Colorado Rockies Continue to Show Interest in Mark Trumbo

We’ve talked for some time about the Colorado Rockies being interested in Mark Trumbo playing first base in Denver next season. Reportedly, that talk is still on point heading into the upcoming winter meetings.

Jon Morosi of MLB Network tweeted out the following earlier today…

This isn’t the first time that the Rockies have pursued Trumbo. The team was interested in the slugger before he signed with the Baltimore Orioles. Now Colorado once again finds itself trying to determine if Trumbo is the right fit for the team at first base.

However, signing Trumbo won’t come without a price for the Rockies (or any other team besides Baltimore). Trumbo’s rejection of Baltimore’s qualifying offer means that the Rockies would have to give up its first-round pick to the Orioles in order to sign him. That pick is the 11^th overall pick in the 2017 draft, the highest possible draft pick that can be surrendered as picks 1-10 are protected.

So how big is that 11^th pick?

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While the Rockies would have to surrender the pick, they would also have to give up plenty of money to sign Trumbo. MLBTradeRumors.com has projected that Trumbo will get a contract in the neighborhood of four years and $60 million. It would be a big investment for the Rockies in the soon-to-be 31-year-old.

Trumbo is coming off a season where he led Major League Baseball with 47 homers. Thinking of that power at Coors Field is a tantalizing thought, but there is something else to consider. Trumbo had never hit more than 40 homers in a season before 2016 and had just 22 splitting time between Arizona and Seattle in 2015.

Also consider this note from our previous look at Trumbo…

Another thing to note on Trumbo is his second half of last season. While his overall 47 homers are certainly impressive, only 19 came after the All-Star break as he struggled with a .214 average. In August, he hit just .184 but mashed 10 homers. It was very much a “feast or famine” month (and second half) for Trumbo.

Next: Could Chris Carter be a Fit for the Rockies at First Base?

Trumbo and the Rockies appear to be on path to more discussions at the upcoming winter meetings. What Rockies management decides to do will easily be one of the biggest decisions they will make heading into the 2017 season.