Colorado Rockies: Should they trade Charlie Blackmon to Texas?

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SAN DIEGO, CA – SEPTEMBER 23: Charlie Blackmon #19 of the Colorado Rockies walks back to the dugout after striking out during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on September 23, 2017 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images) /

The calendar is turning again, and today marks the 25th day of December. We have come to know it as Christmas. Around the world we see children and adults alike put together their Christmas Wishlist, in hopes Santa sees it. Well, this year, I am putting together mine. While the Colorado Rockies have made some moves to help the bullpen (Bryan Shaw, Jake McGee) and some minor league moves (Dante Bichette, Jr.), the Colorado Rockies have been out of the rumor mill lately. So, today, I am putting something out there for Universe to read.

Four weeks ago, Charlie Blackmon, the Colorado Rockies big bearded, power hitting, run creating Center Fielder made a peculiar decision… He walked from his previous agency and he signed with another.

Now, the transaction by itself is not uncommon. The timing however, is.

‘Chuck Nazty’ as Colorado Rockies fans have come to call him, is 31 years old, and entering his final year of arbitration eligibility. According to reports, Blackmon could be seeing his annual salary increase from the $7.3 million he earned in 2017 to $13.4 million in 2018.

Multiple reports say the Rockies have an interest in resigning the center fielder long term, but there has not been any conversations started toward a long term extension.

With the Rockies current on-field needs, the long term decision behind five-time Gold Glove winner Nolan Arenado and future status of co-arbitration eligible, Gold Glove winning, All-Star second Bbaseman DJ LeMahieu, the organization finds itself with some difficult decisions:

Do you resign Charlie Blackmon to a long term deal and risk losing Nolan Arenado? Do you invest in Arenado, trade Charlie Blackmon for future assets, and promote the upper level outfield talent in Ramiel Tapia and David Dahl? Or do you sign Blackmon for 2018 and let him walk next offseason?

DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 29: Charlie Blackmon #19 of the Colorado Rockies hits a RBI single in the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field on September 29, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

We can run through the potential scenarios a million different ways. None of them leave Rockies fans in a great place. Charlie Blackmon has been a fan favorite since his big league call-up in 2010. In every year since 2014, Blackmon’s production has steadily increased, making him a two time All-Star.

Professionally, I would trade him. As you all know, I have been working on this six part series, discussing potential trade partners involving both Charlie Blackmon and DJ LeMahieu. This is part three of the series.

For those of you currently unfamiliar with my work, you can check out part one and part two, respectively.

Today, my choice for trade partner includes the Texas Rangers, a team currently in the market for a center fielder.

Before we look into the pieces involved, lets consider a recent deal similar to this the Rockies made involving an outfielder.

In 2008, the Colorado Rockies and Matt Holliday were unable to come to terms on a long term deal. So, that offseason, Colorado shipped Matt Holliday to the Oakland Athletics for a package of players.

The currency returned to Colorado was Rookie of Year winning closer Huston Street, top outfield prospect Carlos Gonzalez, and rookie left-hander Greg Smith.

For comparisons, lets use the pieces coming back as the currency Rockies general manager Jeff Bridich should set as the conversation starter to make this deal even plausible.

The Rangers current outfield consists of three offensively talented athletes, with great speed, good power, and well below average contact. In all three cases, the outfielders perform as below average defensively, lower than Charlie Blackmon, all three strikeout at higher than average rates as well.

On the hand, the Rockies seek a corner outfielder, a closer, and a first baseman. The Rangers have a plethora of talent capable of fulfilling anyone of the Rockies needs.

Starting with the closer, a piece I would start the conversation with includes Alex Claudio, the Texas Ranger closer. Acquiring Claudio could complete the Colorado Rockies bullpen.

Claudio, Shaw, McGee would give the Colorado a power bullpen capable of duplicating the bridge Colorado is looking for from its starters to its closer.

With his addition, Colorado would provide its starting pitchers the necessary confidence to know if they left after six innings with a lead, they would be in line with a win.

In 2017, Claudio finished the season with a 4-2 record, 2.50 ERA, 11 saves, 82 2/3 innings pitched, with 15 walks, 56 strikeouts, and 1.04 WHIP in only 70 appearances.

Also, it should be noted that Claudio is not arbitration eligible until next offseason. He’s not even arbitration eligible to become a free agent until after the 2021 season.

Even if the Rockies don’t use him as a closer, he would be a very valuable set-up man in the bullpen.

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The second piece I would require in any Blackmon deal would include Ranger corner infielder/outfielder Joey Gallo, their 2017 multi-position star.

Gallo would become the primary first baseman for Colorado in 2018, providing insurance for Colorado, by moving to third base in 2020 if Colorado is unable to resign Nolan Arenado long term. In 2017, Gallo provided the Rangers solid defense, big power, and a solid on base percentage.

In 2017, Major League Baseball saw a massive increase in strikeouts which Gallo contributed 195 of them. However, he also provided 41 of the leagues record breaking 6,105 long balls.

The power is real, the glove is solid, and the patience (75 walks) will overcome the lower batting average (.209) and the strikeout totals (196) which will naturally improve with major league experience.

Final Thoughts

With Gallo and Claudio, they could provide to the back-end of the bullpen and middle of the lineup for years to come.

The Rockies would add to their post season hopes and provide the city of Denver a young and exciting nucleus worth building around.

With Gallo, Arenado, Story, and Desmond manning the middle of the order – Colorado could recreate the Blake Street Bombers, and club a franchise record 250+ home runs.

Next: What the Rockies 2018 starting rotation could look like?

Armed with a lethal lineup, a power bullpen, and a growing, budding starting rotation – the trade of Blackmon, and the acquisitions future stars Claudio and Gallo, the Rockies could be great for years to come.

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