3 trade targets for the Colorado Rockies from the Detroit Tigers

Today, we continue our series of trade targets for the Colorado Rockies from each and every MLB team off their 40-man roster in the American League Central with the Detroit Tigers.

The Detroit Tigers and the Colorado Rockies are teams that believe that they are in a similar spot right now. Both the Tigers and Rockies finished with records in the 70s (the Rockies with 74 wins and Detroit with 77) and both were nowhere close to contending teams in 2019 and 2020.

However, the Tigers have done something that the Colorado Rockies haven’t done in a few years and have yet to do this offseason: sign some big names from other teams in free agency. The Tigers have signed starting pitcher Eduardo Rodríguez and infielder Javier Báez to a combined $217 million.

That’s why the Tigers, even without further moves, could be a contender in the weak American League Central.

The Rockies, who play in arguably the toughest division in baseball (the NL West), have a team that is not in the playoff picture, especially since they have already lost Jon Gray and will lose Trevor Story when the lockout ends and another team signs him.

Currently, both teams have roughly the same needs heading into the season. Both teams, arguably, need a starting pitcher (the Tigers more than the Rockies), a middle infielder, an outfielder, and bullpen help.

That’s part of the reason why the Rockies and Tigers are not a match made in heaven for a trade right now. However, there are three players that the Rockies could be trade targets from the Tigers 40-man roster that could help them in 2022.

Detroit Tigers outfielder Robbie Grossman could provide the Colorado Rockies a good bat as well

Robbie Grossman, 32, wouldn’t provide the Colorado Rockies with a power bat but a high on-base bat at the top of the lineup, like he did with the Detroit Tigers in 2021.

The switch-hitting Grossman has bounced around a bit as he has played with four teams in his nine-year career but since 2016, he has hit .253/.359/.400 with an OPS+ of 108. In 2021, he showed the most power he has ever shown as he hit 23 homers and had 67 RBI. He also had 98 walks, which accounts for his .357 on-base percentage despite only having a batting average of .239.

He can play all three outfield spots but he has the most experience in left field. Defensively, he has ranged from one of the worst defenders in baseball (-20 DRS in the outfield in 75 games in 2016) to slightly above average (2 DRS in 2019 in 129 games). Overall, he is below average, which is why some teams have utilized him more as a DH.

The Rockies don’t necessarily want a full-time DH but Grossman’s defense is good enough that he could play left field for a few days a week and be a DH for a few days a week, if the DH comes to the NL in the new CBA.

Detroit Tigers reliever Michael Fulmer could provide the Colorado Rockies with some bullpen help

The Detroit Tigers were considering moving Michael Fulmer at the trades deadline in 2021 after he pitched well in relief to start the season. They didn’t trade him but he still finished the season strong. But if they traded him in July or trade him this offseason, it would be nothing in comparison to what they would have gotten for him in 2017.

In 2016, Fulmer made his debut and was one of the best pitchers in the American League. He won the AL Rookie of the Year Award and came in 10th in AL Cy Young Award voting after he posted a 3.06 ERA (139 ERA+) in 26 starts.

From Opening Day through July in 2017, Fulmer made 21 starts and had a 3.59 ERA (3.45 FIP) but the Tigers did not trade him despite some great offers. They could have had Javier Báez, who was with the reigning World Series Champion Chicago Cubs at the time, or Alex Bregman, as the eventual World Series Champion Houston Astros were willingly to give Bregman up for Fulmer.

That didn’t happen and less than a week after the trade deadline, Fulmer went on the IL with elbow issues. He was activated after 10 days … only to reaggravate it a few starts later. He was having elbow surgery by the end of August.

In 2018, he was out for a good chunk of the season due to an oblique injury and a torn meniscus. He missed all of 2019 due to Tommy John surgery and pitched terribly (8.78 ERA in 10 starts) so he became a reliever in 2021.

In 52 games (four starts), Fulmer was great as he had a 2.97 ERA with a 3.46 FIP, a 143 ERA+, and a strikeout-to-walk ratio of more than 3.5:1. He also had 14 saves.

When Fulmer pitches well, his groundball rate has been higher (it was above 45 percent in 2016-2017 and 2021 but below that in 2018 and 2020) so he could be a good, backend relief option for the Rockies.

Under the current CBA, he will be a free agent next offseason so the Tigers, despite them trying to contend, could still try to get something for him if they don’t want to or don’t think that they can extend him.

Our series of Rockies trade targets will continue tomorrow with the Kansas City Royals.