@MarkKnudson41
Just a couple of weeks earlier, the Colorado Rockies front office did some serious work during the MLB Draft and landed what analysts say was the second best draft among all the major league teams. They got an “A” for that effort.
Then came the equally important MLB trade deadline, where struggling organizations like the Rockies can turn tradable big league assets into more developed minor league prospects that can dramatically increase a team’s chances of building a contender from within in a shorter time frame. Teams that are “sellers” at the deadline can often times land a handful of minor league prospects that can speed up their return to contending status.
This year was a particularly crazy trade deadline, where every single MLB franchise…except one…made at least one deal to try to improve their club. One guess as to which team failed to pull the trigger on any such deals. Yep. It’s the same thing as last season, when they held on to Jon Gray and Trevor Story, only to lose both as free agents.
The Rockies earned a “F” for the trade deadline inactivity. This is a case where “incomplete” equates to failure.
It was clear some time ago that the last-place Rockies – as has been their history – weren’t going to part with any player they thought highly of. Their “core” guys like German Marquez weren’t going to be moved – even though one or more of them could have brought back a nice return of prospects. No one still under a “team friendly” contract – like All-Star C.J. Cron for example – was going anywhere. The only possibilities were guys who’s contracts are set to expire at the end of the season – like relief pitcher Alex Colome, starting pitcher Chad Kuhl and shortstop Jose Iglesias.
Another guy in the last year of his contract who could have brought back a nice return was 37-year-old relief pitcher Daniel Bard. But instead of trading him, the Rockies re-signed him to a new two-year, $19 million deal that is far more player friendly than team friendly. It’s a head scratcher to be sure.
Players on expiring contracts – rentals in many cases – don’t typically bring a big return, but by moving one or more of these four guys – all having good seasons – the Rockies could have gotten at least something back and looked like they were at least trying. Not moving a player like Iglesias for example also means the Rockies have no intention of promoting one of their few hot prospects, shortstop Ezekiel Tovar, who fans would love to see at Coors Field to give them a glimmer of hope about the future.
Instead Colorado stood pat…and stood firm on the line that “we like our team.” If you’re a Rockies fan, those four words should leave you…depressed.
The rest of the NL West – including the Arizona Diamondbacks – got better at the deadline. The San Diego Padres went out and got All-Star closer Josh Hader, solid first baseman Josh Bell AND 23-year-old superstar Juan Soto to add to their already potent line-up. The Dodgers are already the best team in the National League and the Giants are well ahead of the Rockies even when they are having a mediocre season.
The gap just got wider.
An “A” grade for the draft and the “F” grade for no deadline deals may equal out to a “C” to some – making the Rockies average. But add in the facts that their big league team is well below average and their minor league system is ranked among the weakest in MLB, and you have an organization that doesn’t appear to be moving in anything close to the right direction. Instead, they appear stuck in a hamster wheel of sub-mediocrity.
These Rockies could conceivably lose 100 games for the first time in franchise history. That includes the expansion season of 1993.
Wait ‘till next year rings hollow now. Without any sort of change in philosophy or approach to team building, the Rockies will continue to do pretty much exactly what they’re doing.
Be sure to catch Mark Knudson and Manny Randhawa on the Park Adjusted Rockies Podcast each week, available on all major Podcast platforms.