Jacob Stallings, a nine-year veteran, signed with the Colorado Rockies on a one-year deal with a mutual option for 2026. Per Jon Heyman of The New York Post, it’s a $2.5 million deal including a $2 million salary in 2025 and a $500,000 buyout on a $2 million mutual option the following year. Per Spotrac, the veteran catcher’s market value is a one-year deal worth $2.1 million, and he is the 22nd-ranked catcher.
Welcome back, Jacob Stallings! pic.twitter.com/dqFIUmRIY8
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) November 20, 2024
Rockies Re-Sign Jacob Stallings
Before Stallings came to Colorado, he spent two seasons with the Miami Marlins. With the Marlins at their pitcher-friendly ballpark, Stallings struggled to get his offense going. In 88 games in 2023, Stallings hit .191/.278/.286 and finished with a WAR of -0.6. He finished with three homers and 20 RBI. Stallings was expected to be a serviceable defender for the Rockies, and whatever he gave them on offense would be a bonus. Going from a pitcher’s park to a hitter’s haven in Coors Field netted great results for Stallings’s bat.
In 2024, he hit .263/.357/.453 with nine homers and 36 RBI. Posting the highest slash line of his career in seasons in which he played at least 42 games. Per Statcast, Stallings found the sweet spot on his launch angle 38.9% of the time in 2024, up from 28.5% in 2023. The veteran catcher maintained a solid whiff rate of 25% and a walk rate of 9.6%. He delivered on defense for the Rockies, finishing with ten blocks above average and a fielding percentage of .987. Together with fellow veteran catcher Elias Díaz, the Rockies received consistent quality play from the catcher position.
Splits + Standout 2024 Moments
Stallings bat did enjoy his new home, but he also successfully brought his offense out on the road. In 128 home at-bats, Stallings hit .266/.349/.445 with four home runs and 18 RBI. In 115 road at-bats, the veteran catcher hit .261/.366/.461 with five home runs and 18 RBI. Stallings was noticeably better against left-handed pitching, hitting .274/.386/.548 compared to .258/.341/.403 against righties. But Stallings being able to bring his offense out on the road was crucial for a Rockies team that always struggles to do so.
Two of Stallings’s best games came against his two former teams on the road three days apart. In a 5-4 heartbreaking loss in ten innings to the Marlins on May 2, Stallings eliminated his demons at loanDepot park with a 409-foot three-run homer to left-center (1st of the year) in the 2nd inning to give Colorado an early 3-2 lead. On May 5 against the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he spent six seasons, Stallings launched a 414-foot two-run homer to center to give the Rockies an early 2-0 lead. But the Rockies again would blow the lead late, despite Stallings’s efforts.
Stallings splits show that his career offensive season was not just a product of Coors Field. As a seasoned catcher who has nine seasons of major league experience and provides solid defense, Stallings will look to build on his newfound offense in 2025.
Main Photo: © Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images
