Pierce Johnson was the first player to be dealt off the Colorado Rockies. Through 102 games of the 2023 season, the Rockies sit at 40-62 with less than a one percent chance of making the playoffs. With Johnson shipped to Atlanta Braves for a pair of pitching prospects Victor Vodnik and Tanner Gordon. It’s beginning to look like the team selling all valuable pieces leading up to the August 1 deadline.
The 32-year-old has been far from good this season. He signed a one year, $5 million deal in the offseason. Coming off a strong three year stint with the San Diego Padres, Johnson was underwhelming. He sported a 6.00 ERA in 39 innings but has improved results recently. Despite his struggles limiting runs, he has a 13.4 K/9 rate. Plus, he has elite pitches as the Braves hoping he finds his previous form.
Johnson is just the first piece to fall in what likely is heading toward a fire sale of a trade deadline. With the team failing to compete, other players could be on the move. They were supposed to bring them back to the playoffs as the team must realize it is time to go full rebuild.
Pierce Johnson Traded, Other Rockies Next
The Rockies should be very active over the next week, with C.J. Cron, Randal Grichuk, Jurickson Profar, Brent Suter and Brad Hand all potentially being moved.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) July 24, 2023
Who Goes After Johnson?
One player linked to be on the move is C.J. Cron, as the Houston Astros have been linked to the first baseman. Cron has a 98 OPS+ in 2023, but from 2018 to 2022, he had a 116 OPS+ to go with 116 home runs. His potential is still valuable for a team in the playoff hunt, especially one with prospects the Rockies could use for the future.
Other players that could be on the move from Colorado are Randal Grichuk and Brad Hand. Grichuk, an impending free agent, has an impressive .857 OPS and 120 OPS+ through 224 at-bats with the team. He is a player that will become one of the best bench bats on any playoff team looking to bulk their depth.
Hand was enjoying a strong rebound campaign before being tagged for seven runs across his last three appearances. He’s of a common position of movement during the trade deadline, as relievers become expendable from non-playoff teams every year. While they never get the most elite hauls, he will bring some trade value on the open market.
Rockies Could Part With Certain Relievers
Colorado’s bullpen is chalked full of assets. The back end of the rotation has been rather elite this year. There will be more relievers moving onto greener pastures, with Johnson being just the first to find a suitable partner.
There’s multiple relievers who could be on the move. All of Jake Bird, Justin Lawrence, Daniel Bard, Brent Suter and Peter Lambert may find themselves on different teams soon. If the Rockies do make more moves, it has to come with the right package. They will likely value pitching prospects similar to the ones they received from Atlanta.
It’s not just pitchers who may see themselves finding new homes too. There’s also Rockies’ lone All-Star, Elías Díaz, another possible trade candidate in the coming days. The All-Star Game MVP has had an up-and-down season that featured a scorching hot start turning into a grinding halt, but he has shown the potential to be a well-above-average hitter from behind the dish.
With offensive-minded catchers still not being the norm, Díaz looks to be a perfect fit for a team on the cusp of playoff contention without consistent play from their backstop, linking the Rockies’ catcher to teams such as the Seattle Mariners.
Photo Credit: © Reggie Hildred-USA TODAY Sports
Players mentioned:
Pierce Johnson, Victor Vodnik, Tanner Gordon, C.J. Cron, Randal Grichuk, Brad Hand, Jake Bird, Justin Lawrence, Brent Suter, Daniel Bard, Peter Lambert
