Colorado Rockies trade rumors: Jon Gray too pricey for St. Louis Cardinals?

There is plenty of buzz going around about whether the Colorado Rockies will trade starting pitcher Jon Gray before the upcoming trade deadline. However, will a potential price tag and return be too much for the St. Louis Cardinals to consider trading for him?

Here is what is being said about a potential trade between the Colorado Rockies and St. Louis Cardinals.

FanSided Major League Baseball insider Robert Murray has put together an article about what the Cardinals might be doing at the 2021 MLB trade deadline, including their potential acquisition of a starting pitcher. While many are linking the Cardinals as a potential suitor for Washington Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer, there are others who are thinking St. Louis could be a landing spot for Colorado starter Jon Gray, who Murray predicted would be part of the first big MLB trade of 2021.

However, in Murray’s article, he mentions that both Scherzer and Gray, who is pitching under a one-year, $6 million contract that ends after this season, could be “out of the St. Louis Cardinals’ price range.” It’s an interesting comment and one worth examining.

One of the reasons, of course, the Cardinals are having to watch their budget as the trade deadline approaches is Nolan Arenado, who St. Louis acquired from Colorado in an early February trade that has resulted in plenty of negative press for the Rockies and a much bigger payroll for the Cardinals.

Ironically, the Arenado trade is the reason why starting pitcher Austin Gomber is now in a Rockies uniform rather than calling Busch Stadium home. The southpaw, the centerpiece of Colorado’s return for Arenado, lowered his season ERA to 3.54 with eight shutout innings in a Rockies home win over San Diego on Monday night.

In Gomber’s last seven starts, he has an overall 1.27 ERA while opponent batting averages and on-base percentage during that stretch are less than .200.

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But let’s get back to the immediate needs in St. Louis. What if we’re not just talking about the money side of a potential trade? According to Murray, Colorado’s ask for Gray is “really high” right now in terms of a prospect return, meaning the Cardinals (and any other team) might wait to see if the asking price would come down in terms of a potential return. Murray believes that prices for all trade pieces will likely come down as July 30 comes closer.

And, again, don’t forget that sources are telling Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (subscription required) that the Rockies will at least offer Gray a contract before any kind of trade is accelerated. Additionally, Gray has told Rox Pile that he hopes to stay in Colorado for the rest of 2021 and into the foreseeable future.

Will any kind of Rockies-Cardinals deal have better short-term results for Colorado with Jeff Bridich no longer sitting in the general manager’s office in Denver? Will Jon Gray’s asking price not seem so rich as the days count down to July 30? We’ll be watching these questions and more to see if the Cardinals and Rockies make another deal involving a long-term and homegrown member of the Rockies.