5 players the Colorado Rockies can sell at the trade deadline

The Colorado Rockies have re-entered the playoff race, but these five players could still be on the move heading into the trade deadline.

With eight wins in their last 10 games, the Colorado Rockies have pushed themselves to just 3.5 games back of the Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League West entering Monday’s action. They’re slightly further back in the Wild Card hunt, at 4.5 games out, but a buy or sell decision that seemed more obvious in June is looming ahead of the non-waiver trade deadline.

The Rockies will be able to tell a lot about themselves heading into the All-Star break. They’ll welcome the division-leading Diamondbacks to town Tuesday-Thursday this week, and then they’ll take on the Seattle Mariners in interleague play for the second straight weekend to end a six-game homestand.

If the Rockies shift into sell-mode after the All-Star break, they could make some big names available on the trade market. But remaining within a realistic sniff of playoff contention could bring additions, like Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu.

In any case, the Rockies could consider parting with these five guys between now and the end of the month.

Colorado’s attempt to build a lock-down bullpen has not gone as planned thus far, as free agent signings Wade Davis (4.04 ERA, 4.8 BB.9) and Bryan Shaw (7.57 ERA, currently on the DL) haven’t delivered.

But Ottavino has pitched well, with a 1.79 ERA, 17 holds and a 14.1 K/9 over 37 appearances (40.1 innings). Since coming back from an oblique issue in mid-June, he has been a bit up-and-down with a 3.75 ERA and a scoreless outing in seven of 10 times on the mound.

Ottavino has not been a primary closer, with two saves this year and 13 saves for his career. But he has late-inning, strikeout stuff, and an expiring contract may bring other teams calling.