Colorado Rockies: A trade deadline wish list

The MLB trade deadline is a week and a half away and the Colorado Rockies sure could use some upgrades.

As the Colorado Rockies continue to freefall from their unbelievably hot 11-3 start, keep in mind that if the playoffs would start today, they would be in as they currently hold the best record of all the teams who are not in 2nd place of their respective divisions.

That being said, the Rockies have a lot of work to do to remain in the playoff picture as they try to stop the tailspin they have been for the last two weeks.  One way to do that would be to make a splash in the trade market.  Here is a list of potential spots the Rockies could use an upgrade.

The bullpen, specifically a lefty

This weekend, our own Noah Yingling broke down three potential trade targets for the Rockies’ bullpen and he is absolutely correct that they need to bolster that position.  However, of his three targets, only one of them is a lefty.

The Rockies currently have two southpaws in the ‘pen and that is Phillip Deihl and James Pazos.  The two have combined to give up 11 earned runs over 8 innings of work.  Those are not the type of numbers you want with someone like Cody Bellinger stepping up to the plate.

An offensive catcher

The Rockies have received little offense from their catching trio of Tony Wolters, Drew Butera, and Elias Diaz.  So far they are a combined 18-for-87 (.206) with 11 RBI, 6 runs scored, 21 strikeouts, and no home runs.

With numbers like that, the Rockies might as well DH the catcher’s spot and let the pitchers hit.  Finding a solid offensive catcher is difficult but there has to be someone out there who can hit better than this.

A power-hitting first baseman 

Daniel Murphy was surprisingly good early on in the season but lately, he has reverted back to the player Rockies’ fans have come to dislike.  He has 3 hits in his last 26 at-bats and has provided a struggling Nolan Arenado no protection batting behind him in the 5-hole.

Almost anyone would be a defensive upgrade over Murphy at first but adding some pop behind Arenado would give the Rockies a much-needed boost.

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A right-handed bat in the outfield/designated hitter

No offense to Matt Kemp but he is not cutting it as the Rockies’ right-handed bat off the bench.  Yes, he made an early splash to begin the season with some clutch hits but in his last 15 games, he is hitting 9-for-43 (.209) with 15 strikeouts.

He has a ton of experience but he is starting to look like the player who the Cincinnati Reds released after 20 games last season.  Bud Black can’t keep penciling his name into the lineup as a DH if he is going to be unproductive.  An upgrade at this spot is sorely needed.

To be completely honest, this is more of an offseason wish list as finding a team to part ways with valuable commodities will be difficult.  This season 16 teams will make the playoffs and unless you are the Pittsburgh Pirates, you are likely still in contention.

The Rockies will also have a lot more payroll flexibility this offseason as Jake McGee, Bryan Shaw, and Daniel Murphy’s contracts expire.  There is also Wade Davis who will come off the books unless he comes back from the Injured List and is able to make enough appearances for his contact to vest another season.