Rox re-sign Blach to Minor League deal (source)

DENVER -- The Rockies have re-signed left-hander Ty Blach to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training, a club source told MLB.com.

The 33-year-old Denver native spent the last two seasons with Colorado, posting a 5.66 ERA over 44 appearances (14 starts). He made his Major League debut back in 2016 with the Giants and pitched for them for until '19, when he was designated for assignment and claimed off waivers by the Orioles.

Blach struggled in five appearances (26 earned runs across 20 2/3 innings) before being released by Baltimore, only to be re-signed by the Orioles the following year. But an elbow injury necessitated Tommy John surgery, causing him to miss the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign. He returned to the mound in '21, making 16 Minor League appearances.

In March 2022, Blach, born in Denver, signed with his hometown club. Next spring, he'll compete for a spot on the Rockies' roster as either a starter at the back end of the rotation or a long reliever, a role in which he often served from 2022-23.

With veteran starters Germán Márquez and Antonio Senzatela likely out for at least the first half of next season as they recover from Tommy John surgery, the Rockies presumably have two rotation spots up for grabs behind Kyle Freeland, Austin Gomber and recently-acquired right-hander Cal Quantrill.

Earlier this month, the Rockies also re-signed right-handed reliever Matt Koch to a Minor League deal with an invitation to Spring Training. In November, Colorado signed right-hander Geoff Hartlieb, who has appeared in 59 games over four seasons with the Pirates, Mets and Marlins.

Given their depleted pitching ranks last season, Colorado likely isn't done trying to add depth as a young position-player group continues to find its bearings at the Major League level.