{"id":122338,"date":"2026-05-21T11:30:40","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T15:30:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=122338"},"modified":"2026-05-21T11:26:20","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T15:26:20","slug":"trade-deadline-rockies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2026\/05\/21\/trade-deadline-rockies\/","title":{"rendered":"The Major Deadline Decision Awaiting the Rockies"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script src=\"https:\/\/fast.arena.im\/script.js?siteId=692464077da02c8dbc14bd7d\" async><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/script>Paul DePodesta aced his <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2026\/01\/29\/the-rockies-offseason-so-far-is-a-good-sign-of-things-to-come\/\" target=\"_self\">first offseason<\/a> as the Colorado Rockies&#8217; President of Baseball Operations. Several of the players <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2026\/04\/28\/rockies-newcomers-making-their-presence-felt\/\" target=\"_self\">he brought in this offseason<\/a>, namely <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/j\/johnstr02.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Troy Johnston<\/a> and <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/r\/rumfitj01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">TJ Rumfield<\/a>, have been among the Rockies&#8217; best players. Additionally, bringing back <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/m\/moniami01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mickey Moniak<\/a> for a modest $4 million is one of the biggest bargains this offseason, as Moniak is having <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2026\/04\/13\/mickey-moniak-picking-up-right-where-he-left-off\/\" target=\"_self\">another career\u00a0year<\/a> in Colorado. The next big decision for DePodesta? What to do with reliever <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/s\/senzaan01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Antonio Senzatela<\/a>, who has <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2026\/03\/30\/antonio-senzatela-has-encouraging-outing-out-of-bullpen\/\" target=\"_self\">reinvented himself as a pitcher<\/a> and currently possesses a stellar 1.19 ERA in 14 games played this season.<\/p>\n<p class=\"alignleft\" style=\"max-width: 1200px\"><smartframe-embed class=\"smartframe_wp_element\" customer-id=\"b0c95bc04383cef69c6b47df872135cf\" image-id=\"WmOBrJSeVgig\" style=\"width: 100%; display: inline-flex; max-width: 3216px; aspect-ratio: 3216\/2136;\" ><\/smartframe-embed><\/p>\n<h2>The Rockies Top Trade Piece<\/h2>\n<p>Relievers are always in high demand at the trade deadline. A reliever that has a 1.19 ERA playing primarily at Coors Field with high velocity on top of that? Yeah, that would be pretty high on the list for contending teams. Additionally, Senzatela is getting paid $12 million guaranteed this season, before a club option of <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.spotrac.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/18376\/antonio-senzatela\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">$14 million next season<\/a> during his age-32 season. So, if the Rockies trade Senzatela, they can just worry about paying the remainder of his salary this season, right? That&#8217;s where this gets tricky.<\/p>\n<p>The club option has no buyout as the $14 million is part of the five-year, $50.5 million guaranteed contract extension Senzatela signed in 2021. A contract that aged incredibly poorly for the Rockies. Senzatela played a combined five games in 2023-24 due to injuries and was one of the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/08\/08\/rockies-rotation-faces-uncertainty-lost-season\/\" target=\"_self\">worst starting pitchers in the MLB<\/a> last season. Which is why it is truly one of the more incredible stories early in the 2026 MLB season that Senzatela has managed to turn himself into an elite reliever after his disastrous 2025.<\/p>\n<p>The money factor shouldn&#8217;t be as big an issue as it would&#8217;ve been for the Rockies in the past. With the Walton-Penner group buying a 40% minority stake in the Rockies&#8217; ownership group and paying all of the outstanding debt within the organization, that should provide the Rockies with a lot more financial flexibility going forward. Perhaps enabling DePodesta and the Rockies front office to push for better prospects in deals. Instead of agreeing to lower quality prospects in return if the receiving team covers more of the remaining salary. But before even thinking about that, it&#8217;s a long way till August still, and the summer months at Coors are coming.<\/p>\n<h2>Jake Bird Part Two?<\/h2>\n<p><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/b\/birdja01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jake Bird<\/a> was <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/05\/09\/possible-rockies-trade-candidates-lost-season\/\" target=\"_self\">one of the best relievers in the MLB<\/a> through the first three months of the season last year. With a 2.06 ERA and 54 Ks on June 21 last season as the most-utilized reliever in the Rockies&#8217; bullpen, Bird was emerging as a top trade candidate. But a 19.89 ERA over 6 1\/3 innings in July started to raise serious doubts about the return the Rockies would get for Bird. Luckily, the New York Yankees still <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/08\/01\/grading-rockies-trade-deadline-2025\/\" target=\"_self\">acquired Bird at the Trade Deadline<\/a> as part of their relievers haul. In return, the Rockies got LHP Ben Shields and second baseman Roc Riggio, who were both top-30 prospects in the Yankees&#8217; system.<\/p>\n<p>Riggio is currently the tenth-ranked prospect in Colorado&#8217;s farm system, while Shields was placed on the 60-day IL on April 1. Shields was excellent last season in five starts for Double-A Hartford, going 1-0 with a 2.33 ERA and 24 Ks to six BBs in 19 1\/3 IP. Something helping the Rockies in that deal, however, despite Bird&#8217;s struggles, was his being under team control until 2028 and still in his arbitration years at just 29 years old. Additionally, Bird has a rubber arm, pitching in 230 1\/3 innings over four seasons in his Rockies career.