Colorado Rockies: Could Charlie Blackmon be on the move?
The Colorado Rockies have fallen out of playoff contention. A recent report claims the Rockies are taking offers for Charlie Blackmon. Will they trade him?
The Colorado Rockies– after a number of years on the fringes- have seemed to sink into the abyss of mediocrity, drowning in the waters of irrelevancy. They have glimpsed a playoff berth for a number of years now, including two trips to the National League Wild Card game and a cameo in the NLDS in 2018. However, 2019 has turned into a season fits and starts for the Rockies, as their signature pitching from 2018 has guided them to a record 5 games below .500.
Considering all of their talents – Nolan Arenado, Trevor Story, David Dahl, Daniel Murphy, and yes, of course, Charlie Blackmon – they should be having a much greater degree of success. In their current state, Colorado can ill afford to justify the salaries of recently signed Arenado and Blackmon if they cannot find a way to crack the Mendoza Line of winning percentage.
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Perhaps it is simply the chaotic absurdity that is the 2019 National League, where the only identifying factor is mediocrity. However, the Rockies are not losing any vital players to free agency soon and could easily replenish the roster in the offseason and return to October baseball in 2020.
Charlie Blackmon is not likely to be dealt, yet rumors have surfaced that indicate the Colorado Rockies front office will listen to offers for his services. The left-handed leadoff man is under team control for the next four seasons- the final season being his age 37 one. His fixed contractual salary averaging out at about $18 million per season.
This is not an exorbitant rate- as of yet- however, age and regression might eventually have something to say in that matter. Thus, the situation is complicated and it is very unclear in many ways.
If a trade were to be discussed, the first question that must be asked is if the Rockies will be responsible for any of his salary after his departure. If this is the case, the return would likely be minimal and Colorado would be giving away one of their most significant players for financial relief. A trade like that would be devastating to and a betrayal of their loyal fanbase.
However, if the Rockies do assume a sizeable portion of his salary, the return would likely not be enough for them to justify the trade anyway. No team is trading key assets for a 33-year-old outfielder locked in for four and a half years. They can easily pivot and try to pry Michael Conforto away from the Mets- two and a half years of control, 26 years old, untapped potential. A team will always opt for a younger, cost-controlled player with perceived potential, despite any possible disparities in talent.
Thus, a trade is vastly unlikely to agree upon between Rockies GM Jeff Bridich and any team inquiring about the slugging lefty. However, they are listening and if the rarest of chances come through and an irrefutable package is hand-delivered to them, they dare not refuse it.
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This is the precise reason why they are listening- a smart team would listen on any player- because anyone can get desperate if the circumstances permit. Thus Bridich and the Colorado Rockies have set themselves up to either receive an absolute haul or retain their prize outfielder.