Trevor Bauer hasn’t thrown a pitch in the major leagues since 2021. He’s been around since then, bouncing from Mexico to Japan to the Atlantic League with the Long Island Ducks. He’s even said he’d pitch for free just to get another shot in MLB. Any team. Including the Colorado Rockies.
And after ClutchPoints posted on Instagram about how brutal the Rockies’ pitching has been in 2026, Bauer slid into the comments with three words: “Happy to help.”
It’s not hard to see why he’d think he could make a difference. The Rockies have a 5.44 ERA this season. That’s not just the worst in baseball. It’s nearly a quarter of a run worse than the 29th-ranked Athletics. Colorado’s pitchers have given up 520 earned runs, 26 more than Oakland. They’ve managed one shutout all year, tied for second-worst in the majors ahead of only the Pirates. Their 16 quality starts are dead last, one behind the Padres.
The rotation is a disaster
Michael Lorenzen has made 20 starts. He’s 3-9 with a 6.22 ERA and a 1.77 WHIP. Kyle Freeland hasn’t been much better in 17 outings, sitting at 2-2 with a 7.36 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. Those two guys have taken the ball more than anyone else on the staff, and neither has been anywhere close to reliable.
Bauer, for context, hasn’t posted an ERA above 4.55 since becoming a full-time big league starter in 2014. That was his worst season. His career ERA is 3.81. He’s got a Cy Young award on his shelf from 2020. So yeah, the guy has a point.
Of course, there’s a reason Bauer isn’t in the majors. He hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since serving a 194-game suspension under MLB’s domestic violence policy, which was later reduced to 144 games. The Dodgers released him in 2023. No team has signed him since, even after he cleared waivers and became a free agent. He’s been vocal about wanting another chance, and he’s been willing to take the league minimum or less to get it.
Would the Rockies actually consider it?
The Rockies are 39-59, last in the NL West and worst record in the National League. They head home after the All-Star break to host the Reds. At this point, what do they have to lose? Their rotation is a mess. Their season is effectively over. Bauer’s talent isn’t the question — it’s whether any front office wants to deal with the baggage.
Bauer made it clear he’s available. The Rockies haven’t said a word. But the comment is out there now, and it’s not hard to imagine him watching Colorado’s pitching stats and thinking he could help. Because honestly, it’d be hard to hurt them more than they’re already hurting themselves.
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