MLB Trade Rumors: Colorado Rockies Look to Upgrade Rotation and Lineup

As the trade deadline approaches, the Colorado Rockies are one of the teams on the fringe that will be looking to upgrade not only their starting rotation, but their lineup as well. 

The Rockies jumped out to a hot start at the beginning of the season, but in the last couple months have cooled off significantly. They currently sit 3rd in the NL West, six games back of San Francisco with a 38-40 record. 

The Rockies rank 22nd in the league in team ERA with a 4.05. Ace Ubaldo Jimenez has been less than stellar, with a 3-7 record and 4.50 ERA. 

The Rockies are also looking to bolster their lineup, most notably second base where Jonathon Herrera and Chris Nelson are batting less than .250. 

Here are a few players the Rockies may be targeting as the trade deadline creeps closer. 

Hiroki Kuroda: Los Angeles Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers are in debt, have filed for bankruptcy and Frank McCourt is doing everything to keep Bud Selig's hands off his team. Once the list of players/entities came out that the Dodgers owe, aside from past Dodgers who don't even play anymore, high on the list was pitcher Hiroki Kuroda.

Kuroda is reportedly owed around $4.5 million by the Dodgers, and he'll be a free agent next season. It's almost a guarantee that the Dodgers will ship him out of L.A. 

Interesting for the Colorado Rockies, as they're in dire need of a rotation improvement with their recent misfortune in that particular area of play.

Kuroda is the exact type of pitcher that the Rockies need, an experienced pitcher who can improve the club and give the rotation a desperately needed shakeup. