Analysis

The Rockies Need to Make a Big Splash

It is July 29, 2018 and the Colorado Rockies are currently tied for the 2nd Wild Card spot and a game out of 1st place in the NL West. The trade deadline is three days away, the Rockies are one of the hottest teams in baseball right now and they are not playing the easiest teams. Since returning from the All-Star Break the Rockies have faced the Diamondbacks, Astros and Athletics and they are not facing a team that has a sub-.500 record until August 21st almost a month from now. From now until then they face the A’s, Cardinals, Brewers, Pirates, Dodgers, and Braves. A lot of people would see a schedule like this and a team that is considered to be on the fringe like the Rockies and say, “This team should sell, there is no way that they can stay afloat with the intensity of their schedule”. Well, watching the Rockies regularly I can safely say this team needs to buy and buy BIG.

Sure, the Rockies may have acquired Seung-Hwan Oh and reportedly signed Matt Holliday to a Minor League deal but that is not enough! The front office owes it to their fans, fans of a team that has honestly accomplished next to nothing in its 25-year history. The team has a chance to be something special, a team with one of the best offenses in baseball, at Coors Field or away from it and a strong young rotation. But, the rotation could use some improvement, the Catcher position could also use a major boost. I want to go over major targets for the Rockies at each of these positions. Of course, it is very unlikely that they land all three of the players I recommend but getting just one of these players would send a message to the Rockies faithful: WE WANT TO WIN.

TRADE #1: Rockies acquire Jacob DeGrom

Arturo Pardavila III on Flickr

The Rockies and every single contender in baseball would love to have a Jacob DeGrom on their team, but the Rockies could use a bona fide ace in their rotation. He is my Cy Young pick, one of the best pitchers in baseball right now and he deserves better than playing for the Mets. The Rockies, if he is available should do whatever they can to get a controllable ace to help mentor their very young rotation. It seems that the Mets need talent close to the Majors and AAA Albuquerque could probably beat the Orioles, they are loaded with talent that is blocked. I think the Mets should begin to scout the Rockies, this could end up being a very good trade for both teams. I think DeGrom would look good in purple too, so let’s do it!

TRADE #2: Rockies acquire JT Realmuto

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JT Realmuto is the premier catcher that is most likely available for trades. He is slashing (.309/.359/.535) this season, which is much better than Chris Iannetta (.222/.328/.374), Tony Wolters (.153/.269/.258) and someone whom I really like, Tom Murphy ( .286/.308/.444). Catching is probably the least important need in this article since Tom Murphy is actually a very good player. Getting Realmuto would be big for the Rockies and he would absolutely love playing on not just a contender, but playing in a ballpark like Coors Field. The Marlins are supposedly asking a lot for him but, the Rockies get a talented, controllable catcher in his prime.

Overall, the Rockies have a chance to do something special in 2018 and 2019, hopefully, beyond that and the loyal fans in Denver deserve to see their team make a second deep postseason run! I think it is possible, maybe not the easiest or most cost-effective solution but it is needed as a new era in Rockies history and the Rockies need to get out of the bottom of the league and into the national spotlight. The fans of this team deserve it, the incredibly talented players on the team deserve it and baseball will be better when the Rockies are better. Their attendance has been solid this season, people are coming out to watch their team compete and it has to continue. They have not done enough, it is time to make a big splash and dedicate themselves to long-term success.

Ilan C.S

I am a freshman at Cleveland State University. I was born and raised in New York City, though I adopted the Rockies as my team after having a fondness for them throughout my childhood thanks to Dexter Fowler and Carlos Gonzalez. As much as Rockies fandom is painful, I love to represent the purple pinstripes!

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