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German Marquez enters free agency in a bit of an odd spot, he’s familiar to everyone, proven over the years and still held in decent regard around the league, yet he’s coming off a stretch in Colorado where surgery and setbacks kept him from ever finding a real rhythm.
The Rockies put close to $20 million into him over the past two seasons hoping he’d get back to his pre-injury version, but 2025 turned into a run of stop-and-start outings, uneven command and a workload that never truly leveled out.
He’s only 30, he’s healthy heading into the winter and for the first time he’s not tied to Coors Field, a place that often distorts what a pitcher actually is. That alone makes him one of the more interesting short-term rotation bets in this market. Three teams stand out based on opportunity, ballpark fit and need.
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#1. Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto plays in a division where rotations break before bullpens do and Marquez is exactly the kind of durable, competitive starter this team has historically leaned on to survive the calendar.
His sequencing plays better outside Denver and when he’s healthy, his 5–6 inning outings carry a rhythm the Blue Jays’ staff lacks behind their front-end arms.
Toronto doesn’t need him to dominate; they need him to show up every fifth day and keep games neutral long enough for their offense to win them.
#2. San Francisco Giants
If Marquez wants a reset, San Francisco gives him the cleanest pathway. Oracle Park softens contact for right-handed pitchers and the Giants have a long history of turning mid-career starters into far more effective versions of themselves.
Their pitching infrastructure emphasizes sequencing, location and matchup planning, areas Marquez can lean into as he distances himself from the Coors effect.
The Giants don’t need him to be a top-end starter; they need a steady arm who competes and gives innings. With a cautious workload early and room to grow into a bigger role, this is an ideal environment to rebuild form and confidence.
#3. Kansas City Royals
Kansas City remains a smart fit for pitchers looking for a fresh start without big-market noise.
The Royals need reliable innings as they develop young arms and Marquez can provide exactly that on a short, incentive-heavy contract.
They offer him a rotation spot from day one, a pitcher-friendly defensive setup and a simpler mandate: attack the zone and give the team a chance deep into games.
The Royals have taken this approach before with mid-career starters and Marquez’s age and experience make him an attractive upside play.
