Charlie Blackmon Trade Rumors: Latest Buzz, Speculation Surrounding Rockies Star

The Colorado Rockies may be looking to trade a former All-Star, though not the one most are expecting. Outfielder Charlie Blackmon is reportedly the subject of discussions involving other teams, including the Orioles.  

Continue for updates.

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Rockies Taking, But Not Initiating Blackmon Trade Calls

Wednesday, Jan. 21

While the Rockies are listening to offers for Charlie Blackmon, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports that the front office isn't initiating the conversations: 

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Concerning last weekend’s reports about the Rockies actively looking to trade outfielder Charlie Blackmon for pitching, a major-league source tells me that while the Rockies have fielded calls about Blackmon throughout the offseason, the club “is not initiating trade talks” for Blackmon.

In other words, the Rockies are willing to listen, but they are not actively looking to trade the outfielder, who made the NL All-Star team last season.

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Orioles Considering Trade for Blackmon

Sunday, Jan. 18

Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reported on the Orioles' potential interest in Blackmon:

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From what I've gathered, the Orioles haven't engaged in talks with the Rockies concerning Blackmon, but they're doing their homework on him and could get involved.

The Rockies apparently are seeking a starting pitcher in return for Blackmon, and the Orioles have extras. They'd certainly be willing to return Ubaldo Jimenez to Colorado, where he spent the first six seasons of his major league career and went 19-8 with a 2.88 ERA in 2010.

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Kubatko also explained why such a trade would make sense for Baltimore.

"The Orioles could use a leadoff hitter to replace Nick Markakis, and most of Blackmon's starts have come atop the order, where he's a career .284/.324/.440 hitter in 167 games," Kubatko noted.

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Multiple Teams Interested in Blackmon

Saturday, Jan. 17

Jon Morosi and Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com first reported the Rockies are motivated to move Blackmon soon to take advantage of the value he built up last year:

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As a result, sources say the Rockies have discussed outfielder Charlie Blackmon -- an All-Star last year -- in trade talks with multiple teams. Rockies officials believe they can trade Blackmon for a starting pitcher and replace Blackmon with a free-agent outfielder -- in this case, using the Coors effect to their advantage.

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The report mentions teams that could have an interest, citing the Cubs, Braves, Rangers and Orioles as teams that have been looking for help in the outfield.

Morosi and Rosenthal also mention discussions the Rockies had with the Mets about Dillon Gee, before noting that "Blackmon almost certainly would be too high of a price to pay for Gee alone."

The 28-year-old Blackmon got a chance to play every day in 2014 and took advantage of it, as well as the hitter-friendly environment in Colorado. He was an All-Star last season after hitting .305/.349/.479 in the first half, but a second-half slump dropped his overall numbers to .288/.335/.440. 

Coors Field also played an integral role in Blackmon's breakout season, as he hit .331/.391/.524 at home, per Baseball-Reference.com. Teams are going to be aware of that in trade discussions, which will likely lower the ceiling of what Colorado can reasonably ask for him. 

However, the appeal of Blackmon comes from the fact that he is just about to enter his prime years and is under team control through 2018. He's a low-cost, in terms of money, outfield option in a market that doesn't have much to get excited about. 

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