The Colorado Rockies Are Lowering Payroll - Is Third Baseman Ryan McMahon Available?

[sveumrules]

18 minutes ago, tmwiese55 said:

Not sure of their 1B/OF situation but first name that pops in my head is Black. 

Current leaders in the clubhouse for their 1B and corner outfield appear to be...

Michael Toglia (2019 1st round pick) 25 HR but only a 98 wRC+ and 32.1 K% last year.

Jordan Beck (2022 CB-A pick) stunk in MLB last year, but had a 132 wRC+ in 189 PAs at AAA.

Nolan Jones hit for a 137 wRC+ and 3.8 WAR in 2023 but fell off to 70 wRC+ and -0.8 WAR last year.

DH is Kris Bryant so you know there will be at bats to be had there as well.

I personally wouldn't want to give up Black unless the Rockies ate a decent chunk of money, but they could surely use him. Maybe even throw him in back at 2B over Thairo Estrada or at 3B as the next man up after McMahon appears to be Kyle Farmer.

(obligatory mention that Keston Hirua is also in Rockies camp on a minor league deal)

[Underachiever]

I want the same guy who negotiated the Arenado deal to STL to be in the room for the McMahon deal. I want  him to give us the same sweet deal he gave the cards. Colorado is still paying some of that salary.

[Matt]

There is no reason to give up anything of value for McMahon. The Brewers would need something to make it worth their while.

[Jopal78]

7 hours ago, Underachiever said:

I want the same guy who negotiated the Arenado deal to STL to be in the room for the McMahon deal. I want  him to give us the same sweet deal he gave the cards. Colorado is still paying some of that salary.

It wasn’t like they blundered making a trade. Arenado demanded to be traded and had full no trade protection. So in reality the Rockies had zero leverage. They essentially had to ship Arenado  to a team of his choosing for the acquiring team’s last best offer. 

The Rockies are such a weird franchise. They’re doomed almost every year because nobody can pitch there. They’ve lost 87 or more games every season since 2018, yet they still outdrew the Brewers in attendance in 2025 so the fan base sticks with them despite a terrible Product on the field 

 

[Matt]

It helps that Coors Field is a destination spot for anyone visiting Denver. 

[Scooterfletcher]

17 hours ago, bigred said:

I see you're still in the habit of thinking teams will be willing to basically just give us players for sending them our scrubs/players that we could easily DFA, and a bag of used batting practice balls. Sigh....that's just not going to happen. 

The guys I mentioned have value.   Other posters want McMahon for free simply for taking his contract on.   Others want prospects additionally for taking on his contract.   Perhaps your vitriol should be directed at these other posters? 

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

21 hours ago, bigred said:

I see you're still in the habit of thinking teams will be willing to basically just give us players for sending them our scrubs/players that we could easily DFA, and a bag of used batting practice balls. Sigh....that's just not going to happen. 

McMahon is a mediocre 30-year-old 3B with a large contract playing for a team that isn't going anywhere. Those types typically don't demand a big return. My guess is the Brewers could get him by flipping the Rockies a couple of lotto ticket-types if they agreed to take on the majority of McMahon's contract. They will need to give up more if they expect the Rockies to eat a chunk.

[bigred]

2 hours ago, Scooterfletcher said:

The guys I mentioned have value.   Other posters want McMahon for free simply for taking his contract on.   Others want prospects additionally for taking on his contract.   Perhaps your vitriol should be directed at these other posters? 

Most of your proposals are notorious for being us getting a very good player for basically our bench players, prospects that have lost most of their trade value, or players we could easily DFA. That's no secret. Oh, and a for bag of used batting practice balls added in. You realize, that trades are a 2way street, right? 

[bigred]

41 minutes ago, Ron Robinsons Beard said:

McMahon is a mediocre 30-year-old 3B with a large contract playing for a team that isn't going anywhere. Those types typically don't demand a big return. My guess is the Brewers could get him by flipping the Rockies a couple of lotto ticket-types if they agreed to take on the majority of McMahon's contract. The will need to give up more if they expect the Rockies to eat a chunk.

True. Neither will happen though, so it really doesn't matter. It's highly doubtful at least. 

[Scooterfletcher]

41 minutes ago, bigred said:

Most of your proposals are notorious for being us getting a very good player for basically our bench players, prospects that have lost most of their trade value, or players we could easily DFA. That's no secret. Oh, and a for bag of used batting practice balls added in. You realize, that trades are a 2way street, right? 

The gentleman above wants to give less than I do for McMahon.   Maybe you should hound him instead?

[bigred]

5 minutes ago, Scooterfletcher said:

The gentleman above wants to give less than I do for McMahon.   Maybe you should hound him instead?

Hound? Who's hounding? Newsflash. Just because someone disagrees with you about something, it doesn't automatically mean they're "hounding" you. 

[brewerfan82]

58 minutes ago, bigred said:

Hound? Who's hounding? Newsflash. Just because someone disagrees with you about something, it doesn't automatically mean they're "hounding" you. 

There's a way to disagree without the tone and condescension you include in your posts.

[TURBO]

20 hours ago, Matt said:

There is no reason to give up anything of value for McMahon. The Brewers would need something to make it worth their while.

100% agree.

I hate Rockies hitters outside of Denver.

The ONLY way I'd want him is if we give up next to nothing, literally, nothing.

[umphrey]

I don’t think the Brewers do it unless they kick in a ton of cash, like $20m. I think they would up the prospect return to save the cash. 

