The Rockies have dropped seven of their last ten games, falling into last place in the NL West. They’re set to miss the postseason for the fourth consecutive year, but they remain opposed to any kind of dramatic overhaul. General manager Bill Schmidt flatly rejected the idea of a rebuild earlier this month, and it seems likely they’ll hold onto most or all of their shorter-term players as well.
Closer Daniel Bard and first baseman C.J. Cron have drawn reported interest over the past few weeks, but the Rox haven’t seemed especially urgent to move either player. That remains the case, as both Danielle Allentuck of the Colorado Spring Gazette and Nick Groke of the Athletic relay that neither is likely to be dealt. Both Allentuck and Groke write that Colorado is optimistic about its chances of signing the 37-year-old Bard to a contract extension that’d keep him from hitting the open market this winter as scheduled. Cron, meanwhile, is already under contract for next season at a modest $7.5MM salary.
Speaking with reporters yesterday, Colorado manager Bud Black metaphorically suggested the Rockies have been underwhelmed with the trade offers they’ve received on their veteran players. “We’re fielding calls. We’ve got some players who are desirable,” Black said. “And I can’t speak to it, but I’ll give you some perspective. Team A might call on one of our players and their front office might say, ‘We like this guy.’ And our front office will say, ‘Well, yeah, he’s a good player, you should be on that player. … But this happens a little bit, too. Hey, you guys have a Range Rover. We’ll take your Range Rover and we’ll give you our Honda Accord.’ And teams expect you to do that. Why would we do that? ‘How could you not trade your Range Rover?’ Because we might try to keep our Range Rover! Rather than trade it for your Subaru!”
The Rockies actions in recent seasons have reflected a similar sentiment. While most non-contenders are happy to take the best offer on the table for the bulk of their impending free agents, Colorado declined to trade any of Cron, Jon Gray or Trevor Story at last year’s deadline. It paid off in Cron’s case, as they eventually agreed to a two-year extension and have been rewarded with the slugger’s .280/.335/.521 showing this season. Gray and Story departed in free agency, however, and Colorado received no compensation for the former after surprisingly deciding against issuing him a qualifying offer.
They’re set to adopt a similar approach to this summer’s deadline. Groke writes that Colorado is also hoping to extend starter Chad Kuhl, who’s slated for free agency this winter himself. The righty has expressed openness to staying in Denver, and the organization shares the desire to keep him around. The 29-year-old signed a $3MM guarantee over the winter after being non-tendered by the Pirates. He’s made 19 starts and soaked up 98 innings with mixed results.
Kuhl had excellent numbers early on, carrying a 3.56 ERA through the end of May. He’s hit a major rough patch of late, though, allowing five-plus runs in three of his last five starts while failing to work into the sixth inning on any occasion. Since tossing a complete game shutout against the Dodgers on June 27, he’s allowed 22 runs in 20 2/3 innings. That has brought his season line up to a 4.78 ERA with a personal-low 16.6% strikeout rate.
Spotty recent run notwithstanding, there’s some merit to the Rox’s desire to hold onto Kuhl beyond this season. He’s handled himself well at Coors Field, pitching to a 4.17 ERA while holding opponents to a manageable .258/.313/.428 line through nine home starts. Largely thanks to a quality slider, he’s mostly done well against right-handed batters. Kuhl’s lack of a trustworthy changeup has always contributed to marked platoon concerns, but his sinker-slider mix generally aligns with those of pitchers (i.e. Gray, Kyle Freeland, Antonio Senzatela) whom the Rockies have relied upon in recent years. Depending on the price point, keeping Kuhl around as a lower-cost option at the back of the rotation is defensible — particularly since the trade demand from other clubs figures to be modest given his numbers this month.
Shortstop José Iglesias and right-hander Alex Colomé are each ticketed for free agency as well. Igleias, as a contact-oriented infielder, could hold modest appeal to contenders looking for utility depth. Colomé doesn’t miss many bats, but he’s a solid strike-thrower and ground-ball specialist in the middle innings. Whether Colorado will deal either for a lower-level prospect or two remains to be seen, although both Allentuck and Groke posit that Colomé is the likeliest player on the roster to be traded.
