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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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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

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