The Major League Baseball Players Association announced a list of 30 players who reached free agency today after having their option decisions resolved with Colorado Rockies catcher Jacob Stallings among the names. The Rockies haven’t made an announcement concerning their decision on the mutual option but Stallings has declined his end of the $1.5 million option and will receive a $500,000 buyout.

Stallings, 34, has garnered a reputation as a solid glove behind the dish, backed up by his Gold Glove award he earned with Pittsburgh back in 2021. However, after two rough seasons in Miami, particularly at the plate, Stallings wasn’t sure he would be able to find a major league contract for the 2024 season. The Rockies, looking to bolster their catching corp behind then-starter Elias Díaz signed Stallings to a cheap one-year deal before spring training worth roughly $2 million (which includes the buyout).

In his first season with Colorado Stallings had one of the best overall offensive years of his career. In 82 games he slashed .263/.357/.453 (114 wRC+) with a career-best nine homers in 281 plate appearances. Stallings spent the majority of the year in a standard rotation behind the plate with Díaz but saw his offensive role grow as injuries sidelined some players and both catchers were two of the hottest bats on the team. He drew plenty of walks (9.6% in 2024) and struck out at a roughly league-average rate (23.1%). Much of his resurgence at the plate this season after two down years in Miami was attributed to work with Rockies hitting Hensely Meulans who worked with Stallings on eye-strengthening exercises to improve his vision physically.

Behind the plate is where Stallings earned where he earned the praise of the Rockies personnel.

“Obviously, just the experience and ability that he has makes it great to be able to throw to him,” said rookie reliever Seth Halvorsen. Pitchers like Ryan Feltner also expressed his joy of pitching to Stallings at points through the year among other pitchers who shared the same type of sentiment. While his 5.68 ERA as a catcher isn’t ideal, it’s not indicative of his work behind the plate.

Stallings produced a slightly higher-than-average caught-stealing rate of 21% but Statcast ranked him fourth among 66 qualified catchers in baseball with 11 blocks above average. His framing ranked near the bottom of the league with -7 catcher framing runs, but the Rockies were still confident in his abilities throughout the season.

The two sides have expressed mutual interest in a reunion as Stallings hopes to net a larger contract after the solid year he had. The catching free agent market is thinner this season, meaning that Stallings could find a different potential suitor if he can secure a higher base salary for 2025 and perhaps even a multi-year deal.

The Rockies are sure to be motivated to retain Stallings as their catching situation is up in the air at the moment. Top-catching prospect Drew Romo got a brief taste of big league action at the end of the 2024 season but struggled at the plate in his brief 53 plate appearances. Hunter Goodman saw more time behind the plate in September and has shown plenty of power, but his inconsistencies and struggles at the plate and lesser defensive skills leave his role undetermined. It’s unlikely the Rockies will role with the young duo as the primary catchers in 2025, opting rather to have a veteran like Stallings take the majority of the work while helping mentor the younger backstop. MLB.com’s Thomas Harding also suggested the Rockies could look to have two veterans behind the dish.

As the Rockies get younger in the field, there is also a matter of younger arms knocking on the door of the big leagues in both the rotation and the bullpen. Stallings’s familiarity with the Rockies staff and his knowledge was respected by the club and that experience is something manager Bud Black is surely not hoping to lose.

Intending to drop payroll a bit for 2025, Stallings would fit the budget and after his quality 2024 season, the Rockies are sure to be aggressive in retaining the veteran with a new deal.