The Colorado Rockies’s season has crashed down like the snow falling off the mountains. With numerous injuries, and many young prospects jumping in and out of the starting lineup, the Rockies were doomed to fail this season. Now, with the team in a hole too deep to crawl out of, Colorado needs to establish themselves in the trade market. This is for numerous reasons. However, it’s mainly to benefit the team’s future and establish a playoff-ready team within the next few seasons. This upcoming trade deadline, though, is thin on sellers, giving the Rockies an opportunity to capitalize.
Colorado (29-57) and the Miami Marlins (30-56) are the only two teams out of the National League Wild Card picture. Miami made one significant trade in May and will likely make more moves. Colorado is open to doing something similar like they did last season, making five trades and acquiring multiple pitchers. Like Miami, Colorado is in the mix of taking the first overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. Regardless, they should secure their future with more elite prospects.
How the Rockies Could Leverage the Trade Market
The Rockies will consider deals for some of their players including starting pitchers Austin Gomber and Cal Quantrill Catcher Elias Díaz has generated interest from teams who could use help at his position. As much as their season is looking bleak, Colorado should go through with these trades. Quantrill is making $6.5 million this year and has a year left of arbitration before becoming a free agent after the 2025 season. Gomber, who is making $3.15 million, also won’t be a free agent until after the 2025 season.
But a few starters returning from injury, could potentially make it easier for Colorado to trade. Kyle Freeland is already back while Germán Márquez is set to return in a couple weeks with Antonio Senzatela behind him. Dealing from the starting rotation will mostly come down to which teams are interested and the offers the Rockies receive valuable prospects in the process.
All the losing will benefit the Rockies somehow. Yet, if most of the roster is filled with young prospects they’ll be determined to turn it around.
Who Else Should Colorado Consider in Trade Talks?
Veteran Ryan McMahon is someone who could bring in prospects, but Colorado likes him. His contract of $44 million over the next few seasons is club friendly. The expectation is that the Rockies might get calls on him or Ezequiel Tovar, who is certainly one of the team’s franchise cornerstone players. After signing an extension for seven seasons, the Rockies know Tovar has the makings of being an All-Star type player. Colorado needs multiple talented prospects who can compete at the highest stage of the game at such a young age. The Rockies are seen as a club with a curious sense of attachment to the players on their last-place teams.
They gave Daniel Bard a two-year extension instead of trading him at the 2022 deadline. Bard had one save last season, and he won’t throw a pitch this season while recovering from surgery on his flexor tendon.
The Rockies may even consider trading former MVP Kris Bryant, who’s made Colorado an unfavorable destination for free agents. But it might be more a challenge to part with Bryant, who hasn’t lived up to expectations since signing with the Rockies in 2022. It’s a lose-lose situation, but it’s another deal that must get done for this Rockies franchise. As much as hurts to swallow their pride, making some kind of trade will ultimately benefit their future. This is an opportunity the Rockies shouldn’t waste.
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