Why the timing still may not be right for the Rockies to trade Hunter Goodman

Goodman slugged 41 home runs last season and was second on the Rockies (behind rookie TJ Rumfield) in bWAR at 2.6. Under team control through 2029, Goodman is seen as one of the foundational pieces for the Rockies as they try to break a streak of four consecutive 100-loss seasons.

However, while he is incredibly important for the Rockies, it can be argued that his trade value will never be higher than it is right now.

In an exclusive chat, Rockies general manager Josh Byrnes said that any kind of extension for Goodman is on the backburner until the Rockies know what kind of financial implications lie ahead with the new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Colorado president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta added that, "some of the position players we have, I think will be much harder for us to trade because we feel like that's a strength. So we want to be careful about not taking too much away from that, but we have to be open-minded."

Why a Red Sox-Orioles trade may be a compass for the Rockies

The Rockies will have to rebuild their rotation this offseason and starting pitching is "a huge point of emphasis," according to DePodesta.

Using the Adley Rutschman trade from the Baltimore Orioles to the Boston Red Sox as a template, Colorado could conceivably land pitching prospects that could bring an impact in any kind of Goodman deal. In the Rutschman swap, the Orioles received three prospects that landed in the organization's top 10 at the time, including two pitchers.

However, one of those pitchers (Anthony Eyanson) is projected to see MLB time in 2027 while the other (Kyson Witherspoon) is projected for 2028.

The Rockies simply can't wait that long for help, with just two starters currently healthy, under contract and considered ready to take on the challenge of a full season of pitching at altitude. Colorado needs pitchers who can immediately step into the rotation and have multiple holes to fill. The ask for Goodman will almost assuredly include MLB arms, a high price for any team looking to acquire the catcher.

While DePodesta said the Rockies are "absolutely ready to go" when it comes to building their roster this offseason, the bigger picture shows there could be a hesitation among MLB teams to change their rosters too much before the full implications of the next CBA are known.

Colorado knows what it has in Goodman and won't trade him without a package that can immediately spark a franchise turnaround. That overrides any rumors that may continue to swirl around one of their biggest assets.

All quotations obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.