MuleorAstroMule
“Hey, you guys have a Range Rover. We’ll take your Range Rover and we’ll give you our Honda Accord.’ And teams expect you to do that. Why would we do that?”
Because you’re out of the race so you might as well save some gas money.
mydadleftme
Also the lease on your Range Rover is expiring
YourDreamGM
Pirates Reds Royals have all done great I thought.
mydadleftme
Also, the lease on your Range Rover is expiring
Nomar 2
Also, Bard not a Range Rover. More like a refurbished Delorean. Get what you can!
Don’s Ghost
Bard isn’t the Range Rover. Cron is.
kyletw
A starter car? This car is a finisher car! A transporter of gods! The golden god! I am untethered, and my rage knows no bounds!
brodie-bruce
does the range rover come with a bowl of cereal too if not no deal
kyletw
Rockies GM (probably): A starter car? This car is a finisher car! A transporter of gods! The golden god! I am untethered, and my rage knows no bounds!
Jon M
So good it bears repeating
kyletw
Haha. It said it didn’t post the first time 🙁
A'sfaninUK
Speaks like Zeus
Smells like poops
Rage all over from his head down to his
Shoos
Dunk Dunkington
Dennis Reynolds is a legend
brodie-bruce
unfortunately the rockies are ran by mac and charlie
A'sfaninUK
The whole analogy is absolutely insane. What possessed him to say this out loud?
Yep it is
One of the worst ran franchises in baseball along with Kansas City and Texas. I do believe that KC and Texas both try, they are just clueless. Colorado appears not to try.
RobM
A highly perplexing organization.
Arnold Ziffel
Not perplexing, just plain stupid
hiflew
You might not like what they do. You might not agree with what they do. You might not understand what they do. But you should at least respect what they do. They have made it clear that they are just going to be a “summer supplier” of players for big market franchises like so many others just so they can get a handful of minor leaguers that may or may not help the team in 3-4 years.
They set a price on their players and if it is not met, then they don’t just take what they can get. That sets a precedent that teams can forever walk all over you.
As I have said before, if you don’t like it, there are 29 other teams you can root for. I am sticking with my team.
Catalina Wine Mixer
It’s not about them being a “summer supplier” for good teams, it’s about them getting value for players before they leave in the hopes of one day becoming a good team.
The Rockies current model isn’t working. They can’t attract top tier free agents and they don’t draft and develop anywhere near where they need. So how else can they improve the team? Trades.
Daniel Bard and CJ Cron aren’t helping the rockies at all. It’s a last place team. They are being walked all over by other teams.
I have zero respect for this organization because they refuse to see or accept the reality of who they are. Instead, they are content living in mediocrity. They aren’t doing you the fan any favors by refusing to engage in trades for players who clearly aren’t helping them win.
The Monforts care first and foremost about their real estate holdings around the stadium, not winning.
Have fun sticking with your team and watching them lose year after year.
A'sfaninUK
It screws over literally every party, only a madman would do this.
Its malpractice, not something to be proud of.
Mlbfan78
I get what both sides are saying and have valid points, but for the Rockies they need to draft and develop players better that’s the only way they going to build a winner. Trades FA that can only work so much.
As for trades it’s one thing if the Rockies are turning down offers of top prospects for their vets, if they are only getting offered players 25th 26th 30th on other teams prospect list l get it meh.
They made it clear they set prices on their players you want them pay what they want if not they will hold on to them it’s not a bluff cause if they held on to Gray and Story last year you know they will hold on to Bard this year.
hiflew
Thank you I will.
hiflew
The Rockies farm system has improved GREATLY since this time last year without getting those “wonderful hauls” for Story and Gray. This time last year, the Rox had 1 top 100 prospect, now they have 4. And I guarantee you that no team was offering any top 100 guys for either Story or Gray. They were just offering “names on a page” that will be there until they are not and then will be forgotten when the new crop of names comes in next year.
Deleted Userr
It doesn’t set any precedent! Even if they just take what they can get you still have to be the highest bidder to get the player you want and if the player in question is in any way interesting they’re still going to get good return. The prospects might not help the team in the future, but we already know that the player the Rockies refuse to trade 100% won’t because he’ll be a FREE AGENT!
Deleted Userr
@Mlbfan78 So tell us. How did holding onto Gray and Story work out for them?
