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The Colorado Rockies and Tampa Bay Rays are apparently discussing a trade involving outfielder Corey Dickerson, according to reports surfacing Tuesday morning from FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal and the Tampa Bay Times' Marc Topkin.
Rosenthal tweeted indication that trade talks had started up between the Rockies and Rays around Dickerson more so than teammate Charlie Blackmon, and credited Topkin:
Some in game sense Dickerson will be OFer #Rockies trade. Will require less of return than Blackmon. #Rays involved, as @TBTimes_Rays said.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 26, 2016
Rosenthal later amended his own analysis of Dickerson's trade value, for what it's worth:
On #Rockies, should have said Dickerson MIGHT bring less than Blackmon. Extra year of control with Dickerson. Blackmon more established.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 26, 2016
Topkin then goes further, hypothesizing about a possible return from Tampa Bay, hurler Jake McGee:
If #Rays make the deal, would think it could be for Jake McGee. Also would require further shuffling by #Rays https://t.co/d7FURlHN4s
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) January 26, 2016
This isn't the first time the Rockies and Rays have come together to talk about swapping players. Last month, the two sides had some level of interest in a similar deal, moving an outfielder from Colorado to Tampa—presumably in exchange for pitching.
That never came to fruition, but with the Rockies now having signed another left-handed hitting outfielder last week, the club would do well to move one of those assets in exchange for pitching or prospects. The Rays, similarly, have had an interest for some time in acquiring an outfielder.
McGee, 29, is a left-handed reliever who has been very good for the Rays the last several seasons. The club initially acquired him in the fifth round of the 2004 MLB Draft out of a high school in Nevada. Last summer, he appeared in 39 games, going 1-2 with a 2.41 ERA, and logging 11.6 K/9, 6.5 H/9, and just 1.7 BB/9.
Over his career, spanning six seasons, McGee is 21-11 with a 2.77 ERA over 297 games, all in relief. The 6'3", 230-lb. hurler has logged 11.1 K/9 against just 6.7 H/9 and 2.5 BB/9 in that stretch with Tampa Bay.
Dickerson, 26, slashed .304/.333/.536 last summer, but only played in 65 games after dealing with plantar fasciitis and a rib injury for much of the year. For his career, over three seasons, he's slashed .299/.345/.534 over 265 games with Colorado, logging 58 doubles, 13 triples, and 39 home runs while predominantly playing left field.
We'll keep you up to date on trade information regarding Dickerson or any other Rockies outfielder as soon as news becomes available. We'll also have analysis of what the Rockies might seek in a return from Tampa Bay later today.