Colorado Rockies Release Veteran Pitcher Austin Gomber
Well, the Austin Gomber era in Colorado is officially over. The Rockies released the left-handed pitcher on Friday, closing the book on one of the main returns from the infamous Nolan Arenado trade. To say things didn’t pan out would be an understatement. It’s like ordering a steak and getting served a shoe that’s been left out in the rain.
Gomber was supposed to be a cornerstone piece when the Rockies shipped their Gold Glove, superstar third baseman to the St. Louis Cardinals back in 2021. This was a deal that still makes fans in Denver collectively groan. Instead, his time in the purple pinstripes has been, to put it mildly, a rollercoaster that mostly went downhill.
Gomber’s Tough Season
This season was particularly brutal for Gomber. He trudged through 12 starts without a single win, posting a 0-7 record and an ERA of 7.49 that looks more like a decent credit score than a pitcher’s stat line. You have to go all the way back to September 5, 2024, to find his last victory. That’s nearly a calendar year of winless outings. Ouch.
When you are the guy who came over in a trade for a franchise icon, the leash is already short. When you perform like that, the leash snaps. The Rockies, languishing in last place, finally decided they had seen enough and pulled the plug.
The Arenado Trade Revisited
Let’s be honest, this move just pours more salt in the wound of the Arenado deal. The Rockies didn’t just trade their best player; they also threw in a truckload of cash to convince the Cardinals to take him. In return, they got Gomber and four other prospects. Gomber’s final stats with the Rockies, a 28-44 record and a 5.31 ERA over 125 appearances, are hardly the stuff of legends. It is the kind of return that gets a general manager’s phone privileges revoked.
While the Rockies are moving on from Gomber, they’re also shaking up the roster. Lefty Lucas Gilbreath and righty Angel Chivilli are getting called up from Triple-A Albuquerque. Meanwhile, right-hander Dugan Darnell heads to the 15-day injured list with a hip issue. For Gomber, it is the end of a tough chapter. For the Rockies and their fans, it’s just another painful reminder of a trade that will haunt the franchise for years to come.
