Fansided

Each MLB team’s best trade ever

By Joshua Sadlock

SEATTLE, WA - JUNE 19: Miguel Cabrera #24 of the Detroit Tigers takes a swing during an at-bat in a game against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field on June 19, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. The Mariners won the game 6-2. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - JUNE 19: Miguel Cabrera #24 of the Detroit Tigers takes a swing during an at-bat in a game against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field on June 19, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. The Mariners won the game 6-2. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – JULY 18: Carlos Gonzalez #5 of the Colorado Rockies scores on a Alexi Amarista RBI single in the fifth inning against the San Diego Padres at Coors Field on July 18, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – JULY 18: Carlos Gonzalez #5 of the Colorado Rockies scores on a Alexi Amarista RBI single in the fifth inning against the San Diego Padres at Coors Field on July 18, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

Colorado Rockies: Carlos Gonzalez from the Athletics, 2008

  • Rockies get: Carlos Gonzalez, Huston Street, Greg Smith
  • Oakland Athletics get: Matt Holliday

Seeing as the franchise has barely been in existence more than 20 years and most of their top players have been homegrown (Todd Helton, Nolan Arenado, Troy Tulowitzki) or signed as a free agent (Larry Walker, Andres Galarraga), the Rockies do not have a long history of great trades. There are really only two to pick from here, the blockbuster that sent Matt Holliday to Oakland or the swap that brought Dante Bichette in from the Milwaukee Brewers.

Let’s go with the Carlos Gonzalez-Matt Holliday swap because it also gave the Rockies a valuable closer in Huston Street. Gonzalez is also a much more well-rounded player than Bichette, having won three Gold Gloves earlier in his career.

Cargo became a full-time starter with the Rockies in 2010 and won the NL batting title with a .336 mark. He also led the majors with 351 total bases. That still stands as his best MLB season, but Gonzalez has been a solid and consistent All-Star right fielder. He is a career .290/.349/.520 hitter for the Rockies with 203 home runs. He will be knocked for playing half his games in Coors Field, and there’s something to that, as his home-away splits are even more severe than other great players in Rockies history.

Gonzalez is having the worst season of his career in 2017, and it could not have come at a worse time as he prepares to test free agency after the season ends. Throughout the life of his contract, there were always trade rumblings, but Gonzalez has remained in Colorado and will go down as one of their best players ever.

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