Colorado Rockies: What Should They Do Now? Buy or Sell?

Eight days ago, I sat at Coors Field suffering through the cellar-dwelling Tampa Bay Rays score double digits on the Colorado Rockies for the second straight game. Heading to a record of 43-51, the Rockies seemed destined to be major sellers at the trade deadline as they tried to regroup for a more competitive 2017.

Since that time, the Rockies have won seven of their last eight games, including taking a series from the Orioles in Baltimore. Also during that time the Rockies called up one of their top prospects, David Dahl, who has already registered five hits, three runs and his first career homer.

Thursday’s victory where the Rockies came back to hand Jeurys Familia his second blown save of the year may have been the best W of the year. This win gave the Rockies a 50-52 record, placing them only 5.5 games out of the wild card. It leaves the Rockies, and general manager Jeff Bridich, with a tough decision as the trade deadline is less than 100 hours away.

In an attempt to find some clarity in this haze I am going to make my best arguments for both buying and selling and see where I end up.

Argument to be Buyers: The thought of Rockies as “Buyers” seems foreign. This would mean not trading any of our major league talent and going out to try to find a starting pitcher, or adding a quality bullpen arm.

Would it be crazy for the Rockies to try and make the playoffs this year? It would be optimistic but certainly not unheard of. In 2007 through 102 games, the Rockies were 51-51. This year, they are only one game off that pace. I know it took one of the wildest months of baseball to turn this into a playoff berth, but that month did not start in August.

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So if the Rockies could continue to play well for the two remaining months, it is possible. They also have the luxury of two teams making the wild card, something that was not around in 2007. The Rockies are 10-4 since the break and just became the second team to win a series this year in Baltimore.

The past couple games have felt like 2007 with the Rockies finding a way to win no matter how unlikely. Over the past eight games, the Rockies have gotten seven quality starts from their pitchers and have the fifth-best road ERA in the major leagues.

Carlos Gonzalez is still in his prime and putting together one of his best seasons of his career.  You wouldn’t have to squint too much to see how adding a couple of pieces could turn the Rockies into a true contender.

The Rockies have the ability to make these trade possible with their deep farm system. Adding someone like Chris Sale, and maybe calling Jeff Hoffman up from the minors would give the Rockies a fearsome rotation to couple with their strong offense. Taking a run at a bullpen arm such as Wade Davis would make for a more complete team than we have ever seen in Denver. Admittedly, in order to acquire both of these arms we would essentially have to give up all of our top prospects. Would it be worth it?

Next: The Argument to be Sellers