Fansided

Colorado Rockies: Three trade targets from the Boston Red Sox

By Noah Yingling |
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 03: Bobby Dalbec #29 of the Boston Red Sox bats against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on October 03, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 03: Bobby Dalbec #29 of the Boston Red Sox bats against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on October 03, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
1 of 3
Next
BOSTON, MA – SEPTEMBER 08: Bobby Dalbec #29 of the Boston Red Sox looks on during a game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park on September 8, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – SEPTEMBER 08: Bobby Dalbec #29 of the Boston Red Sox looks on during a game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park on September 8, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

The Colorado Rockies and the Boston Red Sox are at two different places in the baseball world. The Red Sox are a team that is on the rise and made the postseason in 2021 after not making it in 2019 or 2020. The Rockies are much further back than the Red Sox and have a much smaller payroll than the Red Sox.

However, the Red Sox could look to make a few trades this offseason when the lockout ends and a few of them could be fits for the Rockies.

Let’s take a look at three possible trade targets for the Colorado Rockies to acquire from the Boston Red Sox.

Boston Red Sox first baseman Bobby Dalbec could be a fit for the Colorado Rockies

The Colorado Rockies are in need of another bat, especially if the designated hitter comes to the National League in 2022. If that were to happen, Bobby Dalbec could be a fit for the Rockies as he and C.J. Cron could switch between first base and DH.

The Rockies could use Dalbec, 26, as a third baseman too as he has actually played there more if you include his time in the minor leagues.

Dalbec, who was MLB.com’s #93 prospect entering the 2021 season, still could be the odd man out for the Red Sox as third base is occupied by Rafael Devers (an All-Star and AL MVP candidate in 2021) and first base could soon be Triston Casas. Casas, who turns 22 in January, was drafted by the Red Sox in the first round of the 2018 draft and entering 2021, he was MLB.com’s #44 prospect. Casas ended the season at Triple-A. If he does as well as he did at Double-A and Triple-A in 2021, he will be in the majors in 2022.

In 2021 for the Red Sox, Dalbec hit for a good amount of power but not for the average or on-base percentage. He hit .240/.298/.494 with 25 homers, 78 RBI, and an OPS+ of 105.

Dalbec only has a year and change of service time so, under the current CBA, the Rockies would have five years of control with him.

Additionally, Dalbec is a Colorado native. He was born in Seattle, Washington but he graduated from Legend High School in the Denver suburb of Parker.

Given his prospect ranking entering 2021, he may have a fairly high price tag but it may not be as high as you’d think considering he may have no position to play in the near future.

DETROIT, MI – AUGUST 4: Matt Barnes #32 of the Boston Red Sox pitches against the Detroit Tigers during the ninth inning at Comerica Park on August 4, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – AUGUST 4: Matt Barnes #32 of the Boston Red Sox pitches against the Detroit Tigers during the ninth inning at Comerica Park on August 4, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

Boston Red Sox reliever Matt Barnes could help the Colorado Rockies bullpen

Back in October, we made the case that if there was one Boston Red Sox player the Colorado Rockies should target, it’s Matt Barnes. However, since then a few things have changed for the Rockies. At the time, there was the chance that the Colorado Rockies would part ways with or not re-sign Daniel Bard or Jhoulys Chacín, leaving Carlos Estévez and Robert Stephenson as the only two veteran relievers in the Rockies bullpen.

However, Bard and Chacín are both staying. But the Rockies still need some help in the bullpen and Barnes could help with that.

As we said at the time, Barnes, 31, is good and durable as he has had six straight seasons with an ERA+ of 110 or better and (with the obvious exception of the shortened 2020 season) he has appeared in at least 60 games per season.

The Rockies closing situation is up in the air and he could be the closer if the Rockies wanted him to be. In 2021, he was an All-Star and had an ERA+ of 125 with 24 saves.

Barnes also has a good groundball rate (44.7 percent since 2019) which is in the top 60 for relievers with at least 100 innings pitched since then.

He signed a two-year extension in July that will cover the 2022 and 2023 seasons for $18.75 million but there is a team option for a third-year at $8 million.

BOSTON, MA – JUNE 26: Connor Wong #74 of the Boston Red Sox before the game between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees at Fenway Park on June 26, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – JUNE 26: Connor Wong #74 of the Boston Red Sox before the game between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees at Fenway Park on June 26, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images) /

Boston Red Sox catcher Connor Wong could also be a target for the Colorado Rockies

Connor Wong, 25, just made his MLB debut for the Boston Red Sox this year after he was one of the three pieces that they got from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the trade for Mookie Betts.

But given that the Red Sox have Christian Vázquez and Kevin Plawecki behind the plate, Wong could be in Triple-A if they don’t get rid of one of their veteran catchers.

The Colorado Rockies might have interest in Wong because he can play multiple positions. As we have discussed a few times before, the Rockies love having versatile players and they love having a catcher that can play other positions or a position player that can catch too. 2021 was the first time in a decade where the Rockies didn’t have someone on the active roster for the entire season with that background.

Since he was drafted by the Dodgers in 2017, Wong has played second and third base in addition to catching but in college, Wong also played first base, shortstop, and all three outfield positions. In fact, with the exception of first base and pitcher, he has played every position at least a dozen times since college.

In 2021, Wong played in Triple-A (and six games in the majors). In the minors, he hit .256/.288/.422 with eight homers and 26 RBI in 50 games. In 2019, between Advanced-A and Double-A for the Dodgers, he showed more power as he hit 24 homers and 82 RBI in 111 games. He had a slash line of .281/.336/.541.

Next. 7 trade targets from the Baltimore Orioles. dark

If that translates to the majors, the Rockies would have themselves a versatile back-up catcher who could also be a good hitter at the plate.

Next
Home / Colorado Rockies Rumors

Schedule