[TURBO]

1 hour ago, Scooterfletcher said:

So I’m overpaying by my offer of Perkins Payamps and a lotto ticket for McMahon at full salary?   

Absolutely you are...imo

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

11 hours ago, Scooterfletcher said:

Get ready for the wrath of Big Red…..he let me have it for offering a couple quality players and a lotto ticket.   He’s REALLY gone let you have it I’m (not) guessing…..

Because he thinks Perkins and Payamps are DFA-worthy. Diff'rent strokes I suppose.

[Scooterfletcher]

3 hours ago, Ron Robinsons Beard said:

Because he thinks Perkins and Payamps are DFA-worthy. Diff'rent strokes I suppose.

Payamps has a whip under 1.0 while striking out over a batter an inning in 137 games the past two years and Perkins is a truly elite defensive centerfielder with a decent enough bat.   I am not seeing how any knowledgeable person sees either as a DFA candidate. 

[CheeseheadInQC]

The Rockies are in a really weird place with McMahon. They didn't trade him when his value was high and they weren't in position to contend. Now they are a bit underwater with the contract and I'm guessing they would like to trade him, but they can't really ship him out for just cost savings when they made him the face of the franchise, and he is still one of the better players on a bad team. It feels like a situation where they probably pay down enough of the salary to get a decent prospect so they can sell the trade while still shaving payroll a bit.

Then again, it is the Rockies, so they will probably just hang onto him or give him another extension.

[jesusoftheapes]

On 10/22/2024 at 10:19 AM, sveumrules said:

There are 46 players with at least 600 innings playing third base the last two years.

Monasterio has graded out at +4 DRS (17th) and -1 FRV (31st). I’d guess the Brewers internal evaluations are closer to the DRS number otherwise they wouldn’t have kept him around as the primary backup IF last year and given him 142 PAs with a 68 wRC+.

McMahon has come in at +27 DRS (3rd) and +14 FRV (2nd). He’s right up there with Ke’Bryan Hayes and Matt Chapman among the games best hot corner defenders. 

He is a carrier .240 hitter with 20 homers a season he gets in high elevation.   Oliver Dunn has all that and is a better runner on the bases already.   There is 0 need to shop for players worse than are currently on this roster.    McMahon has the luxury of hitting in Colorado and many of those runs are not home runs in any other place.    

I do not want this player on our roster getting in the way of the players who the Brewers have built for this moment.   There is no need to take on more Rhys Hoskins type hitters.   Streaky players when there are constant players ready for the MLB right now already on this roster.      The Brewers do not have to make moves like this to be good.   

They just got Mark Canha who hits .240s the same as McMahon so the added .240 hitter is already on board.   We do not need to give away good prospects for a player this average.   I do not see Monesario as better but I do see Oliver Dunn as better and I also see About 3 others on the current roster that are just as good.    

[bigred]

On 2/26/2025 at 8:06 PM, Scooterfletcher said:

So I’m overpaying by my offer of Perkins Payamps and a lotto ticket for McMahon at full salary?   Boy is Big Red ever gonna give you some mean words!   JK he won’t.   I’m his only target.   I’m pretty elite I guess ….  

Stating the obvious is being "mean"? 

[bigred]

On 2/26/2025 at 10:06 PM, Scooterfletcher said:

Get ready for the wrath of Big Red…..he let me have it for offering a couple quality players and a lotto ticket.   He’s REALLY gone let you have it I’m (not) guessing…..

How about you stop trying to stir the pot? Sir. 

[bigred]

On 2/26/2025 at 8:06 PM, Scooterfletcher said:

So I’m overpaying by my offer of Perkins Payamps and a lotto ticket for McMahon at full salary?   Boy is Big Red ever gonna give you some mean words!   JK he won’t.   I’m his only target.   I’m pretty elite I guess ….  

Nobody here is a "target" of mine. Stop trying to create drama at my expense. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. In most of your trade scenarios, you're like 99% of most MLB fans. You overvalue our prospects because they're  prospects on our favorite team. 

[Jopal78]

On 2/27/2025 at 9:17 AM, Ron Robinsons Beard said:

Because he thinks Perkins and Payamps are DFA-worthy. Diff'rent strokes I suppose.

Sure neither Payamps or Perkins is that 26th or 27th best player where their spot on the 40 man roster is in immediate peril. 
 

But let’s be honest, Payamps and Perkins are a prolonged slump during the season away from becoming DFA worthy. Look no further than Hoby Milner. He was terrific for the Brewers until he pitched 12 really poor innings during the ‘24 season, and got himself non-tendered as an arbitration eligible player. Baseball can be a harsh mistress for bench players and middle relievers. 

[jay87shot]

I think we are at a point no big deals are going to happen. Probably just guys out of options or who are blocked.

[brewerfan82]

A big move would have been exciting, but I think this team is in a solid starting position as-is. Waiting out the offseason to add Quintana, Canha, and Margot for depth and Spring Training insurance—all for under $7M—helps round out the roster nicely.

We could still grab Iglesias on a discount, or I wouldn’t mind adding another utility player who can cover 3B if needed (I’ve mentioned Merrifield on a Canha/Margot-type deal). But with a good position battle already brewing between Durbin, Dunn, Capra, and Monasterio, we have solid internal options. Plus, by holding onto our prospects now, we’ll have more flexibility for moves later in the season if needed.