Colorado Rockies looking to trade for a starting pitcher

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported earlier today that the Rockies could be seeking a starting pitcher through trade. The starting rotation was one of the worst in the league last season, and the rotation as of now consists of Jorge de la Rosa, Jhoulys Chacin, Drew Pomeranz, Juan Nicasio, and Jeff Francis. Yeah, none of them are household names.

May 15, 2012; San Francisco, CA, USA; Colorado Rockies catcher Ramon Hernandez (55) checks his mask after being struck in the face against the San Francisco Giants during the seventh inning at AT

The Rockies offense has a little bit of depth to it, as guys such as Tyler Colvin and Ramon Hernandez don’t have a starting spot. Colorado’s catching position, in general, has some depth to it in Hernandez, Wilin Rosario, Jordan Pacheco, and Yorvit Torrealba. The 36-year old Hernandez would most likely be the one to go if they find a team with a starting pitcher to deal.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are probably the main team that the Rockies should be in contact with. They have a lot of depth in the starting rotation department, as Aaron Harang, Ted Lilly, and Chris Capuano are all guys who might not have a spot in their stacked rotation. The Dodgers catcher, A.J. Ellis, isn’t any sort of force, and will probably need a backup, which is why Hernandez would be smart to acquire.

October 2, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Chris Capuano (35) pitches in the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Harang (34), Lilly (37), and Capuano (34) are all decent veterans who could help out one of the worst rotations in the whole league. Of the three, Capuano is my favorite, but any of them will be better than guys like Nicasio and Francis.

Time will tell whether or not the Rockies pursue a starter, but for a team who has done next-to-nothing this offseason, and has a pretty good offense pieced together, it wouldn’t be a bad idea.