Colorado Rockies trade targets: Bullpen targets from NL Central, NL West

If you’ve been a long time reader of ours here at Rox Pile, you may remember us making the case for the Rockies getting Jared Hughes as far back as December (in this article). We have discussed him in other articles too.

In the past four seasons, he has an ERA of 2.55 (157 ERA+). In 2018, he has an ERA of 1.03 with a WHIP of 0.960.

He is also making a modest amount of money as he is only making $2.125 million this year and next. For 2020, there is a team option for $3 million for him.

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For Brad Hand, since he is with the San Diego Padres (meaning he is in the same division as the Rockies), there is a smaller chance of a trade happening because they don’t want to be burned by him 19 games a year for many seasons to come.

He is, quietly, one of the best relievers in all of baseball. The past two seasons, he has an ERA of 2.56 (160 ERA+) and a 3.05 FIP.

He was an All-Star last season and this year, he is doing even better. He has an ERA of 1.89 with 19 saves (he had 21 in all of 2017). He is also striking out nearly 14 batters per nine innings.

He is making a little over $4 million this year, a little over $7 million next year, and a little over $7.5 million in 2020. There’s also a team option for $10 million for 2021. For a reliever of his quality, though, that’s pretty good.

With being in the division and Hand being very good to begin with, the Rockies would probably not want to meet the Padres asking price, that would be very high.

Final Thoughts

Throughout our series, you have seen some options that the Rockies should look at to help out their bullpen. They could eventually figure it out but something will have to change before the trade deadline passes.

At least for the Rockies, they have plenty of time to try to gain a lead. However, the Rockies and their bullpen did not run away and hide with the division while they could and as the old adage goes, “you can’t win a pennant in April, but you can lose it.”

Next: Rockies trade targets: Bullpen targets from AL West, NL East

Obviously, for the Rockies case, it isn’t April but it could potentially reign true and if something does not give with the bullpen, believe me, it will reign true…because the Colorado Rockies will miss the postseason.