Rumor: Rockies Plan to Be Active at 2023 Trade Deadline

[Brock Beauchamp]

This shouldn't be news but remember, we're talking about the Colorado Rockies here. This franchise has seen multiple trade deadlines come and go without moving key pieces that are approaching free agency, including last year when they made no trades and instead extended reliever Daniel Bard despite being well out of contention by the beginning of July.

Unfortunately, and in a very Rockies-esque move, the quotes about activity did not come from General Manager Bill Schmidt but instead were from dugout manager Bud Black, speaking to the hosts of Power Alley on SiriusXM Radio.

The Rockies have a few pieces that could interest the Brewers. While some are skeptical of 2023 CJ Cron, I believe he could be a nice piece at first base and has a chance to return to his career norms without facing the back-and-forth of trying to hit in Coors Field, followed by trying to hit outside of Coors Field.

More intriguing - and more costly - is third baseman Ryan McMahon, who the Rockies have under contract through the 2027 season... though that hasn't stopped the Rockies from trading a guy in the past.

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[Brewcrew82]

Ryan McMahon is toward the very top of my list of who would most help the Brewers at the deadline. Definitely would fit in with the run prevention philosophy. 

If we can rip them off like the Cardinals did with Arenado, let's do it.  

[TURBO]

Not a fan of counting on Rockies players once they are full time outside of COL.

What are McMahons splits home and away?

[Brewcrew82]

3 minutes ago, TURBO said:

Not a fan of counting on Rockies players once they are full time outside of COL.

What are McMahons splits home and away?

Pretty even this year. .799 OPS home vs. .783 OPS away.

With McMahon, a lot of his value comes from defense, too. 

[trwi7]

Knowing how dumb the Rockies are, they'll probably be active buyers.

[brewmann04]

I like Cron 

[Harold Hutchison]

A reunion with Suter could be an excellent boost for the bullpen - get a guy who can go two innings atfer Teheran/Rea or other starters who can go five IPs.

[wiguy94]

19 minutes ago, clancyphile said:

A reunion with Suter could be an excellent boost for the bullpen - get a guy who can go two innings atfer Teheran/Rea or other starters who can go five IPs.

Suter has been on the IL for a month and just went out on a rehab assignment. Absolutely zero need to trade for him with Justin Wilson set to return soon and Ashby going out on a rehab assignment in the near future.

[Jim French Stepstool]

McMahon Ks a little too much for my liking but walks a lot which somewhat offsets that. He certainly has the versatility they like. He'd be a definite upgrade to the INF. I just don't know why Colorado would deal him, but we are talking Colorado here. 

At the end of the day it would probably have to be an overpay due to the years of control. Cron or Grichuk makes more sense.

 

[owbc]

Hard pass on Cron, he can’t hit outside of Coors Field. I do have interest in Charlie Blackmon. Moustakas is also having a bit of a resurgence with Colorado but that feels more like a mirage. Blackmon is old but is still a good hitter and should be back from his hand injury soon. He’s what we thought Winker could be. 

[Jim French Stepstool]

Just now, owbc said:

Hard pass on Cron, he can’t hit outside of Coors Field. I do have interest in Charlie Blackmon. Moustakas is also having a bit of a resurgence with Colorado but that feels more like a mirage. Blackmon is old but is still a good hitter and should be back from his hand injury soon. He’s what we thought Winker could be. 

I thought of Blackmon but didn't know when he was supposed to return. If soon, yeah, add him to the list.

[LouisEly]

6 hours ago, owbc said:

Hard pass on Cron, he can’t hit outside of Coors Field. I do have interest in Charlie Blackmon. Moustakas is also having a bit of a resurgence with Colorado but that feels more like a mirage. Blackmon is old but is still a good hitter and should be back from his hand injury soon. He’s what we thought Winker could be. 

Blackmon can't hit outside of Coors either.  .706 road OPS this year, .663 last year, .703 in 2021.

Moustakas was traded to the Angels on June 25th.

[Brock Beauchamp]

8 hours ago, owbc said:

Hard pass on Cron, he can’t hit outside of Coors Field. I do have interest in Charlie Blackmon. Moustakas is also having a bit of a resurgence with Colorado but that feels more like a mirage. Blackmon is old but is still a good hitter and should be back from his hand injury soon. He’s what we thought Winker could be. 

