Cuddyer Signing Deepens Colorado Lineup

Colorado has been working all offseason to get themselves a strong outfield bat to team with Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez, and found just that in slugger Michael Cuddyer.

Cuddyer, 32, signed a three-year deal worth roughly $30 million on Friday and will provide protection in the lineup along with a strong clubhouse presence. Cuddyer hit .284 last year with 20 homers in 584 plate appearances and immediately deepens the Rockies lineup. Colorado will now have the aforementioned trio to team with OF’s Seth Smith and Dexter Fowler, the ageless 1B Todd Helton and new catcher Ramon Hernandez, who they signed away from Cincinnati. Cuddyer’s addition will only improve an offense which finished eighth in the major leagues in runs scored (735), ninth in team batting average (.258) and seventh in team on base percentage (.329).

Minnesota replaced Cuddyer with OF Josh Willingham, who had a career year for a light hitting Oakland team. Willingham achieved career highs in homers (29) and RBI’s (98).