzatela has been serviceable out of the bullpen in his career. Serviceable enough, at least, for the Rockies to try before they think about eating any remaining money on Senzatela’s contract if they release him in the offseason.

Short Leash for Senzatela

Rockies’ GM Bill Schmidt did not mince words when announcing the move of Senzatela to the bullpen to Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post and others.

“The bottom line is that he was not helping the club. He was hurting the club, especially early in the game,” the GM said. “Same thing with (Austin Gomber). They were putting the team in a hole early, and they were putting our young relievers in a hole, too.”

If Senzatela struggles early on out of the bullpen, it would not be surprising to see the Rockies release the veteran this offseason, regardless of the remaining money owed to him. If he finds success, the Rockies have not ruled out the possibility of Senzatela as a starting pitcher again next season, per Rockies’ pitching coach Darryl Scott. But Senzatela will have to fix his first-inning woes if he ever wants to start again in the MLB.

In Senzatela’s starts, the Rockies were consistently behind right away, as Schmidt referenced. He posted an 11.51 ERA  in 22 2/3 IP this season during the first inning. He allowed opposing batters to hit .443/.492/.594 with an unbelievable 1.086 OPS. No start exemplified these struggles more than when the Pittsburgh Pirates scored eight earned runs in just 2/3 of an inning against Senzatela on August 1. Senzatela’s ERA was not pretty elsewhere either. The third inning is the only inning for Senzatela in which he posted an ERA below 3.00. But the first inning and fifth inning were consistently the most egregious. Senzatela had a double-digit ERA in both innings with a decent sample size for both. But the Rockies are hoping that with Senzatela not feeling the pressure of starting a game out strong, he can be more successful in shorter outings.

Senzatela Joining Promising Rockies Bullpen

Senzatela needs the Rockies’ bullpen far more than the Rockies’ bullpen needs Senzatela. He joins a bullpen that has shown plenty of promise this season, with several young arms that possess high velocity and quality stuff. So, it would not be surprising if the Rockies utilize Senzatela as a long reliever. He is stretched out this season and could easily pitch a couple of innings for the club in any given outing.

It would mirror what the Rockies tried with long-time right-handed starter Jhoulys Chacín a couple of seasons ago. In 2021-22, the Rockies deployed Chacín out of the bullpen 81 times. Chacín was consistently used in low-leverage or long relief outings. In what seemed like a last gasp effort for Chacín in the final chapter of his career, the move worked out well for Colorado in 2021. In 64 1/3 IP, Chacín posted a 4.34 ERA with a K: BB ratio of 47:28. From July on, Chacín was one of the most reliable relievers in the Rockies’ bullpen. In 34 innings from July to September, Chacín allowed at least one earned run in just six of the 29 outings.

He went 2-1 during that stretch with 15 holds. His 18 holds during the entire season led the Rockies. In 2022, Chacín’s ERA ballooned to 7.61 in 47 1/3 IP. He was not nearly as effective, recording only two holds. But if Senzatela can have similar success to Chacín’s 2021 season out of the bullpen, it will be a win for the Rockies. Turning one of their worst starters this season into a serviceable reliever. That remains to be seen, considering Senzatela’s extensive struggles this season. But at the very least, Senzatela will bring a veteran presence to a very young bullpen.