MLB Rumors: Rockies Open to Charlie Blackmon Trade; Multiple Teams Interested
July 23, 2019
The Colorado Rockies "would listen to offers" for four-time All-Star Charlie Blackmon ahead of the July 31 trade deadline, according to MLB.com's Jon Paul Morosi.
Morosi, however, added the odds of Blackmon moving this season "are remote," citing both his popularity and limited no-trade clause that includes 15 teams.
The Rockies have no pressing need to deal Blackmon right now. He's signed through at least 2021 and has a $21 million player option in 2022 and a $10 million player option for 2023.
This isn't the time for Colorado to start selling off its veteran assets, either, despite sitting at 47-52, five games back of the final wild-card spot in the National League. Trading Blackmon five months after giving Nolan Arenado an eight-year, $260 million extension would send mixed messages to the fanbase.
Having said that, Blackmon would carry plenty of trade value, be it now or in the offseason. He's batting .319 with a .602 slugging percentage, 21 home runs and 60 RBI through 82 games and boasts a proven track record.
The concerns about whether his offense translates outside of Coors Field could dampen his market slightly, though. He has a 1.000 career OPS at home compared to .737 on the road, per Baseball Reference, and the contrast is more stark this year (1.318 at home, .657 on the road).
Colorado is wise to keep all of its options open. Morosi cited pitching as a clear need, so trading Blackmon would potentially be one way to address that. Perhaps a desperate general manager would be willing to go over the top in order to land the two-time Silver Slugger.
But considering all of the factors at play, fans can probably rule out a midseason move.
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