Bryan Shaw thinks he can be the solution to Rockies’ bullpen woes | The Denver Post ($)
The non-waiver trade deadline is now a week away and there’s been no shortage of speculation around who could help the Colorado Rockies as they look to make a postseason push. While Jon Heyman of Fancred has connected Baltimore Orioles closer Zach Britton to the Rockies (albeit also connecting several other teams to Britton), perhaps the solution could come internally.
Since coming off the Disabled List on July 11, right-hander Bryan Shaw has been an effective pitcher. That statement could not be made about the 30-year-old for much of the season, after signing a 3 year, $27 million deal with the Rox. If you were to ask Shaw himself, he will tell you that his confidence has never wavered, and that he believes health and the mechanical fixes he has made will allow him to be a boon to the team down the stretch.
Should the Rockies trade for another pitcher? | Mile High Sports
Additionally, reports have suggested that the Rockies are also interested in a pair of Orioles starters. Dylan Bundy and Colorado native Kevin Gausman are both on the team’s radar. The two are certainly notable names and were both selected 4th overall in their respective draft classes of 2011 and 2012, respectively. However, according to FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching), Jon Gray, Kyle Freeland, Tyler Anderson, German Marquez, and Antonio Senzatela have all pitched better than both O’s hurlers. Baltimore would undoubtedly be seeking high-end prospects for their controllable young starters, and I would personally be hesitant to make that sacrifice for pitchers who could conceivably represent little to no upgrade to the rotation.
Colorado Rockies rumors: Zach Britton to Denver? | Rox Pile
Rox Pile’s Noah Yingling delves deeper into the Rockies’ interest in Britton. When Britton is healthy, (which has not been his calling card in recent seasons) he has been among the best closers in the game. From 2014-16, Britton put together an ERA+ of 299. In 15 2/3 innings in 2018 since returning from a torn Achilles tendon, Britton has posted an effective 3.45 ERA, but also a 4.43 FIP, thanks to a whopping 10 walks allowed.
With MLB’s non-waiver trade deadline looming, the J.A. Happ trade watch continues | The Athletic ($)
Another starter that could conceivably be a target for the Rockies is J.A. Happ of the Toronto Blue Jays, although no reports have connected the two sides yet. Happ has delivered 114 innings of 4.18 ERA/3.84 FIP ball for the Blue Jays in 2018, collecting an impressive 3.71 K/BB ratio. Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic details more about Happ’s season, as well as a special gift he recently donated to his hometown of Peru, Illinois.
Colorado Rockies: They do not need to acquire an outfielder | Rox Pile
Mike Petriello of MLB.com recently proposed that the Rockies improve their outfield situation at the deadline. While Charlie Blackmon has been a productive bat and Carlos Gonzalez has turned in passable production thanks to a recent hot streak, Gerardo Parra has a -0.1 fWAR on the season. Despite slapping his way to a .291 batting average, there is little else to Parra’s offensive game, as he rarely draws walks nor does he hit for a good deal of power. There are internal options available, as Raimel Tapia has had success in a miniscule sample, and David Dahl’s return is expected soon. Petriello suggests acquiring Adam Duvall of the Cincinnati Reds, Avisail Garcia of the Chicago White Sox, or Derek Dietrich of the Miami Marlins. Rox Pile’s Noah Yingling argues that the Rockies should be looking to improve their bullpen rather than focusing on these three players.
Colorado Rockies trade talk: Which prospects should the Rockies move? | Rox Pile
Of course, to acquire Major League talent, one will have to give up potentially great minor league talent. Rox Pile’s Colin Gaiser lists Brendan Rodgers as a “(nearly) untouchable” member of the Rockies’ farm system, while floating the names of Garrett Hampson, Tapia, Dahl, Ryan McMahon, and Peter Lambert as the team’s biggest trade chips. Some “lower-tier prospects” that could be used to acquire a rental bat (Lucas Duda is given as an example) include Jesus Tinoco, Ryan Castellani, Yency Almonte, and Chad Spanberger.
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Justin Turner looks at a short DL visit, and Dodgers look for a stopgap at third | The Athletic ($)
Justin Turner of the Los Angeles Dodgers continues to deal with a right adductor muscle injury, and will be placed on the 10-Day Disabled List. Luckily for the Dodgers, they recently acquired a perfectly capable third baseman to fill in for Turner in Manny Machado.
Carig: Why the Mets won’t change until the Wilpons change | The Athletic ($)
Marc Carig of The Athletic has never been afraid to tell it like it is about the ownership of the New York Mets. But deservedly so. It’s rare to find a lack of transparency on the same level as the Wilpons.