As Spring Training ramps up, the Colorado Rockies have added another veteran name to the bullpen, signing left-handed reliever Scott Alexander to a one-year deal. In a corresponding move, the Rockies have designated utility infielder Aaron Schunk for assignment.

The Rockies had spent the offseason touting a desire to add another experienced arm to the pen to help supplement a youthful core that emerged at the end of last season. Alexander, 35, fits the bill after a solid, albeit injury-shortened, year with the Oakland Athletics in 2024. He missed time due to a ribcage injury and tendinitis in his shoulder, but when healthy he logged 38 2/3 innings of 2.56 ERA ball. Averaging a sinker that comes in at 92 mph, Alexander sported a below-league average 19.4 K% alongside a higher-than-average 9.4 BB%, however, he was able to offset the less-than-ideal numbers with a staggering 60% ground ball rate.

A sixth-round pick by the Kansas City Royals in 2010, Alexander has spent 10 years in the big leagues logging 309 1/3 major league innings with the Royals, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, and Athletics with a combined 3.20 ERA, 18% strikeout rate, 8.7% walk rate and a impressive 67.4% ground-ball rate. That ability to get ground balls is certainly attractive to the Rockies who have favored sinker-ball pitchers that can get ground outs. The philosophy is that a pitcher who can get grounders will be much more successful at Coors Field where the team can also utilize a stellar defensive infield. Alexander will get to use the advantage of a Gold Glove finalist at third base, a Gold Glove winner at shortstop, one of the top second basemans defensively, and a high potential glove at first base. Not to mention an outfield that features Nolan Jones and two-time Gold Glove winner in center field, Brenton Doyle.

General manager Bill Schmidt expressed a desire for the Rockies to have two lefties in the bullpen. The addition of Alexander secures one spot leaving the other open slot up for a battle between Luis Peralta, Evan Justice, and Lucas Gilbreath who is trying to return from injury.

What role Alexander will play is still unknown as he doesn’t have much experience as a closer, with just 10 saves in his career, but he has proven capable late in games recording 62 holds in his career. His expertise should give the Rockies a reliable arm late in games to bridge the gap to the closer, whoever that ends up being. Additionally, should he perform well the Rockies could follow a pattern they’ve set over the last few seasons of flipping him for prospects in a trade.

Alexander’s arrival means that 27-year-old Schunk has been dropped from the roster. Schunk made his debut in 2024 in a limited utility role appearing in 39 games with the Rockies but batted only .234/.265/.330 in 98 trips to the plate. He started to show signs of life near the end of the season but with the utility additions of Kyle Farmer and Thairo Estrada, Schunk became expendable. He slashed .291/.346/.464 in 807 turns at the plate in Triple-A over the past two seasons and has earned positive marks defensively, mostly at third base but he can also play second and short.