Rockies Not Buying and selling McMahon, Have not Talked Quantrill

The Rockies enter this yr’s commerce deadline season in a well-known place. They’re sitting on the backside of the NL West, 20.5 video games out of first place and even a whopping 9 video games out of fourth place. Their 27-51 document has dipped behind the Marlins for the worst within the Nationwide League. Solely the White Sox (21-58) have a worse document amongst MLB groups. They’re staring up at a 12-game deficit within the Wild Card race. Colorado isn’t mathematically eradicated from the postseason but, in fact, however the remaining nail on any faint playoff aspirations they might have harbored has lengthy since been pushed into the coffin.

Usually, this might arrange a workforce to think about itself a pure vendor on the deadline. The Rockies certainly view themselves in that mild to an extent, however to not the identical extent as onlookers would possibly anticipate. Stories greater than a month in the past indicated the workforce was fairly unlikely to commerce third baseman Ryan McMahon, as an example, and Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post doubles down on that sentiment in his newest have a look at the Rockies and the commerce deadline, writing that there’s “practically zero” probability McMahon will transfer. Particularly, he lists McMahon as a favourite of proprietor Dick Monfort, suggesting that even when GM Invoice Schmidt and his crew wished to discipline gives on the potential All-Star infielder, a deal wouldn’t essentially be within the playing cards.

On an identical be aware, Jon Morosi of MLB Community reports that the Rockies have but to carry any commerce discussions surrounding right-hander Cal Quantrill. The workforce’s resolution to purchase low on the righty after the Guardians designated him for task final November — successfully a non-tender — has paid off in spades. Quantrill is sporting a 3.50 ERA in 90 innings out of supervisor Bud Black’s rotation. His 17% strikeout fee and 9% stroll fee are each worse than common, however Quantrill’s 46.9% grounder fee is a career-best mark. His transfer to Coors Subject additionally hasn’t dampened his attribute knack for protecting the ball within the yard; Quantrill’s 0.90 HR/9 mark will not be solely higher than the 1.06 mark he carried into the season — it’s a career-best fee for the previous No. 8 total draft choose.

Quantrill’s success is likely one of the finest developments for the Rox this season, however he’s additionally not removed from free company. The righty is being paid $6.55MM in 2024 and has only one yr of workforce management remaining. He may command round $10MM in arbitration this winter and can be a free agent following the 2025 season. Given his 2024 rebound, dwindling membership management and mounting price ticket, that will make him a logical commerce candidate for many golf equipment.

The Rockies, nonetheless, have a historical past of extending simply this type of veteran. They’ve carried out so with Daniel Bard, C.J. Cron and Elias Diaz when all had beforehand stood as logical deadline commerce candidates. Colorado has been notably aggressive in extending pitchers, locking up Kyle Freeland, Antonio Senzatela and German Marquez to long-term offers. Of these three beginning pitcher extensions, solely the Marquez pact labored out of their favor. The Rockies weren’t profitable in finishing an extension with Jon Gray however nonetheless held onto him on the deadline three years in the past (regardless of commerce curiosity) in hopes of understanding a long-term deal.

Whereas there’s no agency phrase but that the Rockies have approached or plan to strategy Quantrill about an extension, it’s a logical conclusion to attract based mostly each on their working historical past and the shortage of commerce talks so far. Add in that Quantrill has spoken previously about being motivated by pitching at Coors Subject, and it’s even simpler to see Rockies brass being heat to the concept.

Certainly, Saunders writes in that very same weekend piece that each Quantrill and teammate Austin Gomber could possibly be candidates for such a deal. Gomber, like Quantrill, is having fun with a rebound marketing campaign and is arbitration-eligible via the 2025 season. The 30-year-old southpaw has a spottier monitor document and lesser outcomes but in addition a cheaper price tag (each on a contract and in a commerce) in consequence. It bears emphasizing that there’s no agency indication but that the Rockies will steadfastly refuse to take heed to gives on both pitcher, however historical past tells us it’s lower than doubtless.

All of that raises the query as to which gamers the Rockies would possibly really take into account transferring. Saunders notes that one in every of Elias Diaz or Jacob Stallings is a good guess to vary fingers, as is the case with reliever Jalen Beeks and outfielder Jake Cave. Diaz, Stallings and Beeks can turn into free brokers this winter. Cave is managed via 2025.

The 2 veteran catchers are having robust years on the plate — Diaz is hitting .303/.352/.439 (107 wRC+), Stallings is at .293/.371/.466 (123 wRC+) — although Diaz is at the moment on the shelf with a hamstring damage. Diaz is incomes $6MM to Stallings’ $1.5MM. Stallings as soon as graded as one of many sport’s premier defensive catchers, however his glovework has deteriorated a bit in recent times and it’s really Diaz who attracts extra favorable marks at this level.

Beeks, 30, has stepped up because the de facto nearer in Black’s bullpen after a lot of the reduction corps has struggled at massive. He’s pitched to a 3.76 ERA and saved six video games in 38 1/3 innings however has carried out so with a subpar strikeout and stroll charges (18.8% and 10%, respectively). Beeks has a $1.675MM wage that’s lots inexpensive and a pleasant monitor document exterior of final yr’s anomalous 5.95 ERA, nevertheless it’s unlikely different golf equipment would have a look at him as an choice for a similar kind of high-leverage position he’s at the moment holding down for the Rockies. The 31-year-old Cave, in the meantime, is a profession backup who’s hitting .258/.312/.336 (68 wRC+). He can play all three outfield spots and first base, however he hasn’t turned in even a median offensive season since 2019 with the Twins. It’s uncertain he’d fetch a lot in a swap, however Beeks may draw a marginal prospect from a membership in search of left-handed bullpen assist.