Would this Colorado Rockies-Toronto Blue Jays trade work?

A fan-proposed trade between the Colorado Rockies and Toronto Blue Jays recently appeared in an article in The Athletic. Is there even a chance the Rockies would think about making this trade involving two key pieces of their franchise in real life?

Here is a hypothetical trade between the Colorado Rockies and Toronto Blue Jays recently proposed by a fan to former MLB general manager Jim Bowden

In The Athletic article (subscription required), a fan proposed the following trade:

In the article, Bowden says he likes this deal for both the Colorado Rockies and Toronto Blue Jays. Why? Here is his reasoning on the Rockies side:

"“Pearson has a chance to dominate at Coors Field by missing bats, and he’s inexpensive compared with Márquez. Groshans and Biggio are everyday players and Kloffenstein profiles as a back-of-the-rotation starter.”"

Let’s start with Pearson, who is under team control through the 2026 season. He has appeared in 17 games (five starts) for Toronto over the last two seasons, averaging 9.8 strikeouts per nine innings. He also has a combined 5.18 ERA, 6.03 FIP, 1.606 WHIP, and 86 ERA+.

Is he “inexpensive compared to Márquez”? Absolutely (although the $11 million that Márquez will make this season as part of his five-year, $43 million deal that runs through the 2023 season (with a club option for 2024) is nothing but payroll-friendly). Would the Rockies take a chance on someone who could potentially “dominate” at Coors Field versus someone who already knows how to pitch at altitude (and who posted a 3.67 ERA in 18 home starts last season)? Absolutely not.

Sticking with the apples for apples theme, would the Rockies take Biggio for McMahon? RyMac was second for Colorado last year with 4.0 bWAR, while Biggio wasn’t even in Toronto’s top 12 at 0.4. Between McMahon’s defense and the flashes of brilliance at the plate he has shown through the years, he will be one of the unquestioned cornerstones for the team in 2022. Like Márquez, he has become a virtually untouchable piece for the franchise.

Groshans (played in Double-A last season and third on Toronto’s prospect list) and Kloffenstein (seventh on that list and reached High-A last season) are projected to reach MLB over the course of the next two seasons. Both would certainly enhance Colorado’s farm system situation and are the high points of the deal by far.

Sure, Toronto would likely make this trade, but there is no scenario that the Rockies would pull the trigger on this. As the roster currently stands (in the middle of the MLB lockout), starting pitching and offense are at a premium for the Rockies. Trading two of their top players for potential and what might be would signal a complete rebuild, something that Colorado is adamant the franchise is not doing.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments section below.