Colorado Rockies: What they should be looking for at the trade deadline

The Colorado Rockies are really starting to look like buyers as we get closer to the trade deadline. Although the front office believed that they checked off needed solutions this offseason, many things haven’t panned out for them. We’ll give an overview of what position players the Rockies should look at trading for as well as what players to trade to acquire the needed ones. 

Starting Pitcher

As much as Colorado Rockies fans don’t like to admit it, the Rockies need a veteran arm in the rotation. Right now the starters aren’t really cutting it with the up and down of each outing they have. The main proprietor of this issue would be “ace” Jon Gray. He’s not really showing us that he has what it takes to be an ace at this moment in time.

We’re seeing way too high ERA’s from the entire rotation along with the fact that in most of their starts they can’t last deep into games. This will pose as a serious problem for them if they are able to make it to the postseason. 

The best way to combat this would be having at least one veteran pitcher who can hold down the fort and set the tone for the rest of the rotation. Who would be the best starters the Rockies should go after?

Even though Danny Salazar is still on the DL for the Indians doesn’t mean he shouldn’t be consider a trade prospect. He has yet to make a start in 2018 so we’ll be referring to his 2017 stats. Although he his ERA was a bit high (4.28) he went 103 innings while surmounting 145 strike outs and only giving up 14 home runs.

This is the stability the Colorado Rockies need from a starting pitcher. Salazar his a top of the rotation kind of guy and can give a team consistency.

Another upside to him is the fact that whatever team he’s playing for they’ll have three years of arbitration control. Though it is hard not to be weary about his shoulder and elbow injuries. 

Pros: Consistency, High strikeout rate, Top rotation guy that can hold down the fort

Cons: Injury Prone, Can lose command while pitching

The San Diego Padres will most definitely not be contending this season. With the chance of the Colorado Rockies reaching contention Clayton Richard’s ears should perk up at the thought of a trade with a prominent NL West team.

The 34 year old has been doing well given that he’s playing for the Padres. Though Richard has a high ERA (4.40), he does show that he can make quality starts and pitch deep into games. Thus saving the bullpen for middle to late innings, something the Rockies need right now. He usually pitches at least 7 innings per start, as he has gone at least 7 innings in six of his last seven starts (he went six innings in the other start) with a 3.04 ERA, giving him the current total of 88 innings so far this season along with 71 strikeouts as of now. 

Pros: Veteran pitcher (10 seasons in MLB), can go deep into outings, has strong quality starts

Cons: If he gets into a hole it’s hard for him to dig out of it, high ERA is concerning (particularly at Coors Field), no postseason experience

First Base

The Miami Marlins are truly in tanking mode this season and show no signs of stopping as they start to rebuild the team. During the offseason, Marlins CEO Derek Jeter had a fire sale giving away the main core of the Marlins. However, they did leave a few top players around. Justin Bour is a prime example. Justin Bour is on track to have a good season so far.

He has 10 home runs and 29 RBI and a slashline of .254/.377/.432. This is honestly a guy that needs to be on a team that can contend during the postseason. Fielding wise, Bour has been a lot better on the bag than Desmond and McMahon, as Desmond, looking at rDRS (aka Defensive Runs Saved), Desmond has -3 DRS at first base in 52 games, McMahon has -1 DRS at first base in 17 games, and Bour has -2 DRS in 62 games. Reason being he’s a career first baseman. This is a go to solid player that mans first. He’s not the crazy power corner, but he gets the job done.

I wrote an even more in-depth article about him during the offseason here. 

Pros: Entering his first year of arbitration, Gets a lot of walks (47 and on pace for 114), Decent infielder

Cons: Does strikeout quite a lot

Here we have another solid first baseman trade candidate in Matt Olson. This guy is having a good season despite playing for a losing Oakland A’s team. Olson currently has 14 home runs and 34 RBI with slash line of .242/.324/.783. He went in the first round back in 2012 and doesn’t disappoint with the title of being a first round pick. T

he Oakland A’s really found a diamond in the rough with Matt Olson. The best part is that Olson, 24 is pre-arbitration, so the Colorado Rockies could have control over him for quite some time if they traded for him.

Pros: Young, has a lot of potential, possible for high amount of home runs

Cons: Is prone to slumps

This has got to be the most obvious choice for the Colorado Rockies. I’m still confused as to why they didn’t sign him in the offseason. Mark Reynolds played really good baseball with the Rockies last season. He never wavered when it came to his offense and always came in clutch for the team.

