Rox Pile
Fansided

Colorado Rockies: Exploring trading away Jon Gray

By Noah Yingling

DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 29: Jon Gray #55 of the Colorado Rockies pitches against the Washington Nationals int he first inning of a game at Coors Field on September 29, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 29: Jon Gray #55 of the Colorado Rockies pitches against the Washington Nationals int he first inning of a game at Coors Field on September 29, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 12
Next
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – AUGUST 15: Gregory Polanco #25 of the Pittsburgh Pirates hits a two-run single against the Minnesota Twins during the fourth inning of the interleague game on August 15, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Pirates 6-4. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – AUGUST 15: Gregory Polanco #25 of the Pittsburgh Pirates hits a two-run single against the Minnesota Twins during the fourth inning of the interleague game on August 15, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Pirates 6-4. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

The Pittsburgh Pirates

This is, to me, the most intriguing team on this list. They have, perhaps, the best options for the Rockies and the Pirates’ pitching coach, Ray Searage, has helped many pitchers get their career back on track when they were at a crossroads since he became the Pirates pitching coach in the middle of the 2010 season.

These reclamation projects include A.J. Burnett, J.A. Happ, Francisco Liriano, Edinson Volquez, Arquimedes Caminero, Jason Grilli, Joe Blanton, Vance Worley, Ivan Nova, Neftali Feliz, and many others.

Jon Gray could also join that list and give the Pirates a very formidable rotation including Chris Archer, Jameson Taillon (3.20 ERA in 32 starts last season), and Trevor Williams (3.10 ERA in 31 starts in 2018).

On the major league roster, the players that the Rockies should most be interested are their outfielders.

Right-fielder Gregory Polanco: 2018 stats: 130 games, 23 HRs, 81 RBI, 32 doubles, .254/.340/.499 slash line, and 128 OPS+. Defensively, he had -5 DRS in 2018 but he had 3 DRS combined between 2016 and 2017. Contractually, he is owed $26.3 million over the next three years, which takes him through his age 29 season. After that, there are team options for 2022 and 2023 for $12.5 and $13.5 million with a total of $4 million in buyouts.

Home/Colorado Rockies Rumors