Colorado Rockies: Trade targets if they were to be buyers

The trade deadline is slowly approaching and we are just now seeing teams really pick up the pace with making trades. The biggest blockbuster thus far has been Manny Machado being dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, so far, the Colorado Rockies have been quiet.

With the Colorado Rockies still in the hunt for a playoff berth, it’s time to look over who they could possibly target if they were to be buyers at the deadline. 

J.T. Realmuto

J.T. Realmuto is a serious possible trade target for a team like the Colorado Rockies. With the way Bud Black continues to rotate the three catchers he has on the 25-man roster, one is to believe he doesn’t have faith in just one to start every day. Realmuto would be a solid alternative since he’s only 27 and the Rockies would have control over him until 2021, leaving his salary to not be a bank-breaker. 

He’s having a good season with the Miami Marlins with a slash line of .313/.367/.540 along with 12 home runs and 45 RBI. He’s played in 70 games thus far with no errors this season. He’s been fairly consistent, comparing his past few seasons with the Marlins. Consistency is, of course, something the Rockies need, but with the solid numbers Realmuto puts up every year. Playing good ball this year got him to his first-ever All-Star game and he’ll most likely stay on that path. 

The Miami Marlins are obviously entering an era of rebuilding and most likely want to rebuild around a young core of prospects with potential. Due to this, guys like J.T. Realmuto will likely be traded to teams that are trying to contend. They already had a serious fire sale in the offseason when Derek Jeter took over the team. Because of that, they’ve been getting prospects in return for big-name stars like Christian Yelich, Giancarlo Stanton, Marcell Ozuna, and Dee Gordon. The Colorado Rockies would mostly have to give up some prospects. However their farm system is ripe with tons of potential that a trade like this wouldn’t damage too much. 

Though, like most trades, we all begin to wonder would this trade really be worth it? Yes, the Rockies don’t have a solid everyday starting catcher. Chris Iannetta is mediocre at best while Tony Wolters still needs development time. With those two going back and forth, Tom Murphy isn’t going to see as much time as we’d all like to see. J.T. Realmuto is someone who can come in and really help with the offense as a position player.