In the high-stakes shuffle of Major League Baseball rosters right after the World Series, two Colorado Rockies players have taken a dramatic step toward fresh beginnings—electing free agency! This move not only shakes up their own careers but also sets the stage for some intense waiver wire drama across the league. Stick around to see how this could ripple through Colorado's squad and beyond. But here's where it gets controversial: is this a savvy strategic play by the Rockies, or are they missing out on untapped potential? Let's dive into the details and unpack what this all means for baseball fans and the players involved.
The Rockies have officially removed infielder Aaron Schunk and left-handed reliever Lucas Gilbreath from their 40-man roster through outright assignments, as reported by the MLB.com transaction tracker (https://www.mlb.com/rockies/roster/transactions). Both veterans in this process—having been outrighted in the past—chose to exercise their option to become free agents, meaning they can now shop their talents to other teams without being tied to Colorado. For beginners in baseball lingo, 'electing free agency' simply means these players rejected the outright assignment, which would have sent them to the minors, and instead opted for the freedom to sign with any club that offers a contract. It's a pivotal decision that could lead to new chapters in their professional lives.
As soon as the World Series wraps up, expect a flurry of activity on the waiver wire. Teams will be scrambling to activate players from the injured list and trim their rosters back to the standard 40-man limit. The Rockies are already ahead of the curve, thanks to key players like Germán Márquez (https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/marquge01.shtml?utmmedium=linker&utmsource=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utmcampaign=2025-10-31br), Thairo Estrada (https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/e/estrath01.shtml?utmmedium=linker&utmsource=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utmcampaign=2025-10-31br), Kyle Farmer (https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/farmeky01.shtml?utmmedium=linker&utmsource=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utmcampaign=2025-10-31br), and Orlando Arcia (https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/arciaor01.shtml?utmmedium=linker&utmsource=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utmcampaign=2025-10-31br) heading into free agency. All they'll need to do is bring back Kris Bryant (https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bryankr01.shtml?utmmedium=linker&utmsource=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utmcampaign=2025-10-31br) and Jeff Criswell (https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/criswje01.shtml?utmmedium=linker&utmsource=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utmcampaign=2025-10-31br) from the injured list to meet those numbers.
The Rockies attempted to quietly pass reliever Dugan Darnell (https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/darnedu01.shtml?utmmedium=linker&utmsource=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utmcampaign=2025-10-31br) through waivers earlier today, but the Pittsburgh Pirates stepped in to claim him (https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/pirates-claim-dugan-darnell.html). By letting Schunk and Gilbreath go, Colorado has now reduced their roster to just 37 players. And this is the part most people miss: With a new general manager potentially on the horizon, there might be even more roster adjustments coming, giving the Rockies top priority on the waiver wire to reshape the latter part of their lineup next week.
For Schunk and Gilbreath, this marks the chance to join their second MLB organizations. Colorado selected Schunk in the second round of the 2019 draft, hailing from the University of Georgia. He's enjoyed short stints in the majors over the last two seasons, where he's struck out 41 times in 131 plate appearances, hitting .222/.246/.302 across 55 games. As a right-handed hitter, he carries a .291/.348/.468 slash line from parts of three seasons at Triple-A Albuquerque. Now, that might sound decent at first glance, but when you factor in how hitter-friendly that park is, it's actually below average—and this is where opinions might clash. At 28, Schunk is a solid defensive third baseman with an impressive arm, yet his batting hasn't shown much reliability. Interestingly, he was a two-way player in college, throwing mid-90s fastballs at Georgia, though he hasn't pitched professionally. Speculatively, could another team tempt him back to the mound? Some fans argue this could unlock hidden potential, while others say it's a risky gamble that might distract from his primary skills as a position player.
Gilbreath, who'll turn 30 in March, was picked in the seventh round back in 2017. He shone as a middle reliever and setup man during productive years in 2021 and 2022. However, a Tommy John surgery during Spring Training of 2023 derailed him, and his recovery has been challenging. He managed just three MLB appearances late in 2023 and a single outing this season, where he struck out two batters but allowed a home run to Alexander Canario (https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/canaral01.shtml?utmmedium=linker&utmsource=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utmcampaign=2025-10-31br) in a mop-up role in Pittsburgh on August 22. After that game, Colorado sent him back to Albuquerque, where he struggled with a 7.59 ERA, weak strikeout numbers, and control issues over 42 2/3 innings. Before the surgery, his fastball was clocking 93-94 MPH with an effective 81-82 MPH slider. Post-injury, the fastball dipped to 92 in 2024 and even further to 89-90 this year, while his breaking ball lost about three miles per hour. This decline raises questions: Is Gilbreath's comeback a lost cause, or could innovative rehab or coaching revive his arsenal? It's a controversial topic in baseball circles—some believe teams should invest more in post-Tommy John recoveries, while others argue it's time to move on to younger arms.
What do you think? Should the Rockies have held onto Schunk for a potential pitching experiment, or was letting him go the right call? And is Gilbreath's injury a deal-breaker for future teams, or could he bounce back stronger? Share your thoughts in the comments below—we'd love to hear if you agree, disagree, or have a different take on this roster shakeup!
