Rockies Trade Candidates To Keep an Eye On

At 6-31, the Colorado Rockies will be sellers at the trade deadline. It will be intriguing to follow possible trade candidates as the deadline nears. In their history, the Rockies have often gone against league norms. So, even in years when they should be obvious sellers, it is hard to predict what the club will do. However, in the past couple of seasons, general manager Bill Schmidt has shown more of a willingness to be active at the deadline. Below are some candidates the club could consider moving as their rebuild continues.

Several Rockies Could Become Trade Candidates Amid Nightmare Season

Ryan McMahon

McMahon has been with the Rockies for his entire career. In 2022, he signed a six-year extension worth $70 million guaranteed. Per Spotrac, he is earning $12 million this season before his salary bumps up to $16 million annually in 2026-27. In the last couple of seasons, he was often a trade candidate. But the Rockies may have missed the golden opportunity to offload their veteran third baseman.

McMahon achieved his first career All-Star appearance after a stellar first half last season. In 360 at-bats, he hit .272/.350/.447 with 14 home runs and 45 RBI. His trade value was arguably the highest of his career. The offensive production was the last piece teams needed to see out of McMahon, as he is already a Gold Glove-caliber player at the hot corner. But the Rockies opted to keep McMahon, and he struggled mightily in the second half. Those struggles have seeped into this season. In 124 at-bats, he is hitting .185/.311/.339 with 48 strikeouts and 22 walks.

However, McMahon’s underlying offensive numbers are still solid, and he provides a veteran presence and excellent defense. Per Statcast, McMahon’s 94.1 mph average exit velocity ranks in the 96th percentile league-wide, and his three outs above average is elite. His 32.4% K rate is in the bottom five percent in Major League Baseball, but his 14.9% BB rate is among the top 10 percent. Perhaps a contending team will take a chance on McMahon, knowing that he will improve their defense while hoping that being surrounded by a better lineup will increase his offensive output.

Rockies’ Recent Trade Deadline Deals Involving Relievers

In 2023, Schmidt traded veteran reliever Pierce Johnson to the Atlanta Braves for pitching prospects Victor Vodnik and Tanner Gordon. Vodnik has become an intriguing young reliever in the Rockies bullpen, while Gordon made a spot start for the Rockies against the Detroit Tigers on Thursday.

Last season, Colorado dealt reliever Nick Mears to the Milwaukee Brewers for right-hander Bradley Blalock and minor league pitching prospect Yujanyer Herrera. Blalock has served as a fill-in starter and long reliever for Colorado. He has struggled this season, posting an 8.03 ERA over four games, but has shown flashes. Herrera is now with High-A Spokane, currently on the 60-day injured list.

Gordon and Vodnik were both among the Braves’ top 30 prospects, while Blalock was on the Brewers’ 40-man roster and Herrera was Milwaukee’s 28th-ranked prospect. That’s some really solid value for an aging reliever in Johnson, who put up lackluster numbers in his short time with the Rockies. It was also good value for Mears, who had been a waiver pickup for the Rockies. He had an unsightly 5.66 ERA but had elite swing-and-miss stuff, leading the Rockies bullpen in K/9.

Per MLB Trade Rumors, the predictive metrics pointed to Mears having great success if he could get his command under control. The metrics were right, as Mears has a stellar 0.68 ERA in 14 games for Milwaukee this season. He has allowed only one earned run with an elite K:BB ratio of 12:2. While Mears having that level of success outside of Colorado has to hurt the Rockies’ front office, the value made sense at the time of the trade.

Possible Return For Jake Bird

Bird is the likeliest trade candidate for Colorado. He has been otherworldly for the Rockies, having one of the best first halves for a Rockies’ reliever since Adam Ottavino’s stellar 2018. Relievers are always in high demand at the deadline, and if Bird can pitch this well at Coors, contenders will be frothing at the mouth.

Bird, at age 29, is having an excellent bounce-back season for Colorado after a down 2024. In 15 games, he has posted a stellar 1.93 ERA with a whopping 32 strikeouts to 13 walks. He has a rubber arm and consistently gives the Rockies effective multiple-inning outings. He has avoided the barrel consistently and utilized his slider and curve to great effect. Per Statcast, his 3.8% barrel rate ranks in the top 10% league-wide, and his 4 breaking run value is in the 94th percentile.

Bird is giving the Rockies amazing value, and his contract will be very easy for the Rockies to move. Per Spotrac, he is making $770K this season and has three arbitration seasons before he hits unrestricted free agency in 2029. He has effectively bounced back from an injury-riddled 2024 and looks to be back to his durable self. At just age 29, with Bird on pace for a career-high in strikeouts while pitching at altitude on an extremely team-friendly deal, he will undoubtedly be one of the most sought-after relievers at the deadline. While he is providing the Rockies great value, they can’t afford to hold onto him, considering they are nowhere near contending. With the value that Schmidt got with Johnson and Mears, the Rockies could potentially bring in a nice haul for Bird that would help take the sting out of a lost season.

Other Avenues at Deadline for Rockies

Bird and McMahon are the two most obvious trade candidates for Colorado. Kris Bryant is set to undergo a serious back procedure, and no team would call the Rockies based on Bryant’s recent struggles, brutal injury history, and difficult contract situation. Lefty starter Austin Gomber was floated as a potential trade candidate last offseason but is currently on the 60-day IL. The rest of the position players are either too young, a part of the club’s long-term plans, or would not net much interest in the market.

Right-hander Ryan Feltner has shown great promise but recently hit the 15-day IL. He is likely too important to the future of the Rockies’ already thin rotation for Colorado to seriously consider any trade offers unless they are blown out of the water. The likeliest remaining trade candidates would be veteran relievers Scott Alexander and Jimmy Herget. Both are on manageable contracts and have been solid relievers for Colorado. The young Rockies won’t have a ton of avenues at the deadline. But in the midst of one of the worst seasons in their extended rebuild, the Rockies can’t afford to punt on the options that will be available to them.