González inks Minors deal with Rockies

DENVER -- The Rockies retained right-handed pitcher Chi Chi González on a Minor League contract with an invitation to 2021 Spring Training, MLB.com has learned. The club has not announced the signing.

González, 28, was non-tendered last week, after going 0-2 with a 6.86 ERA, 10 walks and 16 strikeouts over 19 2/3 frames in six games (four starts) during a 2020 season that also saw him miss three weeks in August because of right biceps tendinitis. The non-tendering allowed the Rockies to avoid an arbitration-inflated Major League salary for González, who is 2-8 with a 5.66 ERA in 20 games (16 starts) in two seasons with Colorado.

The Rockies originally signed González before the 2019 season. A first-round pick of the Rangers in 2013 out of Oral Roberts University, González went 4-8 with a 4.54 ERA for Texas in '15-16 before an elbow injury kept him out of the Majors for two seasons.

With the Rockies, González split ’19 between the Majors and at Triple-A Albuquerque, going 2-0 with 1.65 ERA in five September starts with Colorado.

González figures to add rotation and bullpen depth, plus his remaining Minor League option gives the Rockies roster flexibility.