If there's one team that is overly familiar with the MLB Trade Deadline, it's the Colorado Rockies. But maybe not in a good way. This is around the time of year when competitive teams come poaching around at the more downtrodden teams, like the Rockies. Yet, they hardly ever make a move.
In 2022, the team just refused to make a trade, for whatever reason, even though they finished last in the National League West that year at 68-94. In fact, this has been a team that has placed no better than fourth in the division and never touched 80 wins dating back to 2019.
The Rockies look to be in a much similar situation for the 2024 season. Currently, they're 27-53, giving them the second-worst record in all of baseball, and are a massive 22.5 games back in their division. So, yeah, while owner Dick Monfort and general manager Bill Schmidt should be taking phone calls left and right from teams looking to poach some of their better players, that may not be the case.
However, should the Rockies decide to take calls, there are some obvious players that should be available for trade as this year's trade deadline approaches.
Third baseman Ryan McMahon should be traded
Even though Monfort seems to be keen on keeping Ryan McMahon, it seems like the third baseman's career is being wasted currently in Colorado. McMahon would be considered a trade acquisition for any team needing a versatile infielder like McMahon just about any season of his career, but this season he's been at his best.
McMahon has been one of the best hitters on this year's Rockies team. He's currently slashing .281/.358/.483 with an OPS of .840, according to Baseball Reference stats. He has 14 homers, 42 RBIs, and has scored 42 runs. The New York Yankees are one team in particular that would be a clear and obvious choice for the Rockies to make a trade with, especially given the injury to Anthony Rizzo.
Catcher Elias Diaz
Veteran catcher Elias Diaz, if nobody else, should definitely be sent out via trade to some team. Diaz is now 33 but more importantly, he's in the last year of his deal and set to be a free agent come winter. Catchers aren't usually readily available at the trade deadline, so this makes Diaz even more valuable.
Diaz has become a .300 hitter this season, currently hitting .303. In 216 plate appearances, he's struck out just 38 times.
Rockies have three pitchers that must be traded
When it comes to the MLB Trade Deadline, position players hold their value, sure, but nothing holds value like pitching. The Rockies have at least two starting pitchers in right-hander Cal Quantrill and left-hander Austin Gomber that should be available.
Quantrill is the best out of the two with a 3.50 ERA, 64 strikeouts in 90 innings pitched, and a 6-5 record, giving up nine homers, which is impressive considering the higher elevation in Denver. Gomber's ERA has started to uptick, now at 4.63, and he is just 1-5 this season. But again, everything has to be considered differently with Colorado pitchers when factoring in the locational elements. Both guys still have another year left on their deals, so if they were traded, they wouldn't be just a short-term rental.
When it comes to relief pitchers, it's doubtful that Colorado would move off last year's trade acquisition from the Braves in right-hander Victor Vodnik, but left-hander Jalen Beeks seems likely. Beeks is pretty well set up for a trade given his contract and production. He's currently in the middle of a one-year, $1.675 million deal with the Rockies and boasts the best ERA out of the Rockies bullpen at 3.76, according to FanGraphs.
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