Predicting Rockies’ biggest move before MLB trade deadline

The MLB trade deadline is usually somewhat easy to explain. Contending teams looking to make a push for the postseason, or better yet, the World Series, often look to add talent at the deadline. They will give up young prospects for proven veterans under a buyers mindset. Teams without championship ambitions, meanwhile, operate as sellers and give up their best players for future capital. The Colorado Rockies rarely operate like most teams during the trade deadline, though, and that likely won’t change this year.

The Rockies lost 119 games last season, tied for the third-worst mark in the modern era. They have been better this year, but the roster is still filled with mediocre-at-best role players and journeyman, meaning there isn’t much talent to intrigue buyers in the trade market.

The Rockies certainly won’t be adding win-now talent, and they don’t have enough contributors to change their long-term fate, either. This may result in Colorado being relatively quiet at the trade deadline yet again. If the Rockies were to make a move, though, who is their biggest and most likely trade chip?

The Rockies are most likely to trade Jake McCarthy

The Rockies are 39-59. Clearly, they won’t be adding veteran talent at the trade deadline. While they might not have the intriguing trade candidates of some of the other sellers in MLB, teams will still call about a few of their players. As of recent, Jake McCarthy has been the best player in Colorado, and teams may want to take advantage of his hot streak.

McCarthy leads the Rockies in batting average (.301), RBIs (53), and stolen bases (15). He is an elite athlete and a versatile baseball player who was once one of the top running back recruits as a high school football player. The center fielder has gone viral this season for twice hitting an inside-the-park home run, something that hadn’t been done since 1929.

McCarthy’s big-play ability has brought plenty of entertainment to Colorado this year, but without much help around him, the Rockies haven’t been able to win many games. Now is the time to sell high on the outfielder, especially because he likely isn’t a part of the team’s future.

The Rockies are loaded with outfield prospects, and McCarthy hadn’t previously done much before this breakout season with the Rockies, so the team could view his hot streak as a fluke or a product of playing a mile above sea level. Charlie Condon is the Rockies’ number two prospect, and while he is primarily a first baseman, he can also play in the outfield. Roldy Brito, Jared Thomas, Robert Calaz, and Cole Carrigg are all top-six prospects in Colorado’s farm system who are outfielders, too. The team also has high hopes for the futures of Jordan Beck, Sterlin Thompson, and Zac Veen.

Furthermore, there is Brenton Doyle and Mickey Moniak. The former has missed much of this season with injury but is still one of the best defensive players in baseball. He plays the same center field position that McCarthy has manned recently. Moniak is a former first-overall pick who has started to live up to his potential in Colorado.

The Rockies are still years away in their rebuild. They’d be smart to capitalize on the trade value of a journeyman like McCarthy now, and moving the outfielder would allow the youngsters to get some more playing time, too. Nearly every highlight surrounding the Rockies this year has involved McCarthy, so teams would surely love to acquire him ahead of the trade deadline.

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