Colorado Rockies rumors: Team still plans to add “big bat” in offseason

LAS VEGAS — Despite likely missing out on a couple of possibilities to boost offense production at first base, Colorado Rockies general manager Jeff Bridich seems to indicate the team will still make a splash sometime this offseason.

When the trade between the Seattle Mariners, Cleveland Indians and Tampa Bay Rays was announced on Thursday morning, it shifted Carlos Santana and Edwin Encarnacion to other teams. Both were reportedly in play for the Colorado Rockies to land in a trade. However, that seems to now be off the table.

In a tweet, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post said he caught up with Bridich on Thursday morning and asked him if the three-team trade that involved two potential first base targets would “derail” Colorado’s plan to add “a big bat.” Bridich’s response? “A definitive no.”

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What kind of a big bat would benefit the Rockies? It’s been made clear that the team could use upgrades at catcher, first base and a corner outfield spot. First base still seems to be the logical spot, with news coming on Thursday morning that the Rockies may be looking at free agents or formulating a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays for Justin Smoak. Don’t forget, the Rockies and Blue Jays have been trade partners in recent years, including the Troy Tulowitzki deal and the swap that brought Seunghwan Oh to the Colorado bullpen last season.

Other “big bats” on the market include catcher J.T. Realmuto, infielder Manny Machado and outfielder Bryce Harper, but there has been no indication that the Rockies are interested in the latter two players and talk about the Rockies and Realmuto has died down considerably in recent weeks.

Don’t be surprised if the Rockies sign a free agent rather than making a trade, allowing them to keep their prospects and still improve at a position. Daniel Murphy, Neil Walker and Logan Morrison have all been named as potential upgrades at first base who are currently free agents.