Rockies starter set to undergo Tommy John surgery

Colorado Rockies starter Antonio Senzatela will undergo Tommy John surgery, manager Bud Black told reporters (including Patrick Lyons of DNVR Sports). The righty is already on the 60-day injured list, but recently suffered a setback during his attempt to rehab from the elbow sprain that sent him to the IL two months ago.

It’s another dismal development for a Colorado pitching staff that has had a disastrous year. Opening Day starter Germán Márquez underwent a Tommy John procedure of his own in May. Kyle Freeland had been healthy and effective for much of the first half, but he suffered an injury to his non-throwing shoulder during his final start before the All-Star Break.

A healthy Senzatela would quite likely be Colorado’s No. 3 starter behind Márquez and Freeland. The Rox are now without all three members of that group. Márquez’s time in the organization could be nearing its end completely. Colorado is sure to buy out a club option on the pitcher valued at $16M, although it would not surprise if they subsequently attempted to bring him back on a cheaper multi-year deal.

Senzatela will be on the roster next season, but he’s now slated to miss most or all of the year. The typical rehab for a Tommy John surgery ranges from 14-16 months. It’s possible he makes it back toward the tail end of the 2024 campaign if his recovery goes well.

The Venezuelan-born righty had been a decent innings-eater for Colorado early in his career. He’s started 20-plus games in three separate seasons and took the ball all 12 times through the rotation during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign. Between 2020-21, he pitched to a 4.11 ERA across 230 innings. That’s solid production for a pitcher spending half his games in the league’s most hitter-friendly environment.

Near the end of the 2021 campaign, Colorado signed Senzatela to a five-year extension that guaranteed him $50.5M. The contract bought out his final two arbitration seasons, three would-be free agent years and contained a club option for a fourth free-agent season (2027).

The first three years of that deal will now be defined by injury. Senzatela’s 2022 was cut short last August when he tore the ACL in his left knee. His rehab from the subsequent surgery carried into May. He made it back from the knee issue, but started only two games before the elbow injury.

Senzatela will be paid $12M annually for the next three seasons. Colorado’s 2027 option is valued at $14M and does not come with a buyout. Senzatela could have tacked on another $1M to his 2024-27 salaries had he been healthy enough to toss 200-plus innings in either of the past two seasons, though that hasn’t come to pass.

The Rox are now going to be even harder pressed in attacking their pitching staff next winter. They’re currently relying on a patchwork group comprising Austin Gomber, Connor Seabold and Chase Anderson. The club just added veteran righty Chris Flexen on a non-roster pact, while the likes of Noah Davis and Peter Lambert are possible depth options.

Only Gomber, who has righted the ship after a horrid first month, looks likely to be in next year’s season-opening rotation. Freeland should be the staff ace, but Colorado could have to acquire three or four starting pitching options over the coming months. General manager Bill Schmidt acknowledged earlier this week the Rockies would prioritize young pitching in potential deadline trades, though none of the veterans whom Colorado appears to be shopping are likely to return a prospect of especially high regard.