Rockies DFA Reynolds, option Senzatela
NEW YORK -- With their bullpen overworked, the Rockies made a series of roster moves before Sunday’s game against the Yankees, optioning right-hander Antonio Senzatela to Triple-A Albuquerque and designating first baseman Mark Reynolds for assignment while recalling right-hander Jeff Hoffman and selecting the contract of left-hander Sam Howard from Triple-A.
Hoffman and Howard will work out of the bullpen. In the midst of a six-game losing streak, Colorado was in need of some fresh arms after using four relivers during Saturday's 11-5 loss at Yankee Stadium.
Senzatela lasted just 1 1/3 innings in the defeat, allowing six runs on seven hits. He also made a throwing error in the five-run second inning that proved costly.
The heat could have played a role in Senzatela’s ineffective outing, as the game-time temperature was 94 degrees, but the right-hander didn’t make any excuses. The last time Senzatela turned in a quality start was June 23 against the Dodgers, when he allowed two runs in 6 1/3 innings.
“I had too many hitters in bad counts,” Senzatela said of his outing Saturday. “You try to make quality pitches, get out of the jams. I’m mostly frustrating myself, not being able to have a quality start.”
Hoffman, a starter by trade, is 1-3 with a 6.75 ERA in seven starts with the big league club this season. Howard last pitched with Colorado in 2018, making four relief appearances and striking out one in four innings.
“We needed some reinforcements. The pitching has been taxed over the last few weeks, especially the last couple of days,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “We felt as though two fresh arms would help us through the next few days.”
Reynolds, 35, signed a Minor League contract in January and made the Rockies' Major League roster out of Spring Training, two seasons after producing 30 homers and 97 RBIs for the team. But this season was a different story, as he hit just .170 with four home runs over 162 plate appearances.
Reynolds said he knew he could be taken off the roster because the Rockies needed quality pitching. Reynolds plans to go home to Virginia to be with his wife and three sons.
“I kind of read the writing on the wall,” Reynolds said. “If something pops up, we’ll talk about it. It’s going to be a family decision. I have three young boys at home. It’s going to be nice to spend some time with them. I’m going to take a step back and reassess what my options are.”