I completely forgot about Blackmon.

[CheezWizHed]

I noticed Kris Bryant was on the team and having a bit of a down year.  But then I checked what is left of his contract.... ouch. 

[Fear The Chorizo]

11 hours ago, clancyphile said:

A reunion with Suter could be an excellent boost for the bullpen - get a guy who can go two innings atfer Teheran/Rea or other starters who can go five IPs.

I'm surprised 5 other posters got a word in before this showed up on a Rockies trade rumor thread here.  

Count me out on a Raptor reunion

[CheezWizHed]

4 minutes ago, Fear The Chorizo said:

I'm surprised 5 other posters got a word in before this showed up on a Rockies trade rumor thread here.  

Count me out on a Raptor reunion

You'd never have to worry about a pitch clock violation...

[wiguy94]

I’ve talked myself into trying to get Ryan McMahon. Probably have to platoon him but he hits RHP really well and plays GG level defense at 3B with 4 more years of control on a fair contract. 

He fits the run prevention model while also being a 110 wRC+ type bat vs RHP. 

[CheeseheadInQC]

If he comes cheap, which I am guessing he would, Grichuck wouldn’t be awful. Not an impact bat but at least a marginal upgrade.

[LouisEly]

3 hours ago, CheeseheadInQC said:

If he comes cheap, which I am guessing he would, Grichuck wouldn’t be awful. Not an impact bat but at least a marginal upgrade.

.758 road OPS this year - not stellar, but certainly better than their .571 OPS in RF.  (Just don't look at his road OPS last year.)  Also, .927 OPS vs. LHP this year.

I'd be on board. 

[KeithStone53151]

Considering the Brewers needs and the players the Rockies are likely to make available, it would be weird if we didn't make a trade for them. Grichuk and Cron are virtually guaranteed to be traded, Blackmon is fairly likely. McMahon is unlikely. All 4 of those guys would fit great on this roster, some would be better than others of course.

Many are pointing to road splits for Rockies players, a reminder that 3 of their divisional opponents have the most pitcher friendly parks in the majors. They certainly get a boost from Coors, the reality of their effectiveness is probably somewhere between home and road splits.

[edfunderburk]

On 7/18/2023 at 10:34 PM, clancyphile said:

A reunion with Suter could be an excellent boost for the bullpen - get a guy who can go two innings atfer Teheran/Rea or other starters who can go five IPs.

Please no to Suter ... he was a great teammate & an adequate Brewers player ... we don't miss him this year

I believe this is more a "sentimental" suggestion than someone who would truly add value to an already strong bullpen

 

[edfunderburk]

On 7/19/2023 at 12:31 AM, Jim French Stepstool said:

McMahon Ks a little too much for my liking but walks a lot which somewhat offsets that. He certainly has the versatility they like. He'd be a definite upgrade to the INF. I just don't know why Colorado would deal him, but we are talking Colorado here. 

At the end of the day it would probably have to be an overpay due to the years of control. Cron or Grichuk makes more sense.

 

I'd be thrilled to add an or all of these three: McMahon, Grichuk, Cron (in that order) 

I say no to Blackmon, Moustakas, & Suter (suggested in other posts)

[edfunderburk]

21 hours ago, wiguy94 said:

I’ve talked myself into trying to get Ryan McMahon. Probably have to platoon him but he hits RHP really well and plays GG level defense at 3B with 4 more years of control on a fair contract. 

He fits the run prevention model while also being a 110 wRC+ type bat vs RHP. 

I agree - he's be my first choice among several potential Rockies players

I also like Grichuk & Cron

I'm not in favor of Blackmon or Moustakas ... & certainly not Suter

[edfunderburk]

22 hours ago, CheezWizHed said:

I noticed Kris Bryant was on the team and having a bit of a down year.  But then I checked what is left of his contract.... ouch. 

Zero chance of the Brewers adding Bryant ... terrible contract & poor production ... Rockies are stuck with him no doubt

[Playing Catch]

Haha, I just posted I'd be interested in Blackmon and Moustakas in the other thread.