Reynolds did something the rest of the roster couldn’t do last year, he kept up with Charlie Blackmon and Nolan Arenado. Hit for hit, home run for home run, and RBI for RBI. It was a great season for Reynolds offensively. His defensive plays were always on point rarely getting errors. Be that as it may, he still didn’t get signed until late into Spring Training and not by the Rockies.

He’s really hasn’t been able to show his talents in Washington due to guys like Ryan Zimmerman and Matt Adams taking most of the playing time at first. In just 65 at-bats, he’s has 6 home runs, which is more than some of the Rockies players. Overall, he has a slash line of .277/.329/.529 and an OPS+ of 136.

Mark Reynolds deserves to have a starting position and bringing him back may boost the club back to the baseball they were playing in 2017. Mark Reynolds is worth trading for.

Pros: Has experience with the Rockies, Knows the team, Great offensively when given a chance

Cons: Age, Contract year (which could be a pro if you think that Ryan McMahon is the first baseman of the future)

Catcher

This is another obvious guy the Colorado Rockies should’ve snatched up during the offseason. The most likely scenario that took place was the Jonathan Lucroy wanted more money than the Rockies were willing to give out and he thought they’d come crawling to him with an offer. That didn’t happen and he got a one year deal from the A’s. They are a non-contending team and he’s essentially shooting the breeze. Ironically this is how the Colorado Rockies acquired Jonathan Lucroy it’d be a deja vu type thing, but helpful to have him not only behind the dish but also in the lineup.

Pros: Played in Colorado before, knows the majority of the pitchers, can be good offensively

Cons: Most likely won’t get resigned unless there’s a playoff run, age

Let’s continue with the fire sale in Miami. Realmuto is a pretty solid catcher behind the plate. He has plenty of potential to become an offensive threat to other teams. He’s also still in arbitration so the Rox would have a few years of control. Realmuto is doing fairly well despite the way his team is playing. He’s got a very nice slashline of .303/.368/.887 with 7 home runs and 22 RBI. We’re not even done with the first half of season, just think of the possibilities he can bring in the second half if he were playing for the Colorado Rockies.

Pros: Hot bat, Great defensively behind the plate

Cons: Will have to adjust to new pitchers, Will have to adjust to Coors

Obviously, the Colorado Rockies are going to have offer up some people in order to receive the ones listed above. Many would probably be prospects but there are a few guys that come to mind when going through the Rockies roster that the Rockies want/may look into trading.

Ian Desmond would be a serious trading chip to teams that need a veteran presence in the clubhouse. He’d be perfect for going to the Padres, Marlins, or A’s. He’s been underperforming for the Rockies and due to his salary, there’s no way he’ll be benched anytime soon. With that being said, trading Ian Desmond would be the best option.

This would mean not only are the Rockies getting rid of dead weight, but also opening up some of the payroll. The Rockies would probably have to pick up some of it but if they could have some of that money back and another roster spot, that would be ideal.

Scott Oberg can be a good relief guy out of the pen. It showed during last season and it’s showing now. However, he’s not a consequential reliever that the Colorado Rockies need to keep a grasp on.

Due to that, he be a great trading chip for the Cleveland Indians who are in dire need of some bullpen help.

Where to begin with Mike Dunn. His 2018 isn’t going too well with his 9.00 ERA. Though that doesn’t mean he can’t get it down and he can’t make a comeback in the second half.

The best team for him to go to would also be the Cleveland Indians in a package deal with Oberg. Most likely relievers that are struggling like Mike Dunn is need a change in location.

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Pat Valaika would be the perfect trading chip for any team that isn’t looking for pitchers. Valaika is young and versatile and being that is he’s a utility player. This is perfect for teams that are looking for someone who can play anywhere or a team that wants to mold him into a specific position player.

He’s got tons of potential and when he’s given a shot, teams won’t regret saying yes. The teams that could use a guy like Pat Valaika would be the Marlins, A’s, and Padres.

This would be a serious big if. The Colorado Rockies just signed Bryan Shaw this year and it’s been more than disastrous. He’s most definitely not meeting the standards of the team and are costing the Rockies wins.

Bud Black shows no signs of stopping from calling him from the bullpen so the best way to stop that bleeding is to just get rid of it all together. This trade chip is merely for Rockies fans and would be a far stretch, but perhaps a needed move to be made.

Next: A suggested trade for Bryan Shaw that won't work

Bryan Shaw could most likely go to the Nationals or the Marlins in order to solidify those trades. Also, he was previously with Cleveland and was successful there as well.