MLB Trade Rumors: Rockies Pitcher Becomes Hot Trade Candidate

When you think of hot pitchers around the majors, pretty much the last team that would come to mind is the Colorado Rockies. But they actually have not only one of the hottest relievers in the big leagues, but one of the top trade candidates as well, as noted by insider Bob Nightengale in USA Today.

Rival executives say that one of the hottest commodities at the trade deadline will be Colorado Rockies pitcher Antonio Senzatela.
Senzatela, pitching in relief for the first time in his career, is thriving since the conversion. He’s 3-0 with a 1.32 ERA and a 0.768 WHIP. He’s in the final year of his five-year, $50.5 million contract, and should bring a nice trade return for the Rockies.

As a starter in Colorado for the past 10 years, Senzatela struggled through season after season of ERAs in the 5.00s and 6.00s. But he's obviously loving the switch to the bullpen. In 28.1 innings, he's allowed just 15 hits, as batters are hitting a meager .156 against him with a .427 OPS. That's a pretty long way removed from his numbers as a starter last year, when batters demolished him for a .347 average (yes, you read that right), and a .949 OPS. Yikes.

Let's have a look at the comparison of Senzatela's numbers as a starter from 2025, with his relief stats this year:

2025: 23 starts, 4-15 record — 6.65 ERA, 1.83 WHIP, 130 innings

2026: 13 relief appearances — 1.27 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, 28.1 IP

Is this the same pitcher?

In addition to the move to the bullpen, he is now a few years removed from ACL & elbow injuries that wiped out most of his 2023 & 2024 seasons.

Manager Warren Schaeffer said earlier in the campaign that he wasn't surprised that Senzatela came in this season ready to dominate, because of how dedicated he was over the offseason in taking on his new role.

“None of us doubted that this was going to be the case. I’m extremely proud of the way he goes about his business, attacking it every single day.”

In the end, as a pending free agent after the season, his turnaround could wind up getting the Rockies a nice return in a trade deadline deal.