4 potential trade targets for the Colorado Rockies from the Texas Rangers

Texas Rangers infielder Isaiah Kiner-Falefa should be a target for the Colorado Rockies.

As Colorado Rockies fans well know, the Colorado Rockies are big fans of their players being versatile. Garrett Hampson, Ryan McMahon, Joshua Fuentes, Connor Joe, Chris Owings, Taylor Motter, Tony Wolters, Ian Desmond, and Gerardo Parra are just a few of the players the Rockies have had in recent years that either have played and/or could have played at least three positions and/or played at least two differing areas on the diamond (catcher and infield, infield and outfield). Texas Rangers infielder Isaiah Kiner-Falefa would also fall into this category.

Kiner-Falefa, who turns 27 just before Opening Day, was our pick for the one Rangers player that the Rockies should look at as a trade target this offseason when we just chose one from each team back in October.

In 2021, he played in 158 games for the Rangers and he hit .271/.312/.357 with an OPS+ of 85. He had eight homers and 53 RBI with 20 stolen bases as well. He exclusively played shortstop in 2021 but with both Corey Seager and Marcus Semien now in the fold, Kiner-Falefa will either be on the bench or have to move to one of the other positions he has played in the past.

In the majors, he has extensive playing time at third base, catcher, and at second base. He also played a handful of games in left field as well in the minor leagues.

Despite the 85 OPS+, he still had an rWAR of 3.2 because of his great defense. He had 10 Defensive Runs Saved (10 DRS) and in 2020, he had 10 DRS between third and short, which was good enough to get him a Gold Glove.

With the exception of 2021, the Rockies have had at least one player on their roster who was a catcher who could play the infield or vice versa for the last decade. Kiner-Falefa could help them achieve that again and he could be a good super utility guy.

Texas Rangers infielder Nick Solak could provide the Colorado Rockies with the versatile bench bat

Nick Solak has been a versatile player for the Texas Rangers in recent years but the former top prospect’s bat has not quite developed. However, coming to the Colorado Rockies could help change that.

Solak, who turns 27 next month, made his MLB debut with Texas in 2019 after he was acquired from the Rays earlier in the year in a trade. The Rays got him from the Yankees in a three-team trade in 2018.

In 2021, Solak played in 127 games for the Rangers and he hit .242/.314/.362 with an OPS+ of 87. He had a nearly identical season in 2020 as, in 58 games, he had an OPS+ of 86.

However, in 2021, the Rangers also had Solak spend some time in Triple-A (22 games) and he hit very well there (.353 batting average with an OPS of .867) so now, he just has to show that his bat can translate to the majors.

In 2021, Solak exclusively played second base but he has extensive MLB playing time in left field, center field, and first base. He also played a handful of games in right field in the minor leagues.

Given that Solak only has 2+ years of MLB service time, the Rangers may still have some hope that he will develop with his bat but considering that Marcus Semien is going to be replacing him at second base, they also may be willing to trade him.

Texas Rangers outfielder Adolis García would give the Colorado Rockies a power bat in the outfield

Adolis García had a great rookie season for the Texas Rangers in 2021 and if the Colorado Rockies had him, he could be a great power bat and defensive outfielder for the Colorado Rockies.

García, who turns 29 in March, only played in 24 MLB games (21 with the Cardinals in 2018 and three with the Rangers in 2021) and despite that, he was, arguably, the Rangers best bat in 2021.

He only had a batting average of .243 and an on-base percentage of just .286 but he had a slugging percentage of .454. That was due to the 31 homers, 26 doubles, and 90 RBI he had. He was the Rangers only All-Star in 2021 and he ended up coming in 4th in AL Rookie of the Year voting.

Defensively, he was great for the Rangers as he, between 134 games in all three outfield spots, combined for 16 DRS. He had 3 DRS in 79 games in center, 13 DRS in 51 games in right, and 0 DRS in nine games in left.

Given that García is just entering the second season of his career, he is still a very cheap guy on payroll. With being cheap and the controllability, García could be expensive on the trade market but he’s still somebody that the Rockies should consider especially with his defense and the power bat he could bring to their lineup.

Texas Rangers closer Joe Barlow could be a good reliever for the Colorado Rockies

Like Adolis García, Joe Barlow was a rookie for the Texas Rangers but he had a very good rookie campaign for them. He could also be a good reliever for the Colorado Rockies for a few reasons.

Barlow, 26, made his debut in June for the Rangers and he appeared in 31 games and had a sparkling ERA of 1.55. He had a FIP of 3.45, a WHIP of 0.828, just 3.7 hits per nine innings, 3.7 walks, and 8.4 strikeouts per nine innings. He also had 11 saves.

Barlow is a native of Riverton, Utah, which is a suburb of Salt Lake City, so he has plenty of experience pitching at altitude. He doesn’t have a high groundball rate (it has roughly been around 37 percent throughout his career), which isn’t necessarily conducive for success at altitude.

But, as is the case with García, considering that Barlow is a rookie, meaning he is controllable and cheap, the Rangers are unlikely to trade him, especially when their major league team is still lacking in the talent department.

Our trade target series is finished in the American League. Of the 15 American League teams, we looked at 87 players that the Colorado Rockies should (or could) look at as a trade target, for an average of just under six per team.

We will continue our series in the National League as we will start out with the NL East and the reigning World Series Champion Atlanta Braves next.