Fansided

MLB Trade Deadline 2017: 5 trades that should have happened

By Joshua Sadlock

BALTIMORE, MD - JULY 23: Zach Britton #53 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches during a baseball game against the Houston Astros at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 23, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Orioles won 9-7. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - JULY 23: Zach Britton #53 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches during a baseball game against the Houston Astros at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 23, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Orioles won 9-7. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next
NEW YORK, NY – JULY 20: Lance Lynn #31 of the St. Louis Cardinals in action against the New York Mets at Citi Field on July 20, 2017 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. The Mets defeated the Cardinals 3-2. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – JULY 20: Lance Lynn #31 of the St. Louis Cardinals in action against the New York Mets at Citi Field on July 20, 2017 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. The Mets defeated the Cardinals 3-2. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

2. Lance Lynn to the Rockies

For the life of me, I cannot figure out why Lance Lynn was not traded by the St. Louis Cardinals. After missing the entire 2016 season recovering from Tommy John, Lynn has returned with a vengeance and is 9-6 with a 3.20 ERA in 22 starts. The right-hander and the Cardinals have an excellent history with each other, but re-signing him when he hits free agency should not be in the cards.

The Cardinals are fighting to stay at .500 this season thanks to an anemic offense. The majority of the rotation is intact next year, with the expected addition of top prospect Luke Weaver for an entire season. Lynn should have been moved for a hitter to add to the lineup.

It’s fair to say that the Colorado Rockies will be fine to make the playoffs this year without making a big trade for a starting pitcher, but there are other reasons to solidify a rotation at the trade deadline. The Rockies are very reliant on rookie starting pitchers. Lynn’s presence down the stretch would have allowed them to ease up on the gas and give Kyle Freeland, Jeff Hoffman, Antonio Senzatela and German Marquez a break.

Both teams missed a chance to make a mutually-beneficial move at the trade deadline. With a farm system overflowing with top hitting prospects, the Rockies were a natural trade partner for the Cardinals. Colorado elected to shore up their bullpen with All-Star Pat Neshek and took a flier on catcher Jonathan Lucroy, so it’s not like they did nothing. Still, Lynn would have been a nice addition.

Home/MLB Trade Rumors