Colorado Rockies: Who is most likely to be traded before the trade deadline?

Despite playing very well at home in 2021, the Colorado Rockies offense and the entire team’s play on the road has, barring some massive turnaround, made them a non-contender.

As a result, there are a slew of Colorado Rockies that could be traded in the next coming weeks or months. In fact, on Wednesday, MLB Trade Rumors ranked their top 40 trade candidates and there were a slew of Rockies scattered throughout it.

They ranked their top 40 trade candidates based on “a combination of likelihood of being moved and overall value as a trade chip.”

The Rockies, in fact, have MLBTR’s top two trade candidates: Jon Gray and Trevor Story.

If you have seen these articles on our site in the last few weeks, that shouldn’t be a surprise. And if checked out our podcast with our colleague, Robert Murray of FanSided, recently, you also won’t be surprised to hear that one of those two may be the first player traded overall.

The key for Story will be to return from the injured list ASAP and stay healthy. It would be even better if he returns to his former self at the plate, as he as struggled a bit at the plate in 2021.

Rockies first baseman C.J. Cron also gets on the list at #14 and Rockies starting pitcher Germán Márquez is on the list at #32. Cron is a cheap, veteran option for a contender that, as MLBTR notes, is decent against righties and absolutely rakes lefties. He could be a DH for an American League team too, since he’s not a great defender at first base.

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For Márquez, he isn’t as high on the list because the chance of him being traded is less likely. However, if he is traded, the Rockies should get a decent haul for him, considering his team friendly contract that could run through 2024.

Relievers Daniel Bard, Jhoulys Chacin, and Mychal Givens are listed among MLBTR’s players to watch. Chacin and Givens are free agents at season’s end but Bard is still arbitration eligible for next season. Therefore, with that and him closing, he may get the most in return. But relievers never are going to get a ton in return, because there’s more supply of them than any other position.

Some old friends appear on the list too as in the top 40, former Rockies left-handed starting pitcher Tyler Anderson appears on the list (#5) as does former Rockies outfielder Corey Dickerson (#29) and some others in the “others to watch” list.

If/when the Rockies do trade Gray and/or Story in the next few weeks or months, they must get a good return for them to replenish their farm system, which is, despite getting better recently, still one of the worst in baseball as well as their MLB roster as well.

It will be painful for the team and for fans but a good return (or an overpay) will be able to ease the blow for Rockies fans.