Deleted Userr
@hiflew And their system would have improved moreso if they had traded Story and Gray.
SamtheMan!
The Montfort’s may care about the RE holdings but saving a couple million bucks off of Cron and Bard’s salary would be great for them.
I don’t know why they won’t trade a guy having a career year. These aren’t LT building blocks and there’s no foundation for a winner here. It’s the same song and dance every year though. At this point it’s not worth commenting on.
SamtheMan!
Fangraphs gives the Rockies 3 50 FV players. That’s nothing fantastic at all. that would actually rate as the worst farm system in the division. Which is bad considering the Dodgers have traded 5-6 top prospects in the past few years and graduated more.
Which really isn’t the major problem. There just isn’t a lot of depth in the system. I’d be willing to bet the D’Backs are in the playoffs before Colorado. Both those teams are fighting a real uphill battle with the 3 others that can & will spend 200 million bucks on payroll.
Deleted Userr
If you disagree with hiflew he throws a fit then mutes you.
amk1920
Cron is understandable but not trading a decent rental RP while out of contention is silly
rct
Five playoff appearances in their existence. No direction, completely rudderless, with head-scratching moves. No eye on building a contender, either in the short or long term. If you’re OK with that, more power to you.
bpskelly
Well, “your team” is run as poorly as any in the league the past 20 years, and has the record to prove it.
At some point doing something else might be in order.
Yep it is
Hiflew “ respect what they do” what lose year after year and let their free agents walk with nothing in return knowing they won’t resign them? It will come to a point where teams won’t approach them to trade because the front office is unrealistic about their free agents. What player would want to go there knowing they don’t do anything to help themselves. Sorry not everybody wants to go to Colorado and smoke doobies and hang out anymore. You can do that and be competitive in other markets.
MuleorAstroMule
I wonder if it occurred to them that they can trade Bard and also sign him in the offseason.
Arnold Ziffel
That requires thought, so no it has not occurred.
Catalina Wine Mixer
Come on you guys, it’s perfectly reasonable for a last place team to hold on to their 37 year old reliever who is a free agent this fall. He’s clearly going to be a big part of the next great* Rockies team
*by “next great” I mean of course the first great Rockies team because they’ve never even won a division title.
getrealgone2
The Rockies are a mess.
fred-3
Most delusional franchise in sports
angelsfan4life
Nah that be the Lakers. Expecting to give away beans for a Golden Goose
Pedro 4 Delino
You mean like Vlade Divac for Kobe Bryant? At least the lakers have a history of success, the Rockies have never won a championship. Rockies are like a worse version of the clippers
angelsfan4life
You bring up one of the only two trades the Lakers have won in the past 30 years.
Pedro 4 Delino
Pau Gasol, Kobe Bryant, and even the AD trade brought in a championship. Any team would take 3 HOF caliber players and 6 chips in 30 years. Basketball isn’t baseball where you have many more trades and starters. Clippers have never even sniffed the finals, that’s why they’re a better comparison imo
Pedro 4 Delino
Also as an angels fan, you really should be more humble. Your owner is notorious for being delusional.
Catalina Wine Mixer
It’s funny that an angels fan is trying to act like the lakers are as bad as the Rockies.
You know what franchise is worse than the Rockies? The Angels. You guys are the laughing stock of baseball. You had the incredible good fortune of having Trout and somehow convincing him to stay forever in Anaheim, and then somehow tricked Ohtani into signing. You have two of the top 3 or 4 players in baseball. And you can’t even sniff a playoff spot.
But yea, let’s make fun of the lakers for a few years of mediocrity. That makes sense.
Pedro 4 Delino
100% Catalina Wine Mixer and A’s fan.
Angel fans have big heads for accomplishing very little.
Teams with players who have glass backs, shouldn’t throw stones.
Don’s Ghost
Whoooooa. The Rockies actually have NOTHING on the Clippers. Clippers have been a consistent playoff (or playoff hunt) team for a decade. Rockies WISH they could even do that.
“version of the Clippers” smh this is why people hate Laker fans.
