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MLB Trade Deadline: 6 best pitching rentals available

By Nathaniel Reeves

Apr 15, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Rich Hill (18) walks off the field after throwing against the Kansas City Royals in the third inning at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 15, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Rich Hill (18) walks off the field after throwing against the Kansas City Royals in the third inning at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jul 1, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jorge De La Rosa (29) pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 1, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jorge De La Rosa (29) pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /

3. player. 108. . SP. Colorado Rockies. Jorge de la Rosa

At 40-48, Colorado is out of NL West contention and will be selling in an attempt to further its rebuilding effort. There aren’t a lot of major trade chips in Colorado beyond Carlos Gonzalez, so the Rockies need to deal whatever short-term pieces they can to add to an underrated farm system.

Colorado is slowly but surely acquiring some strong pitching talent and appears poised to make a run towards contention in two or three years. The likes of Jon Gray and Tyler Chatwood will be kept around for the long term, but de la Rosa could return a low-level prospect as a starting pitching rental.

de la Rosa has been with the Rockies since 2008 and largely pitched well when he’s been healthy. Following Tommy John surgery in mid-2011, de la Rosa was Colorado’s best pitcher for a stretch, posting ERA marks of 4.17 or better in three straight years per FanGraphs.

The 35-year-old hasn’t been as good this season with a 5.74 ERA (5.39 FIP) through 62.2 innings. Still, de la Rosa has good strikeout and ground ball rates, and that ERA is clearly inflated a bit by pitching in Coors Field.

A team with mounting pitcher injuries like the Texas Rangers could get some decent innings out of de la Rosa prior to the postseason.

Next: 2. Jeremy Hellickson, Philadelphia Phillies

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