3 players the Rockies could move on from to bring back Yonathan Daza

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On Saturday, the Colorado Rockies made a daring decision regarding their roster by outrighting outfielder Yonathan Daza. Following the successful clearing of waivers, he was subsequently sent to the AAA club, Albuquerque Isotopes.

Daza has been a part of the Rockies organization since 2010, during which he was initially included in the Dominican Summer League roster for the first three years.

From the start, it was clear that he was a developing player for the Rockies. It wasn't until 2014 that he made it onto the major league roster, and it wasn't until 2019 that he actually played in the MLB. Despite being a project for the team, his hard work paid off and he has consistently shown his value as a player throughout his professional career.

Over the past two years at the major league level, Daza has shown impressive performance with a batting average of .282 in 2021. In 2022, he had a breakout year, hitting a remarkable .301 with two home runs, 21 doubles, and two triples.

Daza's batting average of .270 and six doubles before being outrighted this season showcased his consistent performance. What's more impressive is that he has only struck out 13 times, which made him a reliable player that the Rockies could always depend on. Although his stats may not be extraordinary, his steady performance and low strikeout rate make him a valuable asset to the team.

Although Daza has been removed from the team, it's unlikely that we have seen the last of him in a Rockies uniform. My belief is that the decision to outright him was due to a lack of minor league options and a desire to wait and see if other young or veteran players develop.

I have made a list of players who may need to be sent down or released to make space for Daza's return to the Major League roster.

3. Alan Trejo

Colorado Rockies v Cleveland Guardians / Nick Cammett/GettyImages

One name on this list that catches my attention is Alan Trejo. He used to be a regular shortstop player from Southern California, but since the emergence of Ezequiel Tovar, he has been splitting time at second base with Harold Castro. He mainly has seen action again against left-handed pitchers now, so his playing time has become less regular.

Trejo's journey to the Major League roster began when he was selected by the Rockies in the 16th round of the 2017 draft from San Diego State. Despite facing challenges, he persevered and made it to the big leagues. During the previous season, Trejo moved between the Isotopes and Rockies rosters. In AAA, he had an impressive performance with an average of .296, 20 doubles, 52 RBIs, and 16 home runs. On the Rockies roster, he maintained a batting average of .271 while recording six doubles and 17 RBIs.

His batting performance has been consistently impressive, but his defensive skills are equally noteworthy. He consistently makes highlight-reel plays, making him a valuable asset to the infield. Additionally, his versatility to play multiple positions, including third base, shortstop, and second base, further cements his importance to the team's roster.

Trejo's performance on the field has not been at his peak recently. His current batting average of .250, along with five doubles and eight RBIs, may result in him being moved down from the major league roster at some point in the season and the likelihood of him being sent back to the minor leagues could be pretty high, primarily due to the fact that he can be optioned without any risk of losing him.

If the Rockies find themselves in a situation where they have to remove a player from the 40-man roster and require a batter, it is possible that Daza may be called up while Trejo could be sent down to AAA.

Prediction: Optioned to AAA Albuquerque Isotopes

2. CJ Cron

Milwaukee Brewers v Colorado Rockies / Dustin Bradford/GettyImages

At the start of this season, there were many uncertainties surrounding the Rockies' first baseman, CJ Cron. It was predicted that he would be traded at some point during the season, despite having played his best years in Colorado.

In the past two years, Cron has been performing exceptionally well, hitting 28 home runs in 2021 and 29 in 2022. Notably, he managed to improve his batting average significantly after joining the Rockies, going from .190 with the Detroit Tigers to an impressive .281 with his new team.

At present, Cron's batting average stands at .235, with six home runs and 16 RBIs to his credit. While the home runs and RBIs are decent, his batting average does not meet the expectations of either him or the Rockies.

Cron has had less playing time this year due to splitting time with former all-star first baseman Mike Moustakas. As a result, the Rockies may consider trading Cron to a contender for prospects in order to strengthen their organization before the trade deadline.

The outcome of this decision hinges on the Rockies' performance by mid-July. Should they fall out of playoff contention, it is possible that Cron and other experienced players might be traded to contending teams who are willing to spend more to strengthen their roster.

Prediction: Traded

1. Jurickson Profar

Colorado Rockies v New York Mets / Jim McIsaac/GettyImages

One player who could potentially be removed from the roster this year to make room for Daza is Jurickson Profar. He was highly regarded as the top prospect in all of baseball for the Texas Rangers back in 2012.

Profar failed to meet the high expectations set for him, with his most successful season being in 2020. During this shortened 60-game season, he achieved a batting average of .278, with 25 RBIs and seven home runs, all of which were impacted by the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Profar signed a $7.75 million one-year contract with the Rockies during the offseason, but he has been struggling greatly.

He currently has a batting average of .210, three home runs, 11 RBIs, and an OPS of .632.

It is evident that the Rockies' former top baseball prospect is currently struggling to find his groove, and there is a possibility that he may be released during the middle of the season.

It appears that the Rockies have a vested interest in giving Profar a chance to bounce back from his early-season struggles before making any decisions about his future with the team. However, if he fails to improve his performance on the base paths, it's possible that he could be released and replaced by Daza, who is also an outfielder and would be a seamless addition to the lineup. It's uncertain when this may occur, but it could happen sometime during the mid-season.

Prediction: Released

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3. Alan Trejo

2. CJ Cron

1. Jurickson Profar

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