Colorado Rockies Sign Former Mariners, Mets RHP Chris Flexen to Minor League Deal
For the second time in 10 days, right-handed pitcher Chris Flexen is on the move.
The 29-year-old has agreed to sign a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies. MLB.com's Thomas Harding was first to report the news Thursday morning.
Flexen started the 2023 season with the Seattle Mariners, going 0-4 with a 7.71 ERA across 17 appearances and four starts. The Mariners designated Flexen for assignment on June 27, then traded him and reliever Trevor Gott to the New York Mets for southpaw Zach Muckenhirn on July 3.
The Mets immediately designated Flexen for assignment and released him on July 6.
Flexen was a Mets draft pick in 2012, and he made it to the majors as a part-time starter in 2017. From 2017 to 2019, Flexen pitched in 27 games for New York, starting 11, while putting up an 8.07 ERA, 2.132 WHIP and 0.91 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
After getting designated for assignment by the Mets, Flexen signed a one-year deal with the Doosan Bears of the Korean Baseball Organization. Flexen went 8-4 in 21 starts in 2020, posting a 3.01 ERA, a 1.089 WHIP, 10.2 strikeouts per nine innings and a 4.40 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Flexen spun that resurgent KBO campaign into a two-year, $4.75 million contract with the Mariners.
In 2021, Flexen went 14-6 with a 3.61 ERA, drawing the start in all 31 of his outings. Flexen went 8-9 in 2022, but still held a 3.73 ERA by the end of the year. Of his 33 appearances that year, 22 were starts and 11 were games finished.
The Rockies are currently down at least three starting pitchers, starting with German Marquez, who underwent Tommy John surgery in early May. Ryan Feltner went on the 60-Day Injured List with a fractured skull and concussion a few weeks later, then Antonio Senzatela joined him on the IL with a UCL sprain in June.
Veteran Kyle Freeland had the most secure spot in the rotation, despite a 4.72 ERA and 4-10 record in his 19 starts, but he could soon wind up on the injured list himself after hurting his non-throwing shoulder on July 9.
The starters who are left have not fared particularly well either so far this season.
Austin Gomber, Connor Seabold and Chase Anderson have combined for 40 starts, and they boast a 10-17 record and 6.87 ERA in those starts. Jose Urena was released in April after posting a 9.82 ERA and 0-4 record in five starts, while Dinelson Lamet got let go in June after he put up a 10.80 ERA and 0-3 record in his four starts.
Noah Davis and Karl Kauffmann are still on the 40-man roster, but they are a combined 0-5 with a 9.21 ERA in their seven starts at the major league level.
As a result, Flexen immediately becomes a possible call-up option for Colorado, which opens the second half of its season Friday at home against the New York Yankees. First pitch of that game is scheduled for 8:40 p.m. ET.
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