Report: Multiple Teams Interested in Rockies Star

Report: Rockies OF Brenton Doyle Drawing Trade Interest

It is no surprise that Doyle is drawing this much trade interest. He has the ceiling of a five-tool player and is arguably the top defensive center fielder in MLB, considering his stellar defense patrolling the massive center field at Coors Field. He won Gold Gloves in 2023 and 2024. But what arguably makes Doyle the most attractive to other clubs is his contract situation.

Doyle isn’t set to hit free agency until 2030. In 2024, his 4.0 WAR led the Rockies in a career season for Doyle. His salary that year? $742,000. After making $765,000 this season, he is estimated to receive $3 million in 2026, per Spotrac.

His WAR dropped to 0.1 this season in a year where he struggled offensively. But if he reaches his ceiling again in that salary range, he will easily be one of the best bargains in MLB.

Why Trade Him?

At just 27 years old with the considerable upside he possesses, why would the Rockies trade Doyle? In 2024, the vision of Doyle and Ezequiel Tovar eventually leading Colorado back to the postseason seemed realistic. But is this a repeat of the Nolan Jones situation following Doyle’s struggles this season?

Jones had a 4.3 WAR for the Rockies in 2023 in just his first full Major League season. It was good for a fourth-place finish in the National League Rookie of the Year voting that season. It appeared the Rockies had swindled the Cleveland Guardians in trading for Jones, and he would be a mainstay in Colorado for years to come. But Jones saw a massive offensive drop-off the following season. His WAR dropped to -0.7, his batting average dropped 70 points to .227, and he recorded just three home runs after hitting 20 in 2023.

The major drop-off led to Jones being traded back to Cleveland in March 2025. Doyle’s drop off this season wasn’t as drastic, but still significant nonetheless. Both players are prime examples of how hard it is to predict a player’s performance from year to year when playing at altitude. This will be one of the biggest challenges continually facing the Rockies’ new front office. Their decision on Doyle will be a great litmus test.

What Will the Rockies Decide?

Doyle showed his defensive prowess when he won a Gold Glove in 2023. The Rockies know what they have in Doyle defensively. He is also one of the Rockies’ top threats on the bases, ranking in the 96th percentile per Statcast with an elite sprint speed of 29.5 ft/s. But Doyle’s offense was and still is the question. Will the Rockies get 2024 Doyle or last year’s Doyle on offense next season? Should they trade him while he’s 27 and his value is still high? It’s a big question they have to consider. Rockies’ President of Baseball Operations Paul DePodesta talked about Doyle to MLB.com’s Thomas Harding on December 8.

“Doyle is one of the elite defensive center fielders in the game — in our ballpark, that plays, and it’s important,” DePodesta said. “He’s also shown real power, hit a bunch of homers, lots of extra-base hits.” “He’s big, strong, athletic, fast; there’s a lot to like about him.” “There’s an excellent foundation.” “Hopefully, he can continue to progress and get better.”

DePodesta continued, saying that he understands why there is and will continue to be heavy interest in Doyle. As is often the case in Colorado, the Rockies likely would ask for pitching back in a potential trade. Harding mentioned the Kansas City Royals as a potential match in a trade due to Kansas City’s abundance of arms available. It’s something the Rockies are in desperate need of following a league-worst season for their rotation. But is Brenton Doyle the player the Rockies should trade for the pitching help? Could the Rockies live with the decision if Doyle once again reaches his sky-high potential elsewhere? Lots of questions that will need to be answered as the Rockies decide on the fate of their star outfielder. Main Photo Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images