Let's Rescue A Rocky

[Cody Pirkl]

The Colorado Rockies are in a rough spot. Despite loads of talented players, they’re firmly on the outside looking in when it comes to expanded playoffs for 2021. Colorado may not be in for a ton of fun these next few years, and several of their players may need rescuing.The Rockies were never in great shape to compete in 2021, and now with San Diego’s recent moves they’re lucky to finish third in their division. Colorado has done a nice job of putting talent on the field over the last decade, but things just haven’t really come together for an actual World Series run. The result is several talented players aging out of their cost controlled years, which really doesn’t fit well with a team that’s several pieces away from being serious contenders.

 

It’s often at this point where teams cash in their veteran talent for what value they have left and try to speed up a rebuild. If the Rockies choose to go this route, the Minnesota Twins have several pieces they should be checking in on.

 

Jon Gray

Gray has been an obvious target for the Twins for a few years now. While he struggled in 2020, his raw talent is still there with his mid 90s fastball and whiff inducing slider. Gray has the raw tools that we’ve seen Wes Johnson and company take to the next level before, and just getting out of Coors may be enough to bring him up a tier.

 

Colorado somewhat surprisingly tendered Gray a contract this winter given how far he had fallen in their depth chart. His being a free agent in a year paired with his poor 2020 means that an underwhelming trade package should get the job done if the Rockies are looking to shed the $6 million he’s set to make in 2021. For more details on Jon Gray, check out an article written about him last fall.

 

Trevor Story

Story has been discussed as a possible trade target this winter, but would require Colorado completely burning it down. He’s been one of the best shortstops in baseball the last three years. His worst season in that time period was when he was 17% above league average on offense in 2020 according to wRC+.

 

Story's game-changing speed and power likely means a trade would still cost the Twins greatly despite the hefty $18.5 million he’s due in 2021 before hitting free agency the following year. That being said, if the Twins felt confident about exploring an extension, Story would be the answer at shortstop for the foreseeable future, and would drop a superstar into an already impressive lineup. Check out a potential trade discussed earlier this year for Story at Twins Daily.

 

German Marquez

Here’s the real Rocky that needs rescuing. German Marquez is a certified stud … away from Coors. He has a career 5.10 ERA at home and a 3.51 mark away. He averages 95+ on his fastball and has a curveball and slider that absurdly both hover around 40% whiff rates. Studies have shown that Coors affects breaking ball movement above all else, and that’s Marquez’s bread and butter. He is still only 25 years old and is due a very reasonable $33.5 million over the next three years with a $16 million club option in 2024. This means that the Twins will have to be willing to part with some names at the top end of the farm system.

 

Marquez, however, might be the biggest value play on the trade market. He hasn’t broken out to command an ace-like price tag, but his numbers away from home show that there’s a strong possibility that he could still give that kind of return. For that reason Marquez may be my favorite target for the Twins even if it takes some elbow grease by the front office.

 

The first piece to fall for Colorado may be Nolan Arenado who’s been discussed as a trade target all winter. If he and his enormous contract get moved, the Rockies fall to a mediocre team and would be looking to part with pieces in order to set up for a speedy rebuild. Do you think the Twins should be ready to buy up the pieces the Rockies are selling off? Let us know below.

 

SEE ALSO

With Snell and Darvish Gone, What’s Left on the Starting Pitching Market? | Tom Froemming

Patience: The Rotation Edition | Cody Pirkl

5 Trade Targets: Who Can the Twins Raid from the Reds? | Cody Christie

 

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[strumdatjaguar]

If they pick up Marquez, the Twins will probably be the only MLB team that will ever have two GERMANS on a team.

[Brandon]

Having 2 Germans on our team will help our Octoberfest standings. Will it be enough to help our Novemberfest as well?

[Doctor Gast]

When Arenado saw that the FO wasn't improving the team in 2020, I saw the hand writing on the wall. The FO wasn't prudent in their actions & it got out of hand & sytmied itself & couldn'y grow w/ it needs.

I was very big on Gray & Story. Gray was compaired to Gerrit Cole, except now I know there's 1 big exception, he doesn't have close to the high spin rate as Cole has. I've cooled off on Gray but he's still good, he needs to improve his secondary pitches so his 4 seamer could be more effective. 

I liked Story as an upgrade last year, he could still be a good option but now we have a lot of options. He probably likes it there at Coors field so I don't think   he'll consider that                     we are rescuing him.

Of course Marquez is the gold ring. CO always are hestitant to give up their core so I think they'll try to hold on to Marquez but maybe everyone else would be available. Maybe around the dead line, well into the seaon, they'll know they should rebuild & offer up Marquez

[specialiststeve]

Can't believe Arenado or Marquez are going anywhere unless we drain our minor league system.... Gray on the other hand likely could be had and would be a good comeback project. 

[TopGunn#22]

I've looked at a trade for Marquez on baseballtrades.com and he's incredibly expensive.  Still, I've been pushing for the Twins to get him for awhile.  maybe a blockbuster involving Story AND Marquez.  

[jmlease1]

All good trade targets, although I'm a little less excited about giving up a pile for Story unless the FO is really confident on being able to resign him without needing to dump a ton of salary everywhere else; I'd really hate to do a deal that dropped a bunch of top-end prospects for a guy that only sticks for a year. Those kind of deals don't usually work out well in baseball. (see also, Alexander, Doyle)

 

I like Gray and I think he'd be a good fit for us to fill out the back end of the rotation and see if Wes Johnson can up his game a bit more.

 

Marquez is definitely worth giving up a serious package for: the contract is good, the peripherals are there...but I think the analysis above is right: he's going to be hard to chisel out of there unless they dump Arenado's contract and start the rebuild.

[Trov]

If we could get Grey for low level prospect I would be all for it.  Not worth giving up much for 1 year on a guy that may not be worth much.  Yes, sometimes a new team can find the secret to unlock them, or even just being the 4th or 5th starter will be enough.  

 

Story I am very low on for the price.  His defense is good, but his offense away from Coors is about what Polonco has done.  Why pay big money, and prospects for just a defense upgrade?  Also, how many more years do you expect Story to stay at short, even if you do sign long term?  I mean, most SS need to get moved around age 30, and the ones that do not get moved, in part, is due to their overvalue at the position based on history.  

 

Marquez I know little about and would defer to others on his value.  He sounds like he may be a good get.  CO has never been a team to sell off their guys though for cheap.  I think because they know their pitchers have more value than what they tend to appear to have, and their hitters have lower value and it is hard for teams to really come to understanding of value.  Much of it is optics based on overall stats that are affect too much by Coors. 

[twinfan]

Gray and Marquez would be nice to have. Maybe we could package Sano and Lewis for them and even throw in a couple of A ball prospects. Story is another question. I think we can do better in the free agent market if we still want to sign a shortstop. 

 

Colorado is in a tough situation because they have some good pieces but can't get past the Dodgers and now Padres. So what do they do? 

 

Hopefully we can re-sign Odorizzi and that he is healthy. That would help.