Could this trade help boost the injury-riddled Philadelphia Phillies lineup?
By Kevin Henry

After starting the season 0-4, it’s clear that the Philadelphia Phillies need some kind of boost. Could that come with an impact trade with the Colorado Rockies?
When Rhys Hoskins went down with a knee injury near the end of spring training, the Phillies lineup lost a key contributor. Add that to the absence of Bryce Harper as he recovers from Tommy John surgery and it’s clear that Philadelphia could use some help at the plate. With that in mind, a trade with the Rockies to acquire All-Star first baseman C.J. Cron makes a lot of sense.
Could a Rockies-Phillies trade help provide an answer for Philadelphia’s struggles?
The 33-year-old Cron is in the final year of a two-year, $14.5 million contract with the Rockies and is coming off a hot start to the season that earned him National League Player of the Week honors.
Congratulations, @CCron24! pic.twitter.com/vAYs8v2NHU
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) April 3, 2023
The Rockies have depth at first base, with Elehuris Montero and Mike Moustakas currently on the roster, as well as prospect Michael Toglia working toward another shot at MLB playing time in Triple-A. Cron is very likely not in Colorado’s plans for next season, and the Rockies are favored by many to finish the 2023 season in the NL West cellar, meaning Colorado could be a seller at the trade deadline.
Colorado and Philadelphia have been trade partners in the past, including a 2017 deal that brought reliever Pat Neshek to the Rockies in a move that helped them secure a NL Wild Card spot. Could the two teams figure out a deal that would send Cron to the City of Brotherly Love?
Last year, the Rockies rebuffed trade offers for Cron, Daniel Bard, and other players, saying that the value they were being offered was too low. Manager Bud Black had one of the quotes of the season, discussing how the Rockies weren’t going to trade a Range Rover for a Honda Accord. If the Phillies are going to make a deal for Cron, it’s clear Colorado will be asking for a good return.
Regarding that return, the Rockies are always looking for pitching, an area where they have been woefully thin at all levels in recent seasons. Here’s a thought.
Moore is Philadelphia’s 20th-ranked prospect and made the jump from Double-A to Triple-A this season. His scouting report reads, “A reliever all the way, Moore is all about going right after hitters with power stuff.” Power can play well at Coors Field as it takes a lot of the spin that can be affected by altitude out of the equation. He was traded to the Phillies by the Chicago White Sox before the 2022 season so this would be another change for the 6-foot-6 right-hander.
Fowler is a 24-year-old left-hander currently at High-A Jersey Shore. He saw action in one game there last season, throwing a pair of innings after being called up from Low-A Clearwater.
The Rockies get a pair of pitchers to boost their minor league system while the Phillies get an answer at first base to replace Hoskins. What do you think of this deal? Let us know in the comments section below.
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