A'sfaninUK
You bring up the NBA, but go with the Lakers over the like, 20 teams who have never won a title but act like they did, like the Phoenix Suns? LOL
Lakers not even top 10 most delusional in the NBA, let alone in pro sports. Rockies way worse, Mariners are very bad too in that every single year the national media predicts they will be the dark horse and…no playoffs for 20 years. Every single season the national media for no reason at all decides the Mariners have finally gotten their act together and every year they fail (although maybe not this year).
Why are the Mariners considered an annual powerhouse like the Yankees or Cardinals are by the national media? What did they do to earn that?
fred-3
The Lakers are definitely delusional. They thought Westbrook would accept a role as their third best player and it backfired. Now, they think teams want to help them by trading for Westbrook without draft picks.
angelsfan4life
Yes AD helped the Lakers win one championship. But ignore that fact, that they will be a lottery team for the next decade. Hope that championship is worth it. As for being an Angels fan, I have no d delusions about them. I knew coming into this season, that the lineup was going to be the biggest weakness.
tstats
I would trade bard at least, maybe not Cron. But those dang relievers are so wacky and inconsistent.
I Like Big Bunts
Agreed. He’s a journeyman, 37 year-old whose had control issues. Never gonna have higher value than right now.
RobM
First, they lost me at Range Rover. They don’t have any Range Rovers on that roster, but they have some ‘cars’ that will be repossessed in a couple months, so instead of being carless, maybe take the Honda Accord (very reliable, good cars, btw) so you can get to the grocery store.
Catalina Wine Mixer
They had a Range Rover before. His name was Nolan Arenado.
Bill M
I wonder if they consider Iglesias & Colome to be Range Rovers or Accords. They actually do have value. More like Sonatas maybe
ham77
They’re driving off a cliff with those Range Rovers.
30 Parks
It would take the Rockies’ front office twenty minutes to cook five minute rice.
getrealgone2
The Rockies are the only front office that can hide their own Easter eggs.
joefriday1948
You are much to complimentary
Orioles Fan
Bard is having a career year however hi is 37 years old. Why would you not trade him for whatever you can get. It is highly unlikely that he will repeat the same numbers next year.
Arnold Ziffel
Most of the team consists of Ford Pintos. Management would be a Yugo.
vaderzim
The Rockies are the masters of not trading people at the deadline.
Mystery13
What a horrible analogy. Your Range Rover in this instance is used and broken down and the second it was driven off the lot it lost value. Trading it in now gets you as much current value that your used car is worth. No one pays top value for a used car, it’s why people trade in their used car to get value toward a new car.
hiflew
If they are so used and broken down, then why do people want them in the first place?
AceKing
Other teams have injuries and championship aspirations, that’s why they want them….
For the rest of the current season when it actually matters to a team trying to contend for a championship….
Which is exactly the concept that both you and the Rockies don’t understand.
hiflew
Oh well. I guess I’ll still just live my life without being on your plane of existence. Have a good one.
The Natural
Trading Cron was probably more what Black was referring to. I would not trade him either , great production with a team friendly contract.
thebaseball
Rockies should just go all in trade all there big market prospects and get Soto, Pablo Lopez and Tyler mahle and take the np west crown they’d shock the world and honestly they can probably catch the dodgers for top seed
thebaseball
Rockies should trade all there big markets prospects for Juan Soto, Pablo Lopez, and Tyler mahle go all in and take the nl west crown maybe they could get away with not having to give up all there too prospects to make it happen they’d shock the world and honestly they can probably catch the dodgers for top seed in the nl if they did
lucas0622
Rockies remain likely to be a poverty franchise
Nomar 2
These stories are just painful. I love Daniel Bard. Let him go for another championship. If you love somebody….set them free…
Pedro 4 Delino
They could always re-sign the guy after the season. Makes absolutely no sense.
A'sfaninUK
It happens often enough that it should be the default go-to move for all 30 teams for players in this situation. Makes zero sense to keep a free agent to be if you arent a contender and ANYONE wants him. You get a free player you didn’t draft or money in return! If the player+team really like each other, he will come back in free agency. Its a win-win. Shame teams like Colorado don’t enjoy “win-win” situations for… “reasons”…smh
4thefences
Iglesias is a solid fielder and his road average one the highest in baseball. His value would do a contender well. Move him and let’s bring Tovar up for the rest of the season. Saw him in Spring Training and I was impressed.
I Like Big Bunts
What are they even doing?
