What would it take for the Colorado Rockies to trade for Marcus Stroman?

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DENVER, COLORADO – JUNE 01: Starting pitcher Marcus Stroman #6 of the Toronto Blue Jays throws in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on June 01, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

DENVER — There has been some public connection between the Colorado Rockies and Toronto Blue Jays’ ace Marcus Stroman. The 28-year-old righty with an accomplished career could be on the block given Toronto’s place in the standings.

While this may make sense given the two teams positioning and the Colorado Rockies now clear need for a another starter, it also doesn’t in a way.

General Manager Jeff Bridich has made fewer trades than any other front office member in baseball since he took the reins of the Rox. He has found a common trading partner with the Blue Jays, making four deals and most notably shipping Troy Tulowitzki up north and getting Seunghwan Oh a few years later.

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This, on the surface, does spell that there could be something worked out. But the Jays did have a lot of turnover in the front office this offseason, some of which included the very people who helped to facilitate those deals. It seems rather unlikely that the Rockies can make any trades, let alone one for a pretty renowned pitcher. Bridich’s evaluation system is such a zig from the current zag of baseball that it has hampered Colorado’s ability to make deals. It’s also the same against-the-grain approach that has netted them two postseason appearances on clubs not projected to make the postseason and brought questions about spending on some odd free agent pickups.

There are negatives and positives here no doubt, but will the Rockies break the mold of consent competitiveness for capitalizing on a window of opportunity? The answer has continually been no.

Marcus Stroman would be different than the past Rockies deadline pickups. With a year of team control after this season, he could very easily pickup over 200 innings. The impact and contract status isn’t the same as the short-term relievers the club has picked up in the past two runs. His would actually be mortgaging part of the farm, which has already been falling down system rankings.

TORONTO, ON – MAY 11: Marcus Stroman #6 of the Toronto Blue Jays reacts after three quality defensive plays were made behind him in the field to end the first inning during MLB game action against the Chicago White Sox at Rogers Centre on May 11, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /

In short, the 5-foot-7-inch righty would command some valued pieces from the Rockies. Assuming they do not want to move one of their rostered players because they are competing for a playoff spot, a package for Stroman could look something like this:

MLB.com’s third-ranked Rockies prospect, left-handed pitcher Ryan Rolison, 55 rated, 2021 ETA

MLB.com’s fifth-ranked Rockies prospect, corner infielder Grant Lavigne, 50 rated, 2022 ERA

MLB.com’s 21st-ranked Rockies prospect, right-handed pitcher Rico Garcia, 40 rated, 2020 ETA

FOR

Stroman

Right-handed reliever Daniel Hudson

The Rockies could kill two-birds with one stone. They’re about a handful of players short of the postseason and, by the time of the deadline, they’re likely going to have some clear holes in the bullpen.

Stroman, meanwhile, is on pace to have another 200-inning season and has a 3.13 ERA across 14 starts, falling in line with his 3.85 career ERA over nearly 1,000 innings. Stroman also accrued postseason experience early on in his career, excelling at times in 2015 and 2016 as the Blue Jays knocked on the door of the Royals.

Next. Stroman and three other starters who could help Colorado. dark

A Blue Jays-Rockies trade probably won’t happen. However, given the talk, it was worth writing about. And just because it won’t happen doesn’t mean the Rockies shouldn’t consider a trade like this or pull the trigger. They need a starter and they need to find a way to make it happen at a relatively affordable cost. If not, it will be cross your fingers and hope for positive regression with a group that has thoroughly disappointed in the early going.

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DENVER — There has been some public connection between the Colorado Rockies and Toronto Blue Jays’ ace Marcus Stroman. The 28-year-old righty with an accomplished career could be on the block given Toronto’s place in the standings.

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