MLB fans baffled as Colorado Rockies showing interest in free agent Jurickson Profar: "Color me shocked" "Oh hell naw wtf" 

The Colorado Rockies are reportedly "showing interest" in utility man Jurickson Profar, who remains a free agent with the start of the 2023 season edging ever closer.

Profar, a nine-year MLB veteran, is playing well for Team Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic, hitting a home run in an opening-round game against Panama. If the report from Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post is accurate, he may be hitting homers in one of the most friendly parks for such efforts in the world – Coors Field.

Profar played the past three seasons with the San Diego Padres. However, shortly after the 2022 season ended, he opted out of the final season of a three-year contract that would have paid him $7.5 million for 2023. The move surprised many as Profar had just wrapped up a standard but unspectacular season with the National League finalists.

What is even more surprising to baseball fans is that he may be willing to trade San Diego, one of the favorites to win the 2023 World Series, for Colorado, which did little this winter to improve a club that already finished dead last in the National League West last year.

The Rockies were one of the worst teams in MLB in 2022, compiling a 68-94 record and finishing 43 games behind the division-winning Los Angeles Dodgers – as well as 22 games in back of the Padres.

Fans are unsure of why the Colorado Rockies would waste their time with Jurickson Profar rather than just continue with their youth movement and rebuild.

It's been nearly four months since Profar hit the free-agent market, and he seemed to get lost in the free-agency shuffle over the winter. Possibly sensing that he overplayed his hand by opting-out of San Diego, a move to the launching pad that is Colorado could give him a chance to put in a top offensive season and then improve his prospects for another go at free agency next winter.

While Profar's statistics don't bowl anyone over – career numbers of a .238 batting average, 78 home runs and 313 RBIs with the Texas Rangers, Oakland Athletics and Padres since 2012 – he has long been known as a trustworthy defender and "good clubhouse guy" during his time in the majors. There is something to be said for a solid veteran presence among the kids.

Of course, a player like Jurickson Profar seemed better suited to a contending team. While it's been a few years, that's what the Colorado Rockies were in 2017 and 2018.

Does Jurickson Profar sign with the Colorado Rockies?

Jurickson Profar of Team Netherlands reacts after hitting a solo home run.

Signing Profar likely wouldn't be for the long term, and perhaps the Colorado Rockies could trade him to a contender this summer for prospects. What do you think? Is this a move that could make sense for player and team?