Miami Marlins focusing on the Rockies’ farm system for a trade

Marlins’ starting pitcher Edinson Volquez will be one of the players that the Rockies’ are interested in acquiring as he would be a veteran starter, both of which the Rockies’ are looking for. He has a 4-8 record with a 4.19 ERA in 17 starts and 92 1/3 innings pitched. His best start of the season was on June 3 as he threw a complete game no-hitter, walked only two and struck out 10 on only 98 pitches. However, he leads the league with 53 walks (or a little more than five walks per nine innings) compared to 81 strikeouts and an ERA+ of 98.

His 2016 season, with the Kansas City Royals, was not particularly good either considering that he went 10-11 with a 5.37 ERA in 34 starts and 189 1/3 innings pitched. He led the league in earned runs allowed with 113 and an ERA+ of 82.

His 2013 and 2014 seasons (with the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Royals) were a lot better as he averaged a 13-8 record with a 3.30 ERA in 32 starts and his ERA+ was 118.

His career numbers in Coors Field are atrocious, though, as he’s 1-5 with an 8.02 ERA in nine starts in 42 2/3 innings. He’s allowed 41 runs (and 38 of which were earned) in that span of time.

He’s also under team control through next season and he’s owed $11 million a year next season.

Given his struggles at Coors Field, his struggles in the past two seasons, and the amount that he is owed next season, the Marlins may dangle him in front of the Rockies but they will not bite.

It is no secret that the Rockies are looking for bullpen help and we’ve chronicled the rumors about it multiple times in the past week through trade rumor talks or the struggles of reliever Adam Ottavino. Someone who could help the Rockies is the Marlins closer AJ Ramos.

Ramos, in 2017, has a 2-3 record with a 3.16 ERA in 32 games and he has 15 saves (out of 16 opportunities). His walk numbers are a bit high as he has allowed 4.6 per nine innings but he’s striking out a little bit more than 11 per nine innings. Also, he’s been very consistent this is his highest ERA in a full season in his career (albeit, by 0.01). In the past three seasons, his ERA was not higher than 2.81.

In addition, he has pitched well in Coors Field in six career games (and six career innings) there. He has not allowed a run at Coors and has three saves as well. Also, his opponent’s slash line in Coors is .150/.190/.200 so he has proved, albeit in limited time at Coors, that he can pitch effectively in the extreme hitter’s park. He’s also still arbitration eligible (and under team control) through next season so he would be around a bit longer.

Given that he’s pitched well this season, in the past, and at Coors Field as well as an affordable contract through next season, Ramos will definitely be a target of the Rockies.

Marcell Ozuna is one of the best outfielders in the National League and it shows as he’s played well enough to earn a starting spot for in the outfield the NL All-Star team. He has 23 HRs, 67 RBIs, a .319/.375/.577 slash line, and a 150 OPS+.

In his two other full season of 2014 and 2016 (in 2015, he was injured and only played in 123 games), he averaged 23 HRs and 81 RBIs, a .268/.319/.454, and a 112 OPS+.

In addition, in 10 games at Coors Field, he has had three homers, four RBIs, and a slash line of .333/.372/.462. He’s also hit in the clean-up spot for the Marlins in 2017 and that the four hole has been an area of disappointment for the Rockies this season. Their four hole hitters have a .236/.335/.350 slash line (which is 26th, 18th, and 30th (dead last) in all of baseball). They also only have eight homers from the spot (29th in baseball). 38 RBIs (28th in baseball) and 77 hits, which is 25th in baseball.

He is under team control through the 2019 season because he’s arbitration eligible for the next two seasons so his pay is, partially, up to the team.

With all of this considered, even though it would take a lot to acquire Ozuna, the Rockies do have the resources to pull it off.

Christian Yelich is yet another outfielder that the Rockies could be interested in acquiring. He’s had a bit of a downward offensive turnout in 2017 as in 80 games, he’s had 83 hits, eight homers, 41 RBIs, a .271/.352/.392 slash line, and a 101 OPS+. His career year was 2016 and in 155 games, he had 172 hits, 21 HRs, 98 RBIs, a .298/.376/.483, and a 133 OPS+.

In the 12 games that’s he’s played at Coors Field, he four doubles, six RBIs, and a .320/.407/.400 slash line, and a BABIP of .364.

For Yelich, since he plays center field, he would either play center field and the Rockies would have to move Charlie Blackmon to left field and Ian Desmond to the bench, move Blackmon to right field (and move Carlos Gonzalez to left field and Ian Desmond to the bench), or move Yelich to left. By examining their defensive metrics, Yelich has struggled defensively in 2017 as, according to Fangraphs.com, his UZR (Ultimate Zone Rating) is -1 and his DRS (Defensive Runs Saved) is -3 but he won a Gold Glove in 2014 with 11 DRS. Blackmon, also according to Fangraphs, has a combined -23.3 UZR in center field since 2015 and it’s already -4.9 in 2017. However, in left field and right field it is roughly 0 (or league average). Blackmon’s DRS is -7 already in 2017.

He is also under team control through the 2021 as well as a team option for 2022. In 2018, he’s supposed to make $7 million, $9.75 million in 2019, $12.5 million in 2020, and $14 million in 2021. The team option for 2022 is for $15 million.

Given his potential and team friendly contract, Yelich will also be on the radar for the Rockies. However, since he is under contract for the long term and he’s a cornerstone player for the Marlins, he would be, by the far, the hardest to acquire because the Marlins will be asking for the whole farm system for him.

Of all of these possible acquisitions, if I had to power rank each of the players in order of who has the most chance of being acquired by the Rockies to the least, number one would be AJ Ramos. Given the Rockies’ bullpen struggles, the team controllability of the player, and his consistent track record of pitching well (both out of a set up role and in the closer’s role).

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Secondly, I would go with Marcell Ozuna. He would provide the Rockies with help in left field, help in the cleanup spot, lengthen and strengthen their bench (with Ian Desmond moving to it), and also have a bit of controllability. The only issue is that, since he’s having a career year, the Marlins will be asking a lot in return for him.

Next, I would go with Christian Yelich. I think that he would provide a tremendous help to the Rockies’ outfielder for the long term but since he’s got a team-friendly contract and tremendous potential, the Marlins will be asking for virtually the whole Rockies farm system in return. If they were to acquire Yelich before the trade deadline, I believe that a three team trade might be best for this because the Rockies wouldn’t necessarily have to give all of their prospects up.

Next: Rockies' shortstop options

Edinson Volquez would come in last in my power rankings. Considering that he’s owed $11 million in 2018, he hasn’t pitched well consistently since 2015, and his woes at Coors Field, the only way I believe that the Rockies would acquire him is to flip him to another team for a different player or different players. The Rockies do need veteran starting pitching but Volquez is the not the answer to the Rockies’ needs.