Jurickson Profar Has "Real Interest" From Suitor In The NL West

It's one of the more puzzling cases in free agency this offseason. The last notable name still left twisting in the free agency winds is Jurickson Profar. After a productive season with the San Diego Padres in 2022, the left-fielder still doesn't have a job after declining his $7.5M option. 

But that may be about to change, as a report out of Denver has the Colorado Rockies now as a serious suitor—if Profar keeps his financial demands in check.

With #Rockies outfield banged up, there is real interest in free-agent OF Jurickson Profar. And they have a chance to land him if the money is right.

— Patrick Saunders (@psaundersdp) March 10, 2023

Rockies beat writer Patrick Saunders reports that with outfielders Randal Grichuk out after sports hernia surgery, and Sean Bouchard facing a potential season-ending surgery for a biceps rupture, "there is real interest in free-agent OF Jurickson Profar. And they have a chance to land him if the money is right."

But that's the rub. One report had Profar asking for $10M a season at one point during the winter. Despite his decent season last year with the Friars, and the Rockies' current depth problem in the outfield, it's very doubtful he'll come close to that number at this point in free agency. The Rockies are already at a franchise-record payroll ($163M). 

Profar was once one of the top prospects in the game, as a shortstop, over a decade ago. He's now settled into a left-field role, as a slightly less than average major league bat. He has a career OPS+ of 94, with minimal power and not a lot of speed. But he did post an above-average OPS+ of 111 last season with San Diego.

We'll see if the Rockies and Profar can agree on terms to get a deal done, and keep him in the NL West.

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