Possible Yankees trade partner: Colorado Rockies.
The National League is currently in a chaotic state. The Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers each boast over 50 wins, leading their divisions by at least seven games. The Milwaukee Brewers lead the NL Central by five and a half games, while the Atlanta Braves hold a four-game lead in the Wild Card race. Behind these teams, nine others are tightly packed within a four-and-a-half-game range, keeping almost every team in the National League within playoff contention.
Two teams, however, have already shifted their focus to the future: the Miami Marlins and the Colorado Rockies. The Marlins’ season took a downturn early, leading them to trade Luis Arraez for prospects in early May. The Rockies, unfortunately, are performing poorly across the board. Despite playing in the hitter-friendly Coors Field, they manage to score only 4.28 runs per game and have a wRC+ of 84, ranking as the third worst in baseball. Their pitching staff is arguably the worst, allowing 5.89 runs per game, significantly higher than the second-worst Chicago White Sox. With only one notable winning streak and a 6-17 record since June, the Rockies are unlikely candidates for a turnaround. Typically, they are a team others look to for acquiring supplementary players at the trade deadline, but significant upgrades might be scarce.
For teams seeking upgrades, the Rockies’ top asset is third baseman Ryan McMahon. The Yankees, in need of a third baseman, have been linked with McMahon. However, with three years remaining on his contract extension signed before the 2022 season, the Rockies are not eager to trade him. This could be a misstep, given McMahon’s breakout season, the Rockies’ unlikelihood of contending soon, and the strong sellers’ market. Yet, the Rockies have a history of holding onto players at the deadline.
Another potential trade candidate from the Rockies is catcher Elias DÃaz. Despite being on the injured list with a hamstring injury, DÃaz has had an impressive season, ranking well in catcher framing runs and CS Above Average, and boasting a 107 wRC+. His performance surpasses notable catchers like J.T. Realmuto. Although catcher might not be the Yankees’ top priority, improving their defense and pitching through DÃaz could be a strategic move. Unlike McMahon, DÃaz is likely to be traded, as he becomes a free agent at the season’s end.
On the pitching front, the Rockies’ options are limited. Cal Quantrill stands out as their best pitcher, thanks to his 47.3 percent ground ball rate, but with just one year of team control left, there have been no talks of trading him. The Rockies might prefer extending his contract due to his apparent comfort pitching in Coors Field. Beyond Quantrill, the Rockies’ pitching staff lacks depth, with left-handed reliever Jalen Beeks being the only other above-average pitcher, holding a 3.76 ERA and an 8.7 K-BB%.
The Yankees have a history of acquiring former Rockies players, having added Mike Tauchman, DJ LeMahieu, Adam Ottavino, and Troy Tulowitzki in 2019. While they might consider returning to this well in 2024, it seems unlikely given the limited impactful players available from the Rockies and the reluctance to trade those who could make a difference.
