Colorado Rockies Reportedly Place Veteran Reliever Justin Lawrence on Waivers

Justin Lawrence followed up his breakout 2023 campaign with a lackluster 2024 season, pushing the Colorado Rockies to move off of the relief pitcher.

Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Justin Lawrence (61) delivers a pitch in the ninth inning against the San Diego Padres at Coors Field. | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

The Colorado Rockies have placed relief pitcher Justin Lawrence on irrevocable waivers, the New York Post's Jon Heyman reported Saturday.

Lawrence can continue to pitch for the Rockies while he sits on the waiver wire. If another team claims Lawrence in the next 48 hours, they will be on the hook for his $965K salary in 2025.

If Lawrence goes unclaimed, the 30-year-old right-hander will return to Colorado.

Reports surfaced in November that the Rockies were open to trading Lawrence, so the front office trying to move on from him now doesn't come out of nowhere. He also opened spring training with a 9.00 ERA, 2.333 WHIP and 6.0 strikeouts per nine innings through three appearances.

Rockies place Justin Lawrence on waivers. Lawrence was closer part of 2023, saving 11 games.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 1, 2025

The righty went 4-4 with a 6.49 ERA, 1.777 WHIP, 6.8 strikeouts per nine innings, two saves and a -1.7 WAR across 56 games in 2024, a far cry from his breakout 2023 campaign. That year, Lawrence went 4-7 with a 3.72 ERA, 1.347 WHIP, 9.4 strikeouts per nine innings, 11 saves and a 1.4 WAR in 69 appearances.

For his career, Lawrence boasts a 6.96 ERA at Coors Field and a 3.86 ERA everywhere else. Those home-road splits, plus Lawrence's dependable slider and four years of team control, could draw the attention of teams looking to bolster their bullpen for less than $1 million.

Colorado relievers had the worst ERA across all of MLB in 2024 at 5.41. They also ranked dead-last with a 1.55 WHIP.

Without Lawrence, the Rockies will likely give more looks to younger bullpen options such as Seth Halvorsen, Luis Peralta, Victor Vodnik and Angel Chivilli, who posted a combined 2.4 WAR last season. Returning veterans Jake Bird and Tyler Kinley, plus free agent addition Scott Alexander, are also on the roster.

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