Let's Make a Deal! What Players Can The Brewers Acquire From The Rockies?

[Kyle Ginsbach]

It’s the time of the year when trade talks are just starting to heat up. With a few teams already looking to be bottoming out, one certain NL West team may catch the Brewers' attention. 

Image courtesy of © Tim Vizer-USA TODAY Sports

To no one's surprise, the Colorado Rockies aren’t off to the best start in 2024. Already more than 10 games back from the Dodgers and more than five games back from fourth place, there’s little doubt Colorado will be looking to sell again. Rockies GM Bill Schmidt has already shown to be more creative than his predecessor when it comes to trades, and has been vocal about committing to the rebuild process. So what does a team as lousy as the Rockies have to offer? More than you’d think, but nothing that’ll completely flip a team around. Luckily, the Brewers are going to be an already-good team looking to bolster themselves at the edges.

Charlie Blackmon
Current Contract: 1 year, $13 Million
It has long since made sense for the Rockies to move on from their longest-tenured player. Blackmon is at the tail end of his career. He's playing on a one-year contract he signed in the last offseason, and might be looking to play for a contender. He could always choose to return to the Rockies in the offseason, or he could choose to call it a career at that point. 

Do the Brewers need a player who’s primarily a DH? No. Should the Rockies even trade Blackmon? Based on principle, also no. Ideally, Blackmon retires soon, and the Rockies retire his number soon after. They've held on to him this long. There will be rumors about any veteran bat on a bad team with name value attached to them, but Blackmon is someone you can skip over in your mind.
Chance: As close to Zero as imaginable

Jake Cave
Current Contract: 1 year, $1 Million
In a similar vein to Blackmon, Jake Cave would serve as a backup outfielder or primary DH. His numbers aren’t flattering, even before you consider the Coors Field factor, so picking up Cave would likely come at a minimal cost.

Cave will probably be shopped this month and next, but he might well not end up moving. If he is moved, it won’t be to the Brewers. Garrett Mitchell is already slated to return to a jammed outfield picture, and Jake Cave would likely be nothing more than Triple-A depth in Milwaukee.
Chance: As close to Zero as imaginable

Jalen Beeks
Current Contract: 1 year, $1.675 Million
Beeks is an impending free agent. The left-handed reliever has put up middling numbers in his past two seasons, but found success in the past as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays. Beeks has some solid underlying metrics (despite pitching in Colorado), too. Left-handed relievers are a hot commodity every deadline, but Beeks still might fly under the radar. With unpretty numbers, his price shouldn’t be too high, and trading for a Rockies reliever is always an inherent risk. Sounds like a perfect Brewers target.
Chance: Reasonable

Dakota Hudson
Current Contract: 1 year, $1.5 million
Hudson is probably familiar to Brewers fans through his time as a St. Louis Cardinal. The Rockies took a one-year flier on him, but despite a hot start, he's now turning in career-worst numbers. You could attribute that to the altitude, but command has been an issue. Hudson has walked the most batters in baseball this year, and his WHIP (over 1.50) reflects it. Not to sound like a broken record, but Hudson isn’t going to fetch much of a return price. Starting pitching for the Brewers is incredibly thin, so taking a chance on Hudson doesn’t seem too insane. They can make guys work in a way the Rockies can't.
Chance: Reasonable

Cal Quantrill
Current Contract: 1 year, $6.55 million (1 year of Arbitration left)
Quantrill is in his first year as a Rockie and has adapted well to pitching at altitude, bouncing back from a career-worst season in 2023. He comes with an extra year of control relative to rental arms, so Colorado may not be looking to part with the former Guardian. 

The asking price could vary. Pitchers who adjust well to the altitude in Colorado as quickly as Qunatrill are rare, and the Rockies could very well be looking at keeping him around. If they are shopping Quantrill with that in mind, his price will be high. If he’s just another arm, Quantrill could be a steal.
Chance: Slight

Ryan McMahon
Contract: 6 years, $70 million (4 years, $56 million left)
Undoubtedly, McMahon is the most valuable trade asset the Rockies have. Trade rumors have been swirling around the third baseman for years, but the Rockies decided to lock up what they thought was the next Trevor Story or Nolan Arenado in 2022. He’s delivered on that thought so far, getting off to a fantastic start in 2024.

The price will be high. Multiple top prospects would have to be headed back to Colorado. If teams wanted the Rockies to pay some of McMahon’s contract, the player pool would have to richen. If Colorado does move McMahon, don’t expect it to be to Milwaukee. Joey Ortiz has been as good, if not better than McMahon this season. Rostering another third baseman creates an obvious problem. The bigger problem will be the price. McMahon has been linked to teams like the Yankees, and that’s a bidding war Milwaukee shouldn’t even take part in.
Chance: Very Slim, even if Colorado answers the phone

Austin Gomber
Contract: 1 year, $3.15 million (1 year of Arbitration left)
Gomber is probably most famous for being the return piece in the Nolan Arenado trade. Gomber is having arguably a career year, and with one year of control remaining trade value is as high as it’s been since the aforementioned trade.

It’s hard to say what the market for Gomber will look like. The Rockies would certainly be selling high, but teams might be looking to buy low. The overall interest in Gomber is largely unknown, with players like McMahon dominating trade rumors and talks. It’s not impossible for the Brewers to snag a guy like Gomber, if it falls into their lap.
Chance: Reasonable-ish

Overall
It’s not likely that the Brewers hook up with the Rockies for a deal, but it isn’t impossible, either. The position-player group in Colorado doesn’t match the Brewers' needs, and pitching from Colorado always comes with a risk. The deadline is unpredictable, but don’t expect anything coming from Colorado unless it comes together at the last minute.

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[rolafaive]

Wasn't any player on this list that trips my trigger to send valuable talent their way.

[Kripes - Brewers]

No thanks

[tmwiese55]

Don't see much that works at the deadline.   Offseason though McMahon could make sense.  Adames gone, one of Turang/Ortiz goes to short and he takes the freed up spot.   29 year old with with like 3/44ish left on his deal after this year.    He has better numbers road than home this year, but career there is the expected dip.  Not the splashiest of moves but he's a solid player and that's not a crazy contract for MKE to handle. Would probably be able to bank on him much better than the Winker/Mccutcheon/Bradley guys

[Joseph Zarr]

Personally, I'd just send cash for a load of Coors Banquet for a possible post-season celebration. Hedge your bets. Back-up brewskis. I'd stop the negotiating right there. 

 

[sveumrules]

BRENT SUTER...oh wait, wrong year, nevermind.

[Jim French Stepstool]

Boy, has Hudson fallen off the page since his injury issues.

I'd at least inquire about their thoughts re Quantrill and/or Gomber & find out if the ask is ridiculous. Neither one is a big strikeout guy & with our defense they might play well here.

[LouisEly]

I think Gomber is right up there on the Brewers list.  His numbers away from Coors have been much better (3.68 road ERA last season, so not just a one-year flash in the pan), and he's not a big strikeout guy so having an elite defense behind him like the Brewers have would be a big benefit to him (as would moving to a much less expansive OF than Coors).

He won't cost a ton, and I think he can be good outside of Coors and with the Brewers defense behind him.  Seems like a prototypical Arnold acquisition.

[jay87shot]

I think the Rockies have said they won't trade McMahon. He wouldn't be my first target but probably the only guy I would really want. He could play 1st this year (Hoskins DH), then play 3rd next year without Willy. If the price wasn't high I would be ok with Quantrill.

Last year I thought Justin Lawrence had a chance to be a high end 8th inning guy especially outside of Coors. However he hasn't been good and we don't have space for him.