5 players the Colorado Rockies can trade next to complete their tear-down

1. SS Trevor Story

In parallel to the trade talk surrounding Arenado, speculation surrounded Story too. The other part of the left side of the Rockies’ infield had a good season in 2020 (.289/.355/..519 slash-line, 11 home runs, 13 doubles and 28 RBI). Any team that has (or had, at this point) a need for an upgrade at shortstop should have Story on their radar.

With the recent run of shortstop signings around baseball (Marcus Semien, Andrelton Simmons, Freddie Galvis, Didi Gregorius), and one big trade (Francisco Lindor) a chunk of possible trade suitors for Story are gone.

Story’s case is different than Arenado’s in one big way. He is set to hit free agency after the 2021 season, as part of what may be a loaded shortstop class. The Rockies aren’t going to pony up to keep him, especially as Lindor’s likely new deal with the New York Mets ups the market value of those a notch below him. So if they don’t trade him over the next several months, Colorado will lose him for nothing but a compensatory draft pick next offseason–assuming they give him a qualifying offer.

Any team with some one they’d easily replace or displace at shortstop, let alone still has a clear need, should already be calling the Rockies about Story. It would not be a surprise if he’s elsewhere by Opening Day, or even next month’s report date for Spring Training.