Iglesias, eager to take the place of Story in Rockies

SCOTTSDALE, Arizona, USA (AP) The Rockies needed to fill a gap in the shortstop. And they think they have found a good solution with José Iglesias.

The Cuban signed a one-year, five-million dollar contract to replace Trevor Story. The addition would allow the Rockies to improve defensively in the middle of the frame.

“He brings a good experience, being a shortstop with a real major league performance,” commented Colorado manager Bud Black. “It's great on the defensive. And there have been times when he's been very productive with the bat. At times, in the offensive, it was good.”

Story is a free agent and hasn't signed with a club yet.

Iglesias, 32, hit for .271 with 27 doubles, nine home runs and 48 RBIs in 2021. He played 114 games with the Los Angeles Angels, before joining Boston in September.

Iglesias made 16 mistakes, the most in his career, with the Angels. However, the Rockies consider this to be an anomaly in a player who incurred more than 10 blunders in just one of his seven previous seasons.

“In the end, you have to know who you are, what you are good at and what you are not,” Iglesias commented. “The only thing you can control is your level of effort. For me, that level is going to be high every night.”

Iglesias led all shortstops in the American League in fielding percentage with Detroit in 2016 and 17.

“We are right there, among the leaders of the league, if not in the first place,” said Black.

Venezuelan Germán Márquez, the outstanding starter of the Rockies, was second in the National League, with a ground hit ratio of 1. 75:1.

“So we need defense,” Black said. “We've had that over the years here, which has been a big part of our success when we've had good seasons. We especially had good defence in the infield. I think we're going to be fine there too, with him and 'Mac'”, Ryan McMahon.

“Mac was amazing last year,” he said.

Newcomer Kris Bryant, who this week agreed to a seven-year, $182 million free agent agreement, would be the regular left fielder, Black said Thursday.

Bryant could also spend time in first or third, Black added. This would provide flexibility. McMahon has also played in the middle.

Iglesias averages only 26 tickets per season. But since 2015, his average number of strikeouts is one for every 8.45 plate appearances. This is the lowest ratio of figures of its kind in the largest.

“Making contact with the ball must be an important part for everyone, because when you put the ball into play, good things can happen,” said the Cuban. “You may not necessarily have the results you want, but someone may make a mistake and you can embed yourself for your partner to come.”