Trading Ryan McMahon will earn Rockies a clean slate

At some point, the Colorado Rockies must stop clinging to the past. Trading third baseman Ryan McMahon isn’t just a deadline move — it’s a long-overdue breakup.

McMahon was a part of one of the most hyped Rockies lineups in the past 20 years, led by future Hall of Famer — and arguably the greatest player in franchise history — Nolan Arenado. That core also included Trevor Story, Charlie Blackmon, Ian Desmond, Raimel Tapia and others. 

That team was supposed to take over baseball. It didn’t. 

And now, McMahon is the last one left.

At 29, he’s hitting just .210 with a .687 OPS on the season, even with the benefit of having hitter-friendly Coors Field as his home ballpark. That’s not going to cut it. His defense remains elite — he ranks top five in defensive runs saved (DRS) at third base — but the Rockies aren’t building around defense. They’re rebuilding. Or at least, they should be.

Yet Colorado’s front office keeps clinging to “homegrown guys” like rare collectibles. McMahon is a good player, not a franchise cornerstone. He’s signed through 2027 at a manageable $16 million per year — a contract that should enhance his value and give the Rockies leverage in trade talks.

There’s a market for steady gloves with 20-homer power and solid bat speed. The Cincinnati Reds, for example, just designated Jeimer Candelario for assignment and are cycling through a carousel at third base. Teams like that should be calling.

This is where Colorado must prove it has learned from its mistakes. The franchise got burned romanticizing its farm system. It’s why Arenado walked. It’s why Story wasn’t dealt in time. And it’s why the Rockies are stuck in baseball purgatory every July — not good enough to contend, not bold enough to rebuild.

Trading McMahon doesn’t signal failure. It signals awareness. He deserves a shot with a contender. Colorado deserves a clean slate.

It’s time.