AceKing
Driving used Range Rovers into the ground, obviously
hiflew
I think there may be a larger problem than everyone else knows about. The big problem is that one of the Rockies main sponsors is Subaru. The Rockies announcers are required to call the strike zone, the “Subaru Strike Zone” at all times and anytime they use a slo-mo replay, it is called a “Subaru Super-Mo.” And yet the Rockies manager just publicly denigrated that car maker as subpar.
It doesn’t bother me, but I am not sponsoring the Rockies either. That could end up being a problem for Bud Black and the Rockies as a whole.
AceKing
Now THAT??? That is classic hubris. I hope Subaru pulls out, and they do it publicly for the PR.
That is the California Coloradan mindset….
Obviously.
hiflew
I hope they pull out too. It will get the Rockies out of that godawful lowball agreement and allow them to get a much better sponsor to sign up
thefallensoldier
Seems like every contending team is lowballing. That’s why we haven’t seen much movement.
AceKing
So what do you actually expect?
Arnold Ziffel
The lease has expired, no they are not perplexing just aclueistic, and the thought of re-signing is much too complex for the brains of Rockies management.
msqboxer
Boras made them outbid themselves for Kris “Soft Tissue Pain” Bryant and now they think Cron and Bard are the future…and I thought the Cubs were bad at least they are willing to gut the team and screw the fans to their face.
SamtheMan!
What the cubs did made sense. The run with the core was over and they got a lot for mostly trading rentals. They ran with the team they had for as long as they could. The FO didn’t spend well on FA’s or hit any home runs on major trades at all. That crushed what looked like a LT competitor.
41em
I admire the Rockies for their unwavering commitment to mediocrity (or worse.) Why try to contend? Why tank? Why rebuild? Why have a plan? We’re the Rockies! Let’s see if we can be a .450 team forever.
A'sfaninUK
I came to post this, at this point they really gotta just lean into it and hang a banner outside their stadium that says “Mediocrity Forever!”
AceKing
They are not hanging any other banners around, so there’s plenty of room.
Maybe they want a participation trophy?
BlooBengal
Didn’t they just trade a Range Rover to St. Louis for a few bumper cars?
eddiemathews
Cron’s splits home/away are awful. No way they get enough to deal him.
stan lee the manly
This is the worst run organization in professional sports and I don’t think the competition is particularly close. Rockies management has ZERO idea what they are doing.
Aoe3
The Angels are just as bad.
joefriday1948
Please how can you be so complimentary?
kyredsox17
I like Subarus.
Milwaukee-2208
Rockies continue to hold the crown for the worst run organization in baseball.
tanner829 2
What a pathetic ignorant executive- does he not understand baseball management or how teams get better! I would be so ashamed if I was a Rockies fan.
Braves Butt-Head
Its organizations like this that frustrate fans. Youre not going to compete for at least 3 years and you hold on to older talent thats not going to be there the next time you compete.
Same thing can be said about the Royals.
Sideline Redwine
But is it “dramatic overhaul” to trade older players who won’t be around for the next round of success???
Brew88
Interesting use of analogies by Black. Subaru (eg. Outback) isn’t exactly a garbage vehicle, and the Range Rover sure ain’t what it used to be. Maybe he should listen to some of those offers with a more open mind.
dtrainriotmaker
So the team is in last place isn’t going to contend probably for a few years with the dodgers and padres ahead of them , Bard is 37, trade him at least . Cron is having a good season , you may not get any better value then you would now . On a side note how is that Kris Bryant contract working out so far ?
Milwaukee-2208
Getting Bryant was simply a waste of money. He’s already been hurt all season and he’s going to hit meaningless homers while they finish 4th for the next 8 years. There’s zero direction with this team. At least teams like the Reds and Pirates openly admit they are rebuilding and starting from scratch. The absolute worst position for a team to be in, is caught in the middle like the Rockies. Organization is completely clueless and it’s embarrassing. Nice stadium and good fans. They deserve better than this.
AHH-Rox
I think Colome is the only one that gets moved. Not a big difference maker but could help the setup mix for teams that might be thin in the bullpen.
Iglesias is a possibility, but I can’t think of a contender with a big hole at SS or 2B except maybe the Giants.
