Colorado Rockies: Looking at three outfield trade targets

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

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.