The Rockies enter this yr’s commerce deadline season in a well-known place. They’re sitting on the backside of the NL West, 20.5 video games out of first place and even a whopping 9 video games out of fourth place. Their 27-51 report has dipped behind the Marlins for the worst within the Nationwide League.
Solely the White Sox (21-58) have a worse report amongst MLB groups. They’re staring up at a 12-game deficit within the Wild Card race. Colorado isn’t mathematically eradicated from the postseason but, after all, however the last nail on any faint playoff aspirations it could have harbored has lengthy since been pushed into the coffin.
Usually, this could arrange a group to think about itself a pure vendor on the deadline. The Rockies certainly view themselves in that mild to an extent, however to not the identical extent as onlookers would possibly anticipate. Studies greater than a month in the past indicated the group was fairly unlikely to commerce third baseman Ryan McMahon, as an example.
Patrick Saunders of the Denver Put up doubles down on that sentiment in his newest have a look at the Rockies and the commerce deadline, writing that there’s “practically zero” probability McMahon will transfer. Particularly, he lists McMahon as a favourite of proprietor Dick Monfort, suggesting that even when GM Invoice Schmidt and his crew wished to area provides on the potential All-Star infielder, a deal wouldn’t essentially be within the playing cards.
On an identical observe, Jon Morosi of MLB Community studies that the Rockies have but to carry any commerce discussions surrounding right-hander Cal Quantrill. The group’s determination to purchase low on the righty after the Guardians designated him for task final November — successfully a non-tender — has paid off in spades. Quantrill is sporting a 3.50 ERA in 90 innings out of supervisor Bud Black’s rotation.
His 17 p.c strikeout price and 9 p.c stroll price are each worse than common, however Quantrill’s 46.9 p.c grounder price is a career-best mark. His transfer to Coors Discipline additionally hasn’t dampened his attribute knack for holding the ball within the yard; Quantrill’s 0.90 HR/9 mark is just not solely higher than the 1.06 mark he carried into the season — it’s a career-best price for the previous No. 8 general draft choose.
Quantrill’s success is likely one of the finest developments for the Rox this season, however he’s additionally not removed from free company. The righty is being paid $6.55M in 2024 and has only one yr of group management remaining. He might command round $10M in arbitration this winter and can be a free agent following the 2025 season. Given his 2024 rebound, dwindling membership management and mounting price ticket, that may make him a logical commerce candidate for many golf equipment.
The Rockies, nonetheless, have a historical past of extending simply this form of veteran. They’ve achieved so with Daniel Bard, C.J. Cron and Elias Diaz when all had beforehand stood as logical deadline commerce candidates. Colorado has been notably aggressive in extending pitchers, locking up Kyle Freeland, Antonio Senzatela and German Marquez to long-term offers. Of these three beginning pitcher extensions, solely the Marquez pact labored out of their favor. The Rockies weren’t profitable in finishing an extension with Jon Grey however nonetheless held onto him on the deadline three years in the past (regardless of commerce curiosity) in hopes of understanding a long-term deal.
Whereas there’s no agency phrase but that the Rockies have approached or plan to strategy Quantrill about an extension, it’s a logical conclusion to attract based mostly each on their working historical past and the shortage of commerce talks so far. Add in that Quantrill has spoken beforehand about being motivated by pitching at Coors Discipline, and it’s even simpler to see Rockies brass being heat to the thought.
Certainly, Saunders writes in that very same weekend piece that each Quantrill and teammate Austin Gomber might be candidates for such a deal. Gomber, like Quantrill, is having fun with a rebound marketing campaign and is arbitration-eligible by way of the 2025 season. The 30-year-old southpaw has a spottier monitor report and lesser outcomes but additionally a lower cost tag (each on a contract and in a commerce) in consequence. It bears emphasizing that there’s no agency indication but that the Rockies will steadfastly refuse to take heed to provides on both pitcher, however historical past tells us it’s lower than probably.
All of that raises the query as to which gamers the Rockies would possibly really contemplate shifting. Saunders notes that one in all Elias Diaz or Jacob Stallings is a good wager to alter arms, as is the case with reliever Jalen Beeks and outfielder Jake Cave. Diaz, Stallings and Beeks can turn into free brokers this winter. Cave is managed by way of 2025.
The 2 veteran catchers are having robust years on the plate — Diaz is hitting .303/.352/.439 (107 wRC+), Stallings is at .293/.371/.466 (123 wRC+) — although Diaz is presently on the shelf with a hamstring damage. Diaz is incomes $6M to Stallings’ $1.5M. Stallings as soon as graded as one of many sport’s premier defensive catchers, however his glovework has deteriorated a bit lately and it’s really Diaz who attracts extra favorable marks at this level.
Beeks, 30, has stepped up because the de facto nearer in Black’s bullpen after a lot of the reduction corps has struggled at giant. He’s pitched to a 3.76 ERA and saved six video games in 38 1/3 innings however has achieved so with a subpar strikeout and stroll charges (18.8 p.c and 10 p.c, respectively). Beeks has a $1.675M wage that’s lots inexpensive and a pleasant monitor report exterior of final yr’s anomalous 5.95 ERA, however it’s unlikely different golf equipment would have a look at him as an possibility for a similar sort of high-leverage position he’s presently holding down for the Rockies.
The 31-year-old Cave, in the meantime, is a profession backup who’s hitting .258/.312/.336 (68 wRC+). He can play all three outfield spots and first base, however he hasn’t turned in even a median offensive season since 2019 with the Twins. It’s uncertain he’d fetch a lot in a swap, however Beeks might draw a marginal prospect from a membership looking for left-handed bullpen assist.
