Colorado Rockies closer Greg Holland will turn down his $15 million player option and hit the free-agent market, Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports reported Thursday.
Holland, who signed with the Rockies after missing all of 2016 while recovering from Tommy John, was named an All-Star in his first season in Colorado. He had a stellar first half of 2017 — allowing only six earned runs in 33 1/3 innings — but fell off in the second half, posting a 6.32 ERA.
He finished the year with a 3.61 ERA and struck out 70 batters in 57 1/3 innings pitched.
Holland will likely receive a lucrative multiyear deal. In December, the Giants and Colorado native Mark Melancon agreed to a four-year deal worth $62 million. That same month, the Yankees handed Aroldis Chapman an $86 million deal across five seasons.
"They love Holland in Denver, and he is thought to like it there very much," Heyman wrote.
That might be true, but it remains to be seen if the mutual attraction means a deal gets done.
Holland played an instrumental role in a bounce-back year for the Rockies bullpen. If he does indeed opt out, he'll be one of three Rockies relievers to hit the open market. Lefty Jake McGee and sidearmer Pat Neshek are both unrestricted free agents.
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