Colorado Rockies: Should they trade Charlie Blackmon to Texas?

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.