Colorado Rockies: Newest Trade Rumor for July 19

We are now just under two weeks from the MLB non-waiver trade deadline on Monday, August 1 at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The Colorado Rockies are sitting in the nowhere land of deciding to be buyers or sellers, sitting at a record of 43-49, but just seven games out of the second wild card in the National League.

The next 10 games will determine whether the Colorado Rockies decide to be buyers or sellers. If they go out an punch both Tampa Bay and Atlanta in the face (by going say 6-1 or 5-2 at worst) the Rockies could go into buy mode (but let’s face it, they will not be imitating the Los Angeles Dodgers or the Chicago Cubs).

However, if they somehow fall flat on their face over the next 9-10 games, and go like 2-7 or 3-6, the chances for several well-known Rockies to be traded rise exponentially. We already know the main names on the trading block – outfielder Carlos Gonzalez, outfielder Charlie Blackmon, first baseman Mark Reynolds, catcher Nick Hundley, and pitchers Boone Logan and Jorge De La Rosa.

Earlier today, Jon Morosi of MLB.com tweeted that the Washington Nationals have interest in trading for Blackmon (h/t Jeff Todd of mlbtraderumors.com). Todd mentioned the Nationals have had disappointing seasons so far from their outfielders in Ben Revere and Michael Taylor.

Blackmon is having a career-year in a Rockies uniform, with a batting line of 305/.368/.481 and 12 leadoff home runs. Todd mentions his defense is not great (which it isn’t – per fangraphs.com he has a fielding rating of minus-2.8). However, at smaller Nationals Park (versus Coors Field) his defensive deficiencies would be much better hidden.

So who would the Rockies want in return? Todd has some players in mind:

If it’s easy to see why the Nationals would open talks on Blackmon, it also isn’t tough to guess at what the Rockies might target in return. Colorado has been stockpiling young arms, and could certainly look to further bolster the pitching ranks. Baseball America’s just-released, updated prospect ranking for the Nats includes several notable hurlers.Lucas Giolito is surely unavailable; it’s less clear whether that’s the case with regard to high-upside youngster Reynaldo Lopez, though he is now set to make his big league debut as well. Other names that could hold appeal include Erick Fedde, A.J. Cole, and Austin Voth.

It seems logical that any Blackmon trade would result in at least two of these prospects being dealt in return.

These rumors are just going to heat up over the next two weeks. Keep a close eye on the Rockies record over this period – it will the definitive time where we may (or may not) see the last of some of our favorite Rockies wearing the Rockies pinstripes.

Next: Colorado Rockies Countdown: Top Five Shortstops

All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and MLB.com unless otherwise indicated.