No reason to move Cron if you think you have a chance at competing in 2023.
dtrainriotmaker
With the Dodgers and padres in that division unlikely next year
AHH-Rox
Wild card is possible if their starting pitching lives up to its potential and Bryant stays healthy and earns his salary.
But that is a lot of ifs. 75 or 80 wins is much more likely IMO.
86mets
What a buffoonish organization. Haven’t won in several years, can’t develop pitchers, refuse to trade players that could bring back some talent (i.e. Trevor Story and John Gray) and flat refuse they need to rebuild. They get what they deserve. Which is staying stuck in last place.
stroh
With the exception of Nolan Arenado, in general any “Range Rover” the Rockies have is actually a good Honda Accord. And that too one with an expiring lease. CJ Cron and Daniel Bard are good players but neither is a Range Rover. They could help good teams as role players, but the Rockies are totally absurd if they think any team is going to give them Range Rovers in return.
joefriday1948
The Rockies leadership is ecstatic about this years team especially losing Colton Welker to free up the farm teams. They believe this is one of the best teams ever in Rockies history. They will try and pickup Soto and Stanton to add to their formidable arsenal
that will soon runaway with the pennant.
TheRealMilo
Rockies doing Rockies things.
Luke Strong
There’s a fool at the helm of the Rockies. Car trading analogies as a pathetic attempt to justify his incompetence. No one is buying that nonsense.
weo
There needs to be a way of ridding yourself with a terrible owner.
Deleted Userr
PSA: Trading players who are free agents at the end of the season when you aren’t in the race is NOT rebuilding.
chiefnocahoma1
They have to be trying to lose. There’s no way they’re just this stupid. Maybe do they can move the team? I think a teenager could run this team better.
Deleted Userr
All those defending the Rockies not moving Story or Gray at the deadline last year answer me this do you really think prospects they could have gotten for them are worth less than the nothing they ended up getting?
Deleted Userr
“They set prices on their players and if those prices aren’t met, they don’t trade them. It’s not a bluff.”
Yes and how is that working out for them?
iH8PaperStraws
The Range Rover is from 2000 with 180,000 miles on it and the Honda Accord is a new 2022 model. At this point the accord is a much fancier car that while not flashy compared to other newer models will get you exactly where you need to be for quite a few years down the road.
bpskelly
In 29 years of existing, they’ve been .500 or above in 9 of those. So let’s call that 1/3rd of the time.
Of those 9 winning seasons, only three of those were 90 win teams.
We keep calling them mediocre. But mediocre is being .500 or above. And they only do that 1/3rd of the time.
I’d say they’ve had really good seasons only 10% of the time.
That’s not a middle of the pack team. It’s a bad team, with bad ownership.
And not trading a 37 year old reliever who’s a FA for anything of value — even if it’s modest — epitomizes the reason the Rockies are such a dumpster fire.
atmospherechanger
Wonder what we’d find out if the MLBTR writers or Jr. GM’s on this site actually spoke to players like Bard & Cron & get their take on signing. Both had options to pursue FA & both chose to sign with the Rox beforehand.
With the mockery seemingly endless on here, you’d think players would be exiting at the first chance.
Several players have signed extensions instead of leaving such a “dreadful” org. Apparently they have a different view.
MuleorAstroMule
Ever think that it might be because no other team is going to offer Daniel Bard, he of terrible peripherals and the benefactor of a minuscule BABIP, that kind of money?
Deleted Userr
Who else was giving Daniel Bard $19m?
atmospherechanger
The Rockies have already done a gut & rebuild. It resulted in the moniker “Todd & the Toddlers”. They’re not doing another one & I for one am with them.
As a season ticket holder, we sat through painful years. The fans surrounding us became unbearable. The org said that the pain would be worth it in the end. Same mantra spoken from every front office now. Just wait, championships are just around the corner.
I’m happy the Rox are willing to invest in the MLB club while they try to rebuild the farm. It’s a slow process but rather their model than 5-8 years of complete non competitiveness. That’s silly.
Always wonder how many commenters have spent their own money to sit through the rebuilds they can’t get enough of.
Deleted Userr
If they were willing to pay Bard this kind of money they could have traded him then brought him back as a FA in the offseason.
differentbears
The disrespect of the venerable Honda Accord by Bud Black.