Jake Cave, Dakota Hudson and Peter Lambert elect free agency

This morning the Colorado Rockies announced that RHP Dakota Hudson, RHP Peter Lambert and OF Jake Cave have elected free agency:

The moves come as the Rockies begin preparations for the 2025 season.

Neither Hudson nor Lambert had notable seasons in 2024.

Hudson, who signed a one-year deal with the Rockies, had already been claimed off waivers once and spent a few games with the Albuquerque Isotopes before finishing his season with the Rockies and on the IL. (Read his “Ranking the Rockies” review here.)

Lambert spent part of the season in the Rocky Mountains, where he started the rotation, and part in the bullpen before ending up in Triple-A Albuquerque. (Read his “Ranking the Rockies” review here.)

Cave came to the Rockies via a spring training trade with the Philadelphia Phillies. Despite being used as the fourth outfielder, Cave played more innings than originally planned. Ultimately, he had his best season since 2019; however, it remained below replacement level. (Read his “Ranking the Rockies” review here.)

In the short term, this answers the question of who the Rockies’ fourth outfielder will be. (Obviously, Sam Hilliard has an obvious advantage today.) How the Rockies will handle the presence of a veteran in the clubhouse remains uncertain, as Cave seemed well-suited to the role.

The next steps will come when the Rockies announce players who will be added to the 40-man roster, a decision that Skyler Timmins foreshadowed on Wednesday.