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Colorado Rockies: Looking at three outfield trade targets

By Tyson Crocker |
TORONTO, ON - JULY 23: Max Kepler #26 of the Minnesota Twins makes a catch as he runs into the wall in the third inning during MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on July 23, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - JULY 23: Max Kepler #26 of the Minnesota Twins makes a catch as he runs into the wall in the third inning during MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on July 23, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
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TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 24: Kevin Pillar #11 of the Toronto Blue Jays makes a sliding catch in the eighth inning during MLB game action against the Houston Astros at Rogers Centre on September 24, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 24: Kevin Pillar #11 of the Toronto Blue Jays makes a sliding catch in the eighth inning during MLB game action against the Houston Astros at Rogers Centre on September 24, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /

It’s no secret that the Colorado Rockies are looking to add at least one more bat, and the same goes for the fact that the team will likely add one if not two outfielders into the mix for 2019 and beyond.

Whether it’s through free agency or trade, expect it to happen. So let’s take a look at the latter and discuss who the Colorado Rockies could look to add via trade this offseason.

Kevin Pillar – OF Toronto Blue Jays

The Rockies have dealt with the Blue Jays on trades in years past, as Jeff Bridich even snagged Seunghwan Oh during the stretch run this past year, and the Jays could be a team that the Rockies turn to this offseason to add some depth to the 2019 roster.

Kevin Pillar offers defense, and he would slot right into center field when all said and done, and whether you agree with them or not, the defensive metrics for Charlie Blackmon last season in centerfield did not make the bearded-wonder look very good, so an improvement on the defensive side of things in centerfield could end up paying dividends for Colorado, plus a move to a corner spot could alleviate some of the load that comes with manning center at Coors Field for Charlie Blackmon.

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Pillar had a less than stellar season on the offensive side of things in 2018, but he’s consistently performed well at the plate in the past. The only oddity of Pillar’s 2018 was his on-base percentage, which was a putrid .282. Other than that, he had a standard 15 home runs and 59 RBI and I’m confident that  a change of scenery, and 200 to 300 at-bats at Coors Field, would greatly improve his offensive prowess.

You may be thinking, why Kevin Pillar? Well, because he’s cheap, and he’d fit in well with this team. The soon-to-be 30-year-old Pillar has played on some very good teams and had a few deep playoff runs where he was the starting center fielder, and a guy who has done it before is always someone you want in your room. This would be a depth move, and by no means would be the biggest move the Rockies make this offseason, but it would be an underrated addition to an already good team.

Rockies Receive: OF Kevin Pillar

Blue Jays Receive: LHP Harrison Musgrave

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 28: Max Kepler #26 of the Minnesota Twins hits an RBI single against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning in game two of a doubleheader on September 28, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 28: Max Kepler #26 of the Minnesota Twins hits an RBI single against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning in game two of a doubleheader on September 28, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

Max Kepler – OF/1B Minnesota Twins

Kepler is on a similar train as Pillar when it comes to the Rockies. Value. Both players had down years offensively, and a change of scenery could do them well. Kepler, analytically, is more valuable than Pillar, though.

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He had a triple slash of .224/.319/.408, and while his average was down, he bumped his career on base up a bit, so maybe this year he puts them both together for a solid year. Positives to take away from Kepler’s 2018 are that he hit 20 homers for the first time in his career and added 30 doubles to go with it, so 50 extra base hits is never a bad thing, and throwing him into the thin air will only help the man. He rated as almost a three-win player in 2018 (2.8) according to Baseball Reference, and rated in the positive section on the defensive side of things, posting a 0.8 WAR while playing three positions. Depth is always good, and the Rockies didn’t have a super consistent bench in 2018 and that ended up playing a role in their fate.

Max is still very young, too. He’ll be 26 on Opening Day, and the Rockies wouldn’t have to give up virtually anything to get him, if they so pleased.

Rockies Receive: OF/1B Max Kepler

Twins Receive: RHP Jeff Hoffman

NEW YORK, NY – JULY 15: Michael Taylor #3 of the Washington Nationals in action against the New York Mets during their game at Citi Field on July 15, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – JULY 15: Michael Taylor #3 of the Washington Nationals in action against the New York Mets during their game at Citi Field on July 15, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

Michael Taylor – OF Washington Nationals

After a very disappointing 2018 for Michael Taylor, the Nationals might be ready to call it quits on their athletic center fielder who they’ve hoped would turn into a big league mainstay. He has shown big flashes of brilliance, but zero consistency, and if the Nationals were to entertain trade packages for him, If I were Jeff Bridich, I would ask about him.

One, he’d be cheap. Two, did you see the homer he hit at Coors a few years back? And three, you really need to see that home run. He had a good year in 2015, but didn’t hit for any average. In 2017, he had a mini-break out with 19 homers and 53 RBI, while hitting .271/.320/.486, but in 2018, he regressed back into more of what we saw in 2016 and his small sample of 2014. He’s a crazy athlete and a plus defender and still has enormous potential. And even in the on base numbers aren’t there, he’s a major threat on the bases (71 career steals), and a great defensive replacement, and regardless of average, he will probably hit 13-16 home runs and have decent run production.

Rockies Receive: OF Michael Taylor

Nationals Receive: IF Roberto Ramos, LHP Breiling Eusebio

Next. What would have happened if Troy Tulowitzki had never been traded?. dark

These are all depth moves, but depth moves need to be made and the Rockies will need some depth pieces in their outfield next year. Good teams always have players on their bench that could be starting on other teams, and Colorado didn’t really have enough of that last year.

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