
In our simulated trade, Colorado sent Wade Davis (and every bit of his salary) plus left-hander Helcris Olivarez (who played for Grand Junction last season) to the Mets in exchange for first baseman/outfielder Dominic Smith and utility player Jed Lowrie. The Mets are also sending $4 million to cover existing signing bonuses.
What the Rockies received
Smith was blocked at first base behind Rookie of the Year Pete Alonso but still hit .282/.355/.525 with 11 homers and 25 RBI in 177 at-bats last year. He’s also under team control until 2024 and a bright future is possible for the 24-year-old Smith.
Lowrie is a little more interesting and a high-risk/high-reward pickup. He brings a $10 million contract into 2020 and totaled just seven at-bats last year in an injury-filled campaign. Lowrie, who will turn 36 in April, will be a free agent in 2021.
Of course, the risk is that the Rockies are now on the hook for $10 million for a player who barely saw the field last year. The potential reward is that the switch-hitting Lowrie (who has reportedly focused on entering the offseason healthy) returns to form where he was an All-Star with Oakland in 2018 and compiled a .272/.356/.448 slash line in 310 games for the A’s in his two seasons there (2017 and 2018).
Regardless, Lowrie’s $10 million is less than the $17 million due Davis, freeing up some more precious capital to use in other places (pitching and catching, as you’ll see in upcoming articles).
Overall, in our view, the Rockies get two potential pieces to the lineup or bats off the bench.
What the Rockies gave up
We’ve already told you about Davis. We also had to surrender the 19-year-old Olivarez, who joined Grand Junction in June from the Dominican Summer League. He went 3-4 with a 4.82 ERA in 11 starts last season in Grand Junction.
Remember, this is a simulated trade. But what’s your reaction? Would you be happy with this trade if the Rockies could pull it off? Let us know in the comments below or find us on Twitter (@RoxPileFS).