Colorado Rockies: 3 potential trade targets at first base

It’s no secret the Colorado Rockies have struggled at times this season with their offense. It’s also no secret where the Rockies need to improve in order to get back to the postseason.

Colorado’s lack of production at the first base and corner outfield spot were concerns in spring training and continue to be concerns as we head into the middle of May. Question marks in both positions have yet to be answered … and the answers that have been put on the field have yet to make any kind of significant impact.

So what do the Rockies do? At first glance, one would think they might look to the farm system for help. However, there seems to be either a lack of trust in the players who might be possibilities for a call-up or the options who are there are no better than the ones the Rockies currently field.

Ryan McMahon and Raimel Tapia were thought to be young players who could make an impact this season for the Rockies at first base and in the outfield, respectively. However, Tapia has yet to see any time in Denver this season while McMahon’s lack of playing time and ability to get into a rhythm at the plate was partially the reason he was sent back to Triple-A.

Without solid options that seem to have the trust of manager Bud Black and/or Rockies management, the organization is going to have to look outside to find an impact bat. Yes, we’re talking trades here.

So what could that mean? Let’s take a look at some potential targets and the reality of it actually happening for the Rockies. In this article, we’ll focus on first base. We will discuss one that we brought up in December, one that has been on the burner for a while and one that is a little out of the box.

Matt Adams, Washington Nationals

Adams is having a strong start to the 2018 campaign and the Washington Nationals are enjoying the benefits of signing him to a one-year, $4 million deal in the offseason. The 29-year-old has a .284/.394/.670 slash with a 1.065 OPS heading into Saturday’s games. Expected to split time with Ryan Zimmerman, Adams has played more than expected because of injuries … and has proven that $4 million investment to be a good one with 10 homers and 25 RBI to his credit.

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I talked about him being an offseason target for the Rockies in this article back in December … and it seems like the price tag would have been right. Could the Rockies be in line to bring him on board at the trade deadline?

He’s been a key to Washington’s success in the early season … but past trades could indicate that Adams could be had for a decent price perhaps. When he was traded from the St. Louis Cardinals to the Atlanta Braves in 2017, it was for a corner infielder (Juan Yepez) at the Class A level. If the Rockies could offer lower level prospects in exchange for someone who could impact the organization immediately, it would be worth it for the Rockies to (once again I suggest) check on the availability of Adams.

Reality check: The Nationals have struck gold with Adams and it would be tough to now send him over to a possible competitor they’ll see in the playoffs.

Neil Walker, New York Yankees

If you are wondering if there’s a first baseman who is struggling as much as Ian Desmond out there, look no further than the Bronx and Neil Walker.

Colorado Rockies

Wait a minute, you say. I’m talking about the Rockies entertaining the thought of bringing someone in who is struggling perhaps as much as the player we’re talking about him replacing? Yes … but hear me out here.

In his first American League season and having a one-year, $4 million contract, Walker is hitting just .200/.289/.250 in 29 games. Yes, those are absolutely atrocious numbers. However, let’s look before his days in the pinstripes. In nine seasons prior with the Mets, Pirates and Brewers, he put together a .272/.341/.437 slash. That includes 38 games with Milwaukee last season when the Mets traded him to help the Brewers try to catch the Rockies for the second Wild Card spot. In those 38 games, he hit .267/.409/.433.

Walker has succeeded in the National League before and was seen as a solid trade piece as recently as last season. The Yankees aren’t enamored with him and have Greg Bird coming back very soon to take over at first base. Send a player to be named later for Walker and bring him to Coors Field to see if he can rediscover his National League mojo with the Rockies.

He’s played just 41 games at first base in his career, with the majority of those coming over the last two seasons. But a lack of experience at first base hasn’t stopped the Rockies lately, right? He has played primarily second base since breaking into the league in 2009 so there’s the versatility the Rockies love as well.

Next: These numbers show just how much the Rockies are struggling at the bottom of the order

Reality check: It’s a stretch but it could happen. New York is overflowing in the infield and Walker could be the odd man out and looking for a new home. Make an offer and see what happens.