Colorado Rockies: Would this Trevor Story/German Marquez trade proposal to the Yankees work?

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA – APRIL 14: German Marquez #48 of the Colorado Rockies pitches against the San Francisco Giants during the seventh inning at Oracle Park on April 14, 2019 in San Francisco, California. The Colorado Rockies defeated the San Francisco Giants 4-0. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images) /

Earlier this week, Jim Bowden of The Athletic proposed five different trades, and the Colorado Rockies and New York Yankees were involved in the biggest trade proposal.

We discussed how that proposal would absolutely not work for the Colorado Rockies. Since then, we decided to make our own proposal.

While this would, in our opinion, be a much more fair trade for the Rockies, it would still be a colossal blow to the Rockies and Rockies fans. After all, their closer, their ace, and their best position player would all be leaving … and leaving to join the Yankees.

It would make the Yankees even bigger favorites to get to the World Series and if they did, it would be with a lot of former Rockies, including DJ LeMahieu, Tommy Kahnle, Mike Tauchman, and (perhaps) Jhoulys Chacin (he’s a non-roster invitee). They also had many other former Rockies on their roster in recent seasons.

So here’s what our proposal would look like:

So let’s dissect the return for the Rockies in this proposal.

BALTIMORE, MD – SEPTEMBER 04: In his major league debut, Clarke Schmidt #86 of the New York Yankees, pitches in the sixth inning during game two of a doubleheader baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 4, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

The Yankees top pitching prospect would be the main returning piece for the Rockies.

Clarke Schmidt, 25, has already made his MLB debut with the Yankees and he is their #2 prospect, per MLB.com. He is also MLB.com’s #88 overall prospect. He is a four-pitch pitcher and MLB.com ranks all (a cutting four-seam fastball, a two-seamer, curveball, changeup) as above average. The fastball can be in the mid- to- upper-90s.

His control is rated as “average” and he has some health issues, including multiple elbow injuries, which is very concerning, especially with altitude. However, his upside is very good so he may be able to overcome them. He could immediately slot into the Rockies rotation and if not, he would certainly be in contention for the rotation.

The same can be said of Deivi Garcia, 21, who was in Bowden’s proposal. He is the Yankees #3 prospect and has also already made his MLB debut.

He also has four average to above-average pitches but his control is average to slightly below (he walked more than four walks per nine innings in 2019). However, considering that it’s not too high, he could easily work on it either in the majors or in Triple-A.

LAKELAND, FLORIDA – MARCH 12: Albert Abreu #84 of the New York Yankees delivers a pitch in the fifth inning against the Detroit Tigers during a spring training game on March 12, 2021 at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /

A third pitching prospect from the Yankees could also factor in to the Rockies rotation.

Albert Abreu, 25, is the Yankees #19 prospect but he could also factor into the rotation if the Rockies wanted. He is slightly further behind Schmidt and Garcia as he hasn’t pitched in Triple-A yet. However, with no minor league season in 2020, the Yankees did call on him to pitch in the majors for two relief appearances.

His best pitch is a fastball that sits around 98 but can top triple digits. His main problem is control, as in 2019 in Double-A, he walked nearly five batters per nine innings. MLB.com says his chances of making as a starter are “diminishing” but even so, he could provide the Rockies will a good bullpen arm, as long as he figures out the control issues.

Clint Frazier, 26, has never been given everyday playing time with the Yankees since they have the likes of Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton but when they are injured (and they are injured a ton), he has gotten some playing time. He has nearly three years of MLB service time but the Rockies would still get four years of control with him.

When he plays, he does really well at the plate. In the last two seasons, he has played in 108 games, and in those games, he has had a 162-game average of 30 home runs and 96 RBI (in other words, if he kept his play in the 108 games to a full 162, that’s what he would have averaged) with an OPS+ of 125. He has struggled a bit defensively, though.

The former top prospect (ranked as high as #24 overall by MLB.com before the 2017 season) is best as a corner outfielder and with the Rockies current outfield situation but with Charlie Blackmon getting older and the DH likely coming to the NL in 2022, the Rockies could easily use Frazier and Blackmon in a platoon between right field and DH.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 28: Estevan Florial #90 of the New York Yankees in action against the New York Mets at Yankee Stadium on August 28, 2020 in New York City. The Mets defeated the Yankees 6-4. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

An MLB-ready outfield prospect could be a factor in center field for the Rockies.

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Estevan Florial, 23, is the Yankees #10 prospect, per MLB.com. He also made his MLB debut with the Yankees in 2020 but he hasn’t played at Triple-A or even Double-A yet. However, he is projected to start the season in Triple-A. The outfielder, who has the vast majority of his minor league play in center field, is best defensively and he is also fast, which would play well in Coors Field. His weakest tool is his hit tool but his power is above average.

MLB.com says that if he can refine his plate discipline and baserunning acumen, he could easily be a 30-30 guy. Every MLB team can use that in a player.

The final player is Gio Urshela, who was also in Bowden’s proposal. He is a really good defensive third baseman and he always has been. However, the bat was last to develop but once he joined the Yankees (he previously was in Cleveland and Toronto), it made him one of the top ten third basemen in baseball. Since joining the Yankees, he has an OPS+ of 133 in 175 games. MLB Network ranked Urshela as the 9th-best third baseman in baseball entering the 2021 season.

Next. Rockies spring training studs and duds so far. dark

This would be a fair deal for the two teams, in our opinion … but, in the wake of the return for the Nolan Arenado trade, the Yankees would likely balk at the idea of this.

What do you think of this trade for the Rockies? Do you think it’s a fair trade? Let us know what you think on social media.

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The Yankees top pitching prospect would be the main returning piece for the Rockies.

A third pitching prospect from the Yankees could also factor in to the Rockies rotation.

An MLB-ready outfield prospect could be a factor in center field for the Rockies.

More from Rox Pile

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