10 MLB moves that still need to happen this winter

Colorado Rockies: Trade Charlie Blackmon

It’s been a year since Nolan Arenado signed his $260-million extension and the Rockies are already shopping him on the trade market.

Don’t expect much to come of those rumors, though, as Colorado doesn’t seem to understand that teams aren’t going to be willing to part with elite prospects to take on a deal that still has over $230 million left on it. Trading Arenado now would also be a panic move by the Rockies, who went 71-91 last year after making the playoffs two years in a row.

Last season’s collapse by the Rockies had everything to do with an implosion by a young pitching staff that had shown immense promise. Colorado had a 5.56 ERA last year, hearkening back to the pre-humidor days at Coors Field. Most troubling of all was Kyle Freeland’s 6.73 ERA in 22 starts. The 26-year-old left-hander had finished fourth in the 2018 Cy Young voting after going 17-7 with a 2.85 ERA.

The Rockies have an estimated payroll for 2020 just north of $160 million, which seems reasonable for a team in a rapidly-growing market like Denver. They do have some dead money sunk into Ian Desmond and Wade Davis that cannot be moved to cut costs. If the young pitching staff bounces back in 2020, there’s no reason the Rockies won’t contend for a playoff spot again. It all comes down to Jon Gray, Antonio Senzatela and Freeland.

If Colorado’s front office does have a mandate from ownership to bring down payroll, their focus should be on trading All-Star center fielder Charlie Blackmon before he ages out of his prime. The 33-year-old is guaranteed $43 million over the next two years with two player options for 2022 and 2023 worth a total of $31 million. Blackmon was a late bloomer, but has hit .306/.365/.520 with 201 doubles, 163 home runs, 472 RBI and 116 stolen bases in his six full MLB seasons. He’s showing no signs of slowing down, and the Rockies should look for a trade partner this winter.