Colorado Rockies: Examining a trade for Noah Syndergaard

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.