Colorado Rockies: 3 of the best trades in franchise history

PHOENIX, AZ - SEPTEMBER 22: Second baseman DJ LeMahieu #9 of the Colorado Rockies fields a ground ball against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the ninth inning of an MLB game at Chase Field on September 22, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - SEPTEMBER 22: Second baseman DJ LeMahieu #9 of the Colorado Rockies fields a ground ball against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the ninth inning of an MLB game at Chase Field on September 22, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images)
2 of 3
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – SEPTEMBER 15: DJ LeMahieu #9 of the Colorado Rockies at bat against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning at AT&T Park on September 15, 2018 in San Francisco, California. The San Francisco Giants defeated the Colorado Rockies 3-0. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – SEPTEMBER 15: DJ LeMahieu #9 of the Colorado Rockies at bat against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning at AT&T Park on September 15, 2018 in San Francisco, California. The San Francisco Giants defeated the Colorado Rockies 3-0. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images)

Colorado Rockies trade with the Chicago Cubs in December 2011

Another popular trade in Rox history is the one in which the Rockies acquired arguably the best second baseman in club history, DJ LeMahieu, and outfielder Tyler Colvin. In exchange, the Rockies traded away third baseman Ian Stewart and minor league right-handed pitcher, Casey Weathers.

Fans had mixed feelings at the time. After all, they were losing two first-round draft picks in Stewart, who was showing All-Star potential, and Weathers, whom fans also had high hopes for. However, second baseman DJ LeMahieu would go on to become a three-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner for the Rockies. He also won the Wilson Team Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2013.

Outfielder Tyler Colvin didn’t bring much to the club. He’s most notably known for being the first player to hit two dingers in the same game against elite pitcher Stephen Strasburg of the Washington Nationals in 2012. Colvin ended that season with18 home runs, 62 runs, and 122 hits out of 420 plate appearances. Colvin only played 27 games for the Rox the following season before being being released into free agency in October 2012.

The Rockies drafted third baseman Ian Stewart in the first round of the 2003 MLB draft. After a promising start, Stewart was invited to join the Rockies for spring training in 2006 after finishing a fairly strong, yet somewhat discouraging season in the California League (High-A ball). However, despite slugging well through the first few games, he was sent to the Double-A Texas League, and wouldn’t get the official call up until August of the following year. Stewart ended up staying (mostly) on the Rockies 40-man roster, but also spent some time in the minors in 2011 before being traded to the Cubs.

Casey Weathers was drafted by the Rockies with eighth overall pick in the 2007 amateur draft. In October 2008, he underwent Tommy John surgery to repair an elbow injury. Though he spent his entire pitching career in the minors with various teams, Weathers would go on to be hired as a rehabilitation coach for the Cincinnati Reds prior to the 2020 season.

Schedule