Colorado Rockies Listening to Trades on Veterans

The Colorado Rockies enter this year’s Winter Meetings with the mindset of continuing their rebuilding process; thus, they are listening to trades on their stars.

As the Colorado Rockies are in full swing with the Winter Meetings this week, the team is actively shopping around some of their key veterans, including: Carlos Gonzalez, Corey Dickerson, Charlie Blackmon, and DJ LeMahieu. The Colorado Rockies understand they must build a stout farm system in order to be competitors moving forward in the National League West. Moreover, the Colorado Rockies must add quality pitching prospects to their farm system loaded with hitting.

The Colorado Rockies are loaded with hitting in their farm system, making their farm system one of the best in baseball; however, they are top-heavy with hitting and somewhat shallow in pitching. Also, the Colorado Rockies possess replacements, in-house, for Gonzalez, Dickerson, Blackmon, and LeMahieu. With the Colorado Rockies finishing last season with a 68-94 record, they are a ways away from competing in the West, especially with a resurgent Diamondbacks squad loading up for a playoff push this upcoming season. Also, the Dodgers and Giants present problems for the Colorado Rockies moving forward, due to their more supreme hitting/pitching combinations.

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With Carlos Gonzalez headlining the Colorado Rockies’ key players on the block, the Rockies want a nice haul in return for his services. Carlos Gonzalez resurrected his trade stock after an impressive 40 home run season last year; however, plenty of people want to point out that he plays in hitter-friendly Coors Field. To the contrary, Gonzalez posted a 413 foot average true distance per home run (via ESPN Home Run Tracker), which shows that he possesses superb raw power capable of hitting home runs in every stadium across the MLB. Moreover, he hit 24 home runs at Coors Field and 16 home runs on the road, illustrating his power is not contingent to Coors Field.

Teams across the league would love a left-handed power hitter like Carlos Gonzalez. Outside of a injury-plagued 2014 season, Gonzalez is one of the most consistent power outfielders in the game. At age 30, the Colorado Rockies need to assess what type of talent they can bring in for their superstar outfielder. Gonzalez’s services will not come cheap, and the Colorado Rockies hope to land a future ace if he is included in a deal. With Jason Heyward and Justin Upton still on the market, both likely sign before the Colorado Rockies find a trade partner for Gonzalez.

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Next on the list, Charlie Blackmon and Corey Dickerson offer the same type of upside, but Blackmon plays center field and Dickerson in right field. The duo does not offer the same upside as Carlos Gonzalez, because they do not change the look of an offense. However, they are offensive-first outfielders that bolster any team’s lineup with their presence. Blackmon, currently, is 28 years old and provides less upside than Dickerson (26), but Dickerson comes off of an injury-riddled season due to a plantar fascia injury suffered during the season.

Dickerson possesses 20-plus home run power, with an ability to creep in the 30’s if he finds a groove. However, the downside to Dickerson is his below-average defense in the outfield. In 2014, Corey Dickerson broke onto the scene for the Colorado Rockies, showcasing his worth. In 131 games played, Dickerson hit 24 home runs, drove in 76 RBI, while owning a .312/.364/.567 slash line. Also, he shows an advanced eye for the strike zone, striking out just 101 times in 436 at-bats. Dickerson played in 65 games for the Colorado Rockies in 2015, hitting .304 with 10 home runs and 31 RBI.

In addition to Dickerson’s breakout campaign in 2014, Charlie Blackmon did the same. Blackmon played in 154 games in 2014, hitting 19 home runs with 72 RBI; moreover, he stole 28 bases, leading to the first All-Star selection of his career. With Blackmon making a splash for the Colorado Rockies in 2014, he entered the 2015 season with high hopes, and he did not disappoint in that regard. Blackmon owned a .287/.347/.450 slash line, with 17 home runs and 58 RBI. Moreover, he demonstrated advanced baserunning skills, stealing 43 bags on the season despite not having elite speed.

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In 2014, Dickerson posted a 140 wRC+ with a 2.6 WAR. Over the past two seasons, Blackmon averaged a 100 wRC+ and 2.1 WAR. With that being said, Corey Dickerson offers more upside and is the younger option in the outfield. With the trio of Colorado Rockies outfielders on the block, the team must have a fallback plan if they are all dealt, although highly unlikely. The two players likely earning the most phone calls about their availability are Carlos Gonzalez and Corey Dickerson; however, Blackmon presents a cheaper alternative for a team looking to add on offensive-forward outfielder.

Finally, the last name the Colorado Rockies are shopping is DJ LeMahieu. Last season, LeMahieu put together the best offensive season of his career. LeMahieu posted a .301/.358/.388 slash line, with six home runs, 61 RBI, and 23 stolen bases. However, he registered a lackluster 89 wRC+, hinting his offense is still lacking. Although he posted a 89 wRC+, he managed to earn a 1.9 WAR, likely due to his defensive abilities. If it were not Dee Gordon, DJ LeMahieu likely wins his second-consecutive Gold Glove Award with the Colorado Rockies. With one All-Star selection and Gold Glove Award, LeMahieu presents a well-rounded second baseman with solid defense and a decent bat.

While Carlos Gonzalez strikes out a good bit, Dickerson, Blackmon, and LeMahieu are all high-contact bats that rarely give up empty at-bats. With the Colorado Rockies needing some young, impressive arms in their farm system, they need to deal some of their current talent in order to get better down the road. The Colorado Rockies are behind the curve in the National League West, so this presents the only option for them to catch up. They likely deal someone in the Winter Meetings; however, who they deal remains a mystery. Carlos Gonzalez presents the most likely option due to his age and injury history, but a team looking for his services must pay a premium for the All-Star outfielder.

MLB’s Winter Meetings are the best time for teams to make moves to prepare for the upcoming season, so keep an eye on the Colorado Rockies’ situation moving forward. The Rockies look to add either front-line staring pitching or impact arms in the bullpen. Stay tuned.

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