Colorado Rockies: Examining a trade for Noah Syndergaard

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CHICAGO, IL – AUGUST 27: Noah Syndergaard #34 of the New York Mets delivers the ball against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on August 27, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. The Cubs defeated the Mets 7-4. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

According to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal (subscription required), New York Mets All-Star starter Noah Syndergaard is receiving “significant trade interest” this offseason, but unsurprisingly Rosenthal also reported that the Mets will be asking for more than just a few low end prospects and a bucket of balls.

New Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen says that he expects the team to compete in 2019 so the haul the Mets get back would likely need to have some big league talent attached to it.

Syndergaard has risen to stardom, largely in part to him being in New York, but also because he’s a pretty darn good pitcher. The 26 year-old Mansfield, Texas native has a career ERA of 2.93 in 518 innings over four seasons. He’s got a career K/9 ratio of almost 10 (9.9) and a career ERA+ pf 132. There’s no shock that he’s a great pitcher and still has plenty of room to grow, but the man they call Thor does have one big flaw: injuries.

Since 2014, including the minor leagues, he has been placed on the DL six times and even missed almost all of 2017 with a muscle tear in his back. He has never thrown 200 innings, and has only eclipsed 180 once, in 2016.

But, he’s still a star when he’s healthy and a trio of Syndergaard, Freeland, and Márquez would be nothing short of deadly. And on top of it all, he has 3 full years of control left, which will drive the price up even more.

Let’s dive into a few different deals that the Rockies could make for the flame throwing right-hander.

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) /

Trade #1

Colorado Rockies Receive: RHP Noah Syndergaard, OF Jay Bruce

New York Mets Receive: RHP Jon Gray, IF Garrett Hampson, RHP Riley Pint, OF Raimel Tapia

At first glance, yes, this is a lot to give up. It’s two top 6 prospects, a former top 10 prospect, and a pitcher who has the talent to be like Syndergaard, but just isn’t doing it yet. But, the key in everything being offered in this deal is that it’s all “upside.”

I’m always a proponent of trading upside for proven talent and this trade would place the Rockies in a better spot pretty much any way you look at it. You instantly have a bonafide superstar pitcher who, when healthy is a proven ace of a staff, and with the Rockies, he wouldn’t even need to be your number one.

A 1, 2, 3 punch of Freeland, Syndergaard, and Márquez, or whatever variation your heart desires, would be a scary sight for hitters across the league, and puts the Rockies rotation among the best in baseball on the top end.

Jay Bruce may be making a few of you cringe, and I’ll admit, I did the same myself but after learning that he is just one year removed from hitting 36 home runs and driving in 101 runs between the Mets and Cleveland, that cringe feeling subsided.

He was limited to just 94 games in 2018 with various injuries to his foot, and back, and most notably one to his hip, and he was never really healthy for the entirety of the season. A bounce back season could certainly be in order for 2019 and filling a very needed spot in right field for the Rockies while taking half of his at-bats at Coors Field could make for a great combination for Mr. Bruce.

And a worthy side note is that the Mets want Brandon Nimmo to get every at-bat possible after posting 17 home runs, 47 RBI and a triple slash of .263/.404/.483 in 140 games in 2018. That’s correct, a .404 on-base percentage, so while Jay Bruce would be a viable option for the Mets, moving him in favor of Nimmo seems to be the direction the Mets would prefer to go.

DENVER, CO – OCTOBER 07: Nolan Arenado #28 of the Colorado Rockies throws out Travis Shaw #21 of the Milwaukee Brewers in the fourth inning of Game Three of the National League Division Series at Coors Field on October 7, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

Trade #2

Colorado Rockies Receive: RHP Noah Syndergaard

New York Mets Receive: 3B Nolan Arenado

Bring on the comment section. I know the Rockies are working hard at getting Arenado signed long-term, and I know that he is a more valuable player overall than Syndergaard given that he plays into the outcome of 150 or so games versus 30-32 for a starting pitcher. But let me ask you this.

Would you take a minimum of three years of Noah Syndergaard over one of Arenado?

I would, especially if that’s all you’re giving up. Yes, Nolan is a lot to give up, but if he’s not signed, getting Noah-freaking-Sydergaard in return is an absolute steal.

Then if you get him, you can spend some of that Nolan money locking up Thor.

It would be tough to see Arenado go, but the sting won’t be nearly as bad. And in the case of the Mets, they get a bonafide megastar, top-5 player in baseball who would help them compete in 2019.

If this deal were to take place, it would actually give the Rockies an extreme amount of flexibility in free agency. They could even bring in the likes of Josh Donaldson on a short term deal to sure up third base, and in that case, if Donaldson were to stay healthy, you have a better team with him and Syndergaard than you do with only Arenado.

Things to ponder, Rockies fans.

DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 7: Ian Desmond #20 of the Colorado Rockies celebrates after scoring a run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second inning of a game at Coors Field on September 7, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /

Trade #3

Colorado Rockies Receive: RHP Noah Syndergaard

New York Mets Receive: IF/OF Ian Desmond, IF Pat Valaika, IF Colton Welker, IF Peter Lambert

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Once again, cue the critics.

To me, Ian Desmond still has plenty of value, and there literally aren’t too many 20-20 players walking around, so the Mets are getting a really good player back, who is still capable of having Silver Slugger type seasons, plus he plays three positions.

But, for many Rockies fans, the Ian Desmond experience has largely been ruled a bust, and most feel the time is now to end it. So if you’re going to trade a semi-bad contract, you’re going to have to give up some pretty big sweeteners in the deal.

Colton Welker and Peter Lambert are the Rockies’ number two and three overall prospects, respectively, and both reside in MLB.com’s Top 100 prospect list as well. Both are coming off their best seasons as professionals, and both players’ values could not be higher than they are right now.

Welker is coming off a season that saw him hit .333/.383/.489 at High-A Lancaster with 13 home runs, 32 doubles, 82 RBI, and scored 72 runs in 114 games. He’s entering his age 21 season and will surely jump up the Top 100 prospect rankings when the season opens for 2019.

Lambert would be even tougher for me to give up than Welker, but if you’re getting Syndergaard back, it shouldn’t matter as much. In 15 starts at Double-A, Lambert went 8-2 with a 2.23 ERA in 92.2 innings. That’s dominant. He got called up to Triple-A and had some trouble adjusting, but he’s still just 21 years old, and has been trending upward for a while now.

If the Mets did a deal with Desmond in it, Colorado may have to toss in a Chris Rusin, Pat Valaika-type, or some other lower tier major league player to get it done, but once again, Syndergaard is worth the price.

Let us know on Twitter, @tysoncrocker2 and @RoxPileFS, if you think the Rockies should make a play for Syndergaard, and, if so, what they should give up to get him.

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