Colorado Rockies news: A 2-for-2 trade with the Cincinnati Reds

According to FanSided’s Robert Murray, the Colorado Rockies and Cincinnati Reds have made a two-for-two swap of struggling pitchers.

Robert Murray of our sister site’s Climbing Tal’s Hill and Redbird Rants is reporting on Twitter that the Colorado Rockies and Cincinnati Reds have made a two-for-two trade on Wednesday.

More from Rox Pile

• A Colorado Rockies Thanksgiving
• Colorado Rockies: What if Todd Helton had played football instead?
• Colorado Rockies: Charlie Blackmon out for the season
• Colorado Rockies: Injuries shift look of roster ahead of Dodgers series
• Colorado Rockies: Has Sean Bouchard earned a second look in 2023?

Stephenson, who will turn 28 in September, struggled mightily in a injury-plagued 2020 season. After one appearance out of the bullpen, he went on the injured list with a back strain and when he did return in late August, it was not a triumphant return.

In 10 relief appearances, he pitched to a 9.90 ERA, allowing more than 7 home runs per nine innings and a 1.40 WHIP. The Rockies, in acquiring him, hope that he will return to his 2019 form when the former top prospect (MLB.com’s #19 prospect entering 2014) pitched to a 3.76 ERA in 57 relief appearances (64 1/3 IP). His FIP was better than his ERA (3.63) with a 1.036 WHIP, 2.7 walks, and more than 11 strikeouts per nine innings.

Hannah, 23, is the Reds no. 15 prospect, according to MLB.com. In 2019, with two Single-A teams, hit .274/.339/.369 with 2 home runs, 37 RBI, and 28 doubles. He was on two separate Single-A teams because he was the Reds’ return when they traded Tanner Roark to the Oakland A’s at the trade deadline.

With Hoffman being traded, his less-than-stellar career with the Rockies comes to an end. The former top prospect (MLB.com’s #44 prospect entering 2017) pitched parts of five seasons in the majors with the Rockies and in the last three seasons, he pitched to a 7.38 ERA in 37 games (16 starts) so he was obviously in a need of a change of scenery.

Williams is an interesting addition considering that he was the Rockies fourth-round draft pick in 2020. He is a local product as he graduated from Douglas County High School in Castle Rock, which is a southern suburb of Denver. However, with the minor league season being cancelled in 2020, Williams will never end up playing a game in the Rockies organization.

Stay tuned to further analysis of the trade here on the site in the coming days.