Colorado Rockies: Three trade targets from the Boston Red Sox

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.

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.

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.