MLB Rumors: 3 Colorado Rockies On Trade Block

The Colorado Rockies are once again bringing up the rear in the NL West, and they will once again be getting plenty of calls at the trade deadline from teams looking to add some pieces for the stretch drive.

The Rox have a few veterans that will be in demand to some extent, and it would make sense for the team to listen to offers. We take a look at three players that should be available, starting with one that teams were clamoring for last year at the deadline, but the Rockies held on tight.

CJ Cron

Colorado might have lost an opportunity over the past couple of seasons to capitalize on some big years by their slugging first baseman. After combining for 57 home runs and nearly 200 RBIs in 2021 and 2022, Cron is off to a more pedestrian start through the first third of this season, batting just .228 with six homers and 20 RBIs, along with a very under average OPS+ of 79.

The other issue they'll have to deal with in terms of what might be offered, is Cron's dramatic home/road splits. In the hitter's paradise of the Mile High City, Cron last season hit .303 compared to .214 on the road, and had a .955 OPS at home, vs. just .619 away from the friendly confines of Coors Field. Buyer beware.

Randal Grichuk

On the other hand, the veteran outfielder Grichuk is having a tremendous start to his season after missing the first month due to injury.

#Rockies Randal Grichuk with a triple and a run scored. He's now hitting .343 with a .883 OPS. I've got to think there will be trade interest, despite just one home run.
— Patrick Saunders (@psaundersdp) June 7, 2023

Grichuk is now hitting .336 with an .866 OPS in 28 games since his return to the lineup. His splits, however, are also massively weighted to Coors Field, hitting .396 with a 1.043 OPS at home vs batting .278 with a .692 OPS on the road. Last year, his first in Colorado, featured similar wild swings home/away.

But when the numbers look so good overall, some teams will buy in.

Brad Hand

This one's a head-scratcher. Hand looked completely washed after being traded to the Toronto Blue Jays at the deadline in 2021. But last season he recovered to be at least usable with the Philadelphia Phillies, and somehow in Colorado this season he hasn't blown up at all, pitching to a 4.09 ERA with 12.7 K/9. That could play for teams desperate for a lefty out of the bullpen.

Photo: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports