The Rockies have reportedly asked about a trade for Orioles right-hander and Grandview High School product Kevin Gausman in exchange for Carlos Gonzalez, but that deal likely won’t happen.
(The Associated Press)
With apologies to Tom Petty, the waiting really is the hardest part, at least for Rockies fans desperate to see a major move from the front office this offseason.
Thus far, the Rockies have to prop up a young, shaky bullpen. Next they to a one-year deal worth $2.6 million. He’ll platoon at first base with Ben Paulsen.
Those aren’t terrible moves. Every bullpen needs some veteran arms and I think Motte has a chance to be solid. But whether he’ll be any better as a closer than the departed John Axford is a big question mark.
If Reynolds’ power transfers to Coors Field, as he told me it will, the Rockies will get some needed pop from the right side of the plate. My fear is that Reynolds’ history of massive strikeout totals and a low career on-base percentage (.324) will only exacerbate Colorado’s hitting woes on the road.
The overriding issue — upgrading woeful starting pitching — has yet to be addressed. There is still plenty of time to swing a deal, but so far all of the speculation by me and many others has hit a dead end:
* I speculated that the , with the Rockies giving up an outfielder for pitching. But then that it’s unlikely the Indians will depart with their young pitchers this winter.
* that the Rays might be interested in swapping a young pitcher for a Rockies starting outfielder, or perhaps for Rockies prospects such as former No. 1 draft pick David Dahl and hitting prospect Raimel Tapia.
Additionally, FOXSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal reported, citing sources, that the Rockies have talked to the Rays, who have multiple pitchers who could be available — lefty Matt Moore, prized righty Jake Odorizzi and fellow righties Drew Smyly and Alex Cobb.
Now, however, a number of other teams have been linked to the Rays, included the Dodgers and
* Earlier this week, I wrote a blog , who remains the Rockies’ top trade chip. I do believe that the Rockies would part with CarGo, but it’s got to be for a killer deal, and that might not come around this winter.
The Rockies blog site is not likely to end up back in his home state of Colorado.
As Rockies GM Jeff Bridich proved last summer when he shocked all of us by trading Troy Tulowitzki to Toronto, he’s very good at not revealing his hand. That could well be the case this winter. Or, as so often been the case in the past, the Rockies are asking too much in return and a deal won’t get done at all.
Stay tuned … there are only 60 days left until pitchers and catchers report to spring training.
Tags: Carlos Gonzalez, Chad Qualls, David Dahl, Jake Ordorizzi, Jason Motte, Kevin Gausman, Mark Reynolds, Raimel Tapia, Troy Tulowitzki