<\/p>\n<p>Senzatela stayed healthy last season and has been healthy throughout this season. He also, like Bird, primarily has multi-inning outings. Out of Senzatela&#8217;s 14 outings this season, 13 have been more than one inning. But his consistent reliability this season has resulted in him being utilized in save situations as well. He has recorded the first three saves of his career this season. Although one of the saves was an outing lasting 2 2\/3 innings in a comfortable 5-1 win over the Houston Astros.<\/p>\n<p>But the main difference is Senzatela is 32 already and a lot more expensive than Bird was. If Senzatela has a July similar to Bird&#8217;s last season, he likely will generate little trade value. But the Rockies are playing with house money anyways when it comes to Senzatela&#8217;s trade value. No one saw this season coming for him. But so far, Senzatela has shown no signs of slowing down.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_122361\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-122361\" style=\"width: 2870px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/USATSI_28978397.webp\" alt=\"Rockies reliever Antonio Senzatela high-fiving teammate Jake McCarthy after clinching a save against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado on May 16, 2026.\" width=\"2870\" height=\"1913\" class=\"size-full wp-image-122361\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/USATSI_28978397.webp 2870w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/USATSI_28978397-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/USATSI_28978397-600x400.webp 600w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/USATSI_28978397-1200x800.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2870px) 100vw, 2870px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-122361\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">May 16, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies outfielder Jake McCarthy (31) celebrates with Colorado Rockies pitcher Antonio Senzatela (49) after a win against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>What Will the Rockies End up Doing?<\/h2>\n<p>This will be one of the more highly anticipated trade deadlines in recent memory for the Rockies. Bill Schmidt did have a solid deadline last year, offloading the teams&#8217; most attractive veterans for some much-needed prospects. But this will still be an important litmus test for DePodesta and company. Here&#8217;s betting the Rockies will be plenty active. There have been positive signs in the rebuild this season. But the 19-31 Rockies still have plenty of holes on the roster and are heading towards another last-place finish. They will be clear sellers and will once again need to be active in dealing veterans for prospects.<\/p>\n<p>DePodesta wasted no time this offseason being active in the trade market. Per an <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/6521187\/2025\/07\/30\/mlb-trade-deadline-matrix-cliques-rivals-executives\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">article by The Athletic<\/a> last July in which they interviewed executives around the league, the Rockies made just 21 trades and didn&#8217;t trade with 16 of the 30 MLB teams from 2020-24. This offseason, DePodesta made five different trades with five different teams. Including <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2026\/01\/10\/rockies-trade-for-diamondbacks-outfielder-jake-mccarthy\/\" target=\"_self\">acquiring Jake McCarthy<\/a> from the Arizona Diamondbacks, the first trade inside the NL West the Rockies had made since at least 2020.<\/p>\n<p>As it stands currently, Senzatela and Moniak will be the top trade candidates for the Rockies. Keeping Senzatela definitely has to be considered; high-leverage quality arms don&#8217;t grow on trees for Colorado. But the Rockies&#8217; rebuild is also still ongoing, and Senzatela is likely at the max value he will provide for the rest of his career.<\/p>\n<p>Relievers in general are extremely volatile from year to year, especially at Coors. There&#8217;s no guarantee Senzatela will have this same success next season. For a team in the Rockies&#8217; position, they have to strike while the iron is hot. The Senzatela deal had aged very poorly, and the Rockies have been gifted a golden parachute. It will be up to their front office to take it.<\/p>\n<div class=\"arena-poll-widget\" data-site-slug=\"lwosportscom\"><\/div>\n<p>Main Photo Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Paul DePodesta aced his first offseason as the Colorado Rockies&#8217; President of Baseball Operations. Several of the players he brought in this offseason, namely Troy Johnston and TJ Rumfield, have been among the Rockies&#8217; best players. Additionally, bringing back Mickey Moniak for a modest $4 million is one of the biggest bargains this offseason, as [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5354,"featured_media":122356,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[32,1071,35],"tags":[3868,4808,6343,5147,6394,1308,29203,29289,29359],"class_list":["post-122338","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-rockies","category-mlb","category-news","tag-antonio-senzatela","tag-bill-schmidt","tag-jake-bird","tag-jake-mccarthy","tag-mickey-moniak","tag-mlb-prospects","tag-paul-depodesta","tag-tj-rumfield","tag-troy-johnston"],"modified_by":"Augustus Oswald, Site Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/122338","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5354"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=122338"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/122338\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":122394,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/122338\/revisions\/122394"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/122356"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=122338"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=122338"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=122338"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}