Colorado Rockies Window Shopping Part 1: A first base bat

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We’ve spent the last few weeks railing on the Rockies’ inability to put an average offense on the field this season. In fact, earlier today, I wrote an article discussing just that. The biggest hole that needs to be addressed is putting a productive bat at first base. While it is early in the season, the Rockies are only a few games out of first place in the division. So, it’s never too early to do a little window shopping. Part one of my two part “window shopping” trade series previews what first base options that might fit with Rockies are sitting out there.

There are always a couple of ways at looking at trades. You go for the gold, and attempt to trade for a top tier talent. You can find a rental player that’s good for a year. You can trade for a younger, player with contract control. However, with Ian Desmond on pace to have the worst season ever, the Rockies could really trade for just about anyone and find an upgrade. It is hard to say what the Rockies are going to be willing to do during the season in terms of trades. However, there are some varying options that could be good for the now and the future. Let’s take a look…

CHICAGO, IL – MAY 04: Logan Morrison #99 of the Minnesota Twins bats against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on May 4, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. The Twins defeated the White Sox 6-4. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Logan Morrison – Minnesota Twins
Contract: Signed through ’18, 1 YR at $6.5 million (’18) with a ’19 team option

As teams played chicken with free agents this last offseason, at the last minute, the Minnesota Twins ended up signing Logan Morrison for one year at $6.5 million. Teams clearly didn’t put a premium on first base power bats this offseason.

This season, Logan Morrison has been playing catch-up after missing spring training and being stuck platooning with Joe Mauer in Minnesota and DH’ing. Morrison could benefit from being given a shot an everyday job, as he cranked 38 home runs and 85 runs-batted-in as a full time first baseman in 2017.

In 2018, entering Thursday, he has a slash line of .206/.306/.373, which obviously is not great. However, he has picked it up in May after an awful April. In May, he has a slash line of .306/.386/.560 with 4 doubles, 3 home runs, and 8 RBI.

Because of his current contract and overall production in 2018, he wouldn’t command much in a trade. However, it remains to be seen on whether or not the Rockies would be willing to give up anything for a rental player.

Also, it remains to be seen if the Twins will be sellers before the trade deadline. They enter Thursday with a record that is three games under .500 at 18-21. However, that is only 1.5 games back of the division leading Cleveland Indians, who lead the division with a 21-21 record.

ATLANTA, GA – SEPTEMBER 1: Justin Bour. Getty Images. /

Justin Bour – Miami Marlins
Contract: Signed through ’18, 1 YR at $3.4 million (’18), Arbitration Eligible ’19-’20

If you aren’t one of the eight people who are still left on the Miami Marlins’ bandwagon, you might only remember Justin Bour from his donut eating antics during the 2017 Home Run Derby.

Bour had a very solid 2017 for a player that seems to still be developing. His biggest knock prior to last season was less-than-effectiveness against left handed pitching. However, he managed to increase his batting average against LHP to .259, a respectable 26 points higher than his 2016 batting average against left handed pitching.

On pace for 33 home runs and 87 RBI’s so far in 2018, this would be the kind of trade that would give Rockies a Major League proven, cornerstone player and the shot of offense they need right now.

C.J. Cron – Tampa Bay Rays
Contract: Signed through ’18, 1 YR at $2.3 million (’18), Arbitration Eligible ’19-’20

C.J. Cron is a probably the least sexy first basemen in this list. However, he may come cheap enough for the likes of the Rockies. As a commitment to Shohei Ohtani this last offseason, the Los Angeles Angels traded Cron Tampa Bay Rays, who were trying to fill a void left by Logan Morrison.

C.J. Cron had really never got a shot to be a starter during his time in Los Angeles. It was a mix of health issues and battles with inconsistency. He was sent to the minors last season. However, after coming back for the second half of the season, he batted .267 with 14 home runs and 42 runs-batted-in in 63 games. He’s off to a hot start this season with a line of .284 BA, .331 OBP, and .835 OPS.

After the first month and a half, he is over half way to his single season high in home runs and RBI’s with 9 and 25, respectively.

TORONTO, ON – MARCH 30: Justin Smoak #14 of the Toronto Blue Jays hits a double in the first inning during MLB game action against the New York Yankees at Rogers Centre on March 30, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /

Justin Smoak – Toronto Blue Jays
Contract: Signed through ’18, 2 YR at $8.5 million (’17-’18) with a ’19 team option

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Justin Smoak flat out crushed last season earning him his first trip to the All-Star game. Playing in 158 games with the Jays, he hit .270 batting average, .529 slugging, and .883 OPS with 38 home runs and 90 runs-batted-in. Smoak never hit more than 20 homeruns in his career prior to the 2017 season though.

So far in the 2018 season, he’s on pace for 21 home runs with 96 RBI, which is more realistic. Entering Thursday, he has a slash line of .255/.367/.454 with six home runs and 25 RBI. Those numbers would still add a much needed jolt of power to the Rockies’ lineup. The Blue Jays are sitting at 22-21 with a 4-6 record in their last ten games and already 7 1/2 games back of the Yankees in the AL East and 3.5 games back for the second American League Wild Card spot. If they continue to go down in their stacked division, they could most certainly be looking at potential trade opportunities.

Ryan McMahon – Albuquerque Isotopes
Contract: Signed through ’18, 1 YR at $547k (’18), Arbitration Eligible ’19-’23

GIVE THE MAN A SHOT WITH REGULAR MAJOR LEAGUE AT-BATS! Okay, I was just trolling here. Carry on.

Stay tuned for part two of the Rockies’ Window Shopping trade article series. Part two will go into what options might make sense for the corner outfield position.

[ Contract information and statistics provided by Baseball-Reference ]

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