The Rockies have spoken with the Rays about a trade that would send outfield help to Tampa in exchange for starting pitching, sources tell Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter). Tampa Bay of course, has a pitching surplus to work with and the Rockies have been listening on their trio of outfielders. However, Rosenthal notes, the Rays already have Kevin Kiermaier, Steven Souza, Desmond Jennings, and Brandon Guyer in-house, so they’re more likely to seek prospects than major league-ready outfielders in exchange for their arms.
Carlos Gonzalez carries the highest asking price of the Rockies’ outfielders, but Charlie Blackmon and Corey Dickerson are cheaper and have greater control rights. In particular, Dickerson has put up some huge offensive numbers and won’t even hit arbitration until next year. While he missed time last year with plantar fasciitis and fractured ribs, he still looks to be a highly intriguing asset. Gonzalez has two years and $34MM remaining on his contract. Blackmon, by comparison, is projected to earn just $4.5MM in his first of three arbitration seasons and is coming off a solid 2.1 WAR season (.287/.347/.450 slash).
The Rays are open to moving pitchers, but it doesn’t sound like we should expect to see a Chris Archer trade. Tampa Bay considers Archer “pretty close” to untouchable, according to major league sources who spoke with Rosenthal. The Rays are looking to win both now and in the future and it’s hard to envision that a trade of Archer could make them a stronger club in 2016. That probably won’t stop clubs from inquiring on Archer, however, who is signed to a club-friendly extension through 2019 with club options that can hold him through 2021.
I’ll give them Kiermaier, of course, and Guyer looks like he can hit a bit, but I’m failing to see how Jennings and Souza prevents them from being interested in a guy like Dickerson, who hits the living snot out of the ball.
Would be a good middle of the order bat, or even see how he would do at the two spot.
Orioles should trade Bundy for Dickerson or Blackmon. Straight up. Not sure they can afford to carry him on the 25-man this year, and they certainly don’t want him to have to pass through waivers. They’d get several years of either of the COL outfielders and COL would get a potential ace.
@pox I doubt Baltimore needs another outfielder since they signed that Korean outfielder. But that wouldn’t be a bad idea.
The Rox don’t want Bundy, they want Gausman. He is a Colorado native and is used to pitching in altitude.
Steven Souza, Desmond Jennings, Brandon Guyer
These guys aren’t great.
The Rays could use an upgrade.
Wonder what would be fair though.
I think it’s possible if they do a trade, one of the outfielders will be shipped to colorado.
Probably, Tampa is looking to dump Jennings. Especially with Mahtook’s numbers last year looming over their heads.
I thought Rosenthal said it was the other way around?
I hope rays try to dump jennings dude cant stay helathy for his life..
I’m not sure about the value of the Rays guys, but I think Blackmon for Smyly and Jennings has possibilities. Colorado might need to add a minor piece, but I wouldn’t want to add too much for that.