Rockies On Verge Of Acquiring Wilton Lopez

Update 9:20 P.M. MT – Renck reports that the Rockies will send starter Alex White and Alex Gillingham to the Astros for Lopez and either a player to be named later or cash considerations.

The Colorado Rockies need starting pitching. Even with a quality bullpen last season, they certainly can benefit from any pitching help. By pitching help I mean quality arms that can help the team right away. Pitchers ready to make meaningful contributions from the moment they arrive.

Is Lopez headed for Colorado? Image: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

And while I balked at the notion that the Rockies would even consider pursuing closers or late bullpen pitchers, one might point to the rapid fall from grace of Huston Street a couple years ago as evidence that teams should never be content in that area. The Rockies appear to believe they should continue to try and bolster that area of the roster, and it looks like they have made a trade tonight to do just that.

Details are still emerging on what the Rockies will give up for Lopez, a right-handed reliever who was nearly traded to the Philadelphia Phillies last week. Presumably any deal the Rockies close will be contingent on Lopez passing a physical, given the fact that the Phillies backed out after they checked on Lopez’s health.

Renck later clarified what the Rockies would have to give up for Lopez:

To the relief of Rockies color commentator George Frazier, Parker is staying put. As they say…stay tuned.