Predicting How Trades Will Reshape NL West

Seller: Colorado Rockies

Like San Diego, Colorado isn’t competitive this season. And like San Diego, Colorado could move any or all of their starting outfielders. They have a couple great trade pieces in Carlos Gonzalez and Charlie Blackmon, either of whom can be expendable, because the Rockies have an exciting outfield prospect, David Dahl, shredding Triple-A pitching. Dahl, who is another left-handed hitter with power and speed, could either easily replace either one without much of a drop-off in production. It’s also possible the Rockies keep CarGo and Blackmon but move Gerardo Parra somewhere to be a fourth outfielder. In which case, the Rockies outfield would have three potent offensive players.

First baseman Mark Reynolds could be moved, as could a couple of Colorado’s relief pitchers. But those would be minor moves. Ultimately, CarGo and Blackmon are the most significant players who could go. If only one goes, the Rockies will effectively look the same with Dahl in the lineup. The bigger issue for San Francisco would be where the Rockies ship one or both of their prized outfielders. If either—but more so Gonzalez—heads to the Dodgers, that would hurt the Giants. As for head-to-head matchups, the Rockies wouldn’t be any more or less of a challenge.