Colorado Rockies: Remembering Todd Helton trade talks to Boston Red Sox

Let’s take a look back at a time when the Colorado Rockies and Boston Red Sox were reportedly discussing a trade for Todd Helton.

Right now, it’s difficult to focus on what we do have. In a time where basic necessities aren’t a guarantee in a pandemic, it feels like sports should be the last thing on our minds. Maybe they are not, but that’s okay. The best thing about sports though is that it brings us together. Even when we can’t be together. So when we’re having Opening Day at Home and can’t have those sweet sounds and smells of the ballpark, here we are going to focus on what we do have. No matter what, we will always have baseball and the surrounding community to get us through this.

In that spirit, we are reminiscing on what a pleasure it is to know that Todd Helton was always in a Rockies uniform. Right now, this seems like it was always a given. Many might remember though, Helton was nearly traded to the Red Sox in the offseason after the 2006 season. But that wasn’t the first time the Rockies’ All-Star would almost sign in Boston. Here we reminisce on how the Rockies nearly changed the course of their franchise history. Twice.

In 2000, Helton had his best season hitting .372, 147 RBI, and 42 home runs. He hit .391 at home and .351 on the road. Say #Coors all you want, but that is unbelievable. It was his first of five consecutive All-Star appearances. He was the best first baseman in baseball, certainly in the National League until Albert Pujols got a few years under his belt after his debut in 2001. For Helton’s performance, the Rockies rewarded him in April 2001 with the fourth-richest contract in the history of baseball at the time with a nine-year, $141.5 million extension that took effect in 2003. Only Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, and Manny Ramirez were paid more.