Colorado Rockies rumors: The trade value of every Rockies outfielder

Will the Colorado Rockies make a move to bolster their team at Major League Baseball’s trading deadline? That’s one of the biggest questions that will surround the team throughout the remainder of this month.

While we don’t know exactly what the Rockies will do just yet, we do know that the team has some assets that could be intriguing to other teams looking to make a move. Among those assets are some of the outfielders currently listed on Colorado’s 40-man roster.

Rumors already circulating about the Rockies and the trading deadline (all links below will open in a separate page)

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In this article, we’re going to look at the trade value of each of the Rockies’ outfielders who are currently listed on Colorado’s 40-man roster. Sorry, but we didn’t include Alexi Amarista in here even though he is listed as an outfielder on the 40-man roster on the Rockies web site. We’re also going to look at their current contracts and future key dates with Colorado (thanks to Spotrac.com). All of these numbers could play a role in a potential trade.

Some of these possibilities could make Rockies fans mad. All will at least make them think about the great question, “What if?”

Let’s dive in, looking at each of the players in reverse alphabetical order…

Mike Tauchman

2017 salary: N/A

Contract status: Under team control until available for arbitration in 2020

Mike Tauchman made his Major League debut with the Rockies in late June when he was brought up during the awful Colorado West Coast skid that sent the team tumbling down the standings. Looking for any kind of spark at the plate and in need of outfield depth, Tauchman fit the part perfectly.

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However, he didn’t get much of a chance to prove himself, getting just nine official at-bats. That’s the bad news. The good news is that he found a way to get on base five times during his stint with the Rockies, including three walks and a pair of hits. He even recorded an RBI.

Originally signed in 2013 by the Rockies, the 26-year-old has moved up the Colorado minor league ladder, including spending portions of the last two seasons at Triple-A. Last season in Albuquerque, he posted a line of .269/.343/.328. In 70 games before his call-up this season, the left-handed-hitting Tauchman accounted a .313/.377/.529 line.

Trade potential: Tauchman could absolutely be used as part of a package of assets by the Rockies. His short time in Denver showed he can produce and he has a good eye at the plate. He also has 194 RBI during his minor league career with a .295 average. Those are numbers that could catch the eye of another team looking for someone to play the outfield the rest of the season as an audition for 2018.

Raimel Tapia

2017 salary: N/A

Contract status: Under team control until available for arbitration in 2020

I can picture certain Rockies fans (and media members as well) who can’t believe Raimel Tapia would even be included on this list. However, strip away the emotions and look at what Tap Time (as Colorado manager Bud Black refers to him as) brings not only to the Rockies but what he could bring in return.

Colorado Rockies

There is no one in Colorado’s lineup who is producing the way that Tapia is right now (heading into Saturday’s game against the Chicago White Sox). I mean, come on, look at some of these numbers he’s been producing.

After starting his 2017 time with the Rockies 0-for-14, the 23-year-old left-handed-hitting Tapia has raised his average to .323 with a pair of homers and eight RBI. He’s hit in seven different spots in the order, proving he is versatile.

Trade potential: If the Rockies were to trade him, there’s no better time than the present. He’s producing at the plate and has shown off his speed on several occasions. Tapia could absolutely be viewed as one of Colorado’s building blocks for the future … or one of their most delicious assets in the eyes of other teams.

He’s an outfielder who has proven he can make an impact at the Major League level. Tapia as part of a package could be enticing enough to a team that it could land the Rockies a solid starting pitcher or key piece who could solidify the bullpen.

Will it happen? Probably not. With Tapia until team control until 2020, that’s a huge plus. Could it happen? Hey, anything’s possible. Make no mistake, other teams will ask about him at the deadline when deals are being made. If the Rockies are in win-now mode at the deadline, a move involving Tapia could be very alluring.

Gerardo Parra

2017 salary: $8 million

Contract status: Due $10 million in 2018, $12 million in 2019, unrestricted free agent in 2020

It’s hard to picture a member of the Rockies in recent memory who was so vilified in one season and then looked upon as one of the key pieces of the team the following year.

There were a lot of things that went wrong for Gerardo Parra in 2016, including a high ankle sprain that short-circuited his season and a campaign that saw him walk just nine times in 102 games. Nine. Times. And he did that while striking out 73 times.

But that was then and this is now. When Parra went out of the lineup in early June with a strained quad, he was one of the best offensive weapons for the Rockies. The team went 13-15 without Parra. Fans started asking when the 30-year-old Parra would return to the lineup and give Colorado a spark at the plate.

Trade potential: If we learned nothing in his absence, we learned that the Rockies miss his bat and his spirit. Talk to Bud Black or any of the Rockies and they’ll tell you how much fun it is to have Parra in the dugout or in the clubhouse. That and what he is owed over the next two seasons will tell you that Parra probably isn’t going anywhere at the trade deadline.

It’s highly unlikely Parra will be moved this July.

Carlos Gonzalez

2017 salary: $20,428,571

Contract status: Unrestricted free agent in 2018

Here is perhaps the biggest question enveloping the Rockies right now: What do you do with Carlos Gonzalez?

His struggles have been well documented. We won’t go into them here. Everyone from the front office to the Rockpile knows that someone isn’t right with CarGo this season.

The Rockies are paying CarGo a lot of money this season and they are in no rush to hand him a contract for 2018 or beyond. They’re sitting back to see what will happen right after the All-Star break. Will the 31-year-old left-handed-hitting CarGo rediscover his swing or will he continue to be mired in the funk that has haunted him all season?

Trade potential: Gonzalez has made it clear that he wants to be a part of this Rockies team throughout the rest of the season. His time playing on some not-so-great Colorado squads has earned him a pass in many regards. Nolan Arenado and others have said how much they like having CarGo as a teammate. Those two things could be big factors come the end of this month.

Additionally, will another team want to take a chance on CarGo breaking out of his slump with them? It’s unlikely. His trade value has plummeted, meaning that we’ll likely see CarGo stay as a member of the Rockies and be a bat off the bench as the season wears along.

David Dahl

2017 salary: $537,000

Contract status: Under team control until available for arbitration in 2020

We talked about what a difference a year makes in regards to Gerardo Parra. The same could certainly be said for David Dahl.

After flashing a .315 average in 222 at-bats last season, Rockies fans were salivating about what Dahl could do with a full season at his disposal in 2017. Of course, those dreams never materialized as Dahl was sidelined with a rib stress reaction in spring training and is still trying to work his way back into playing shape.

The Rockies are disappointed in Dahl’s injury situation but they’re certainly not ready to give up on him either. The 23-year-old left-handed-hitting Dahl is a key part of Colorado’s future outfield. He’s succeeded at every minor league level, rocketing his career straight to the Majors.

Trade potential: Not only are the Rockies not willing to give up on Dahl, few teams are going to want to have him around as he tries to get back to playing shape sometime this season. It’s best for Dahl’s career to keep rehabilitating with the Rockies trainers who have been with him since the first sign of the injury.

Additionally, with Dahl under team control until 2020, it would make absolutely no sense for the Rockies to include Dahl in any trade package.

Charlie Blackmon

2017 salary: $7.3 million

Contract status: Eligible for arbitration in 2018, unrestricted free agent in 2019

Other than Carlos Gonzalez, has there been anyone who has been linked to more trade rumors over the last couple of seasons than Charlie Blackmon? It seems like every time we turn around, we hear about Blackmon going here or there. None of those have materialized … yet.

Blackmon has endeared himself to the Rockies fan base in so many ways. His look. His walkup song. His ability to start the game with a home run. There is a lot to love about Blackmon, including the All-Star-caliber stats he has put up this season.

However, the Rockies will soon be at a crossroads with Chuck Nazty. His contract numbers will go up significantly next year and, if they don’t sign him to a long-term contract, we’ll be hearing the same rumors about Blackmon being traded next season as we have the last couple of campaigns.

Now 31, how long will the Rockies want to keep Blackmon as one of the faces of their franchise? Tapia has shown he can provide speed and production at the top of the order. He can also play center field. Is that a thought that could play a role leading up to the deadline?

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Trade potential: If (and that’s a huge if) the Rockies were to move Blackmon, they would be asking for a ton in return. The deal could not only net the Rockies some arms but also some prospects as well. Is that tempting enough to Colorado management? Most likely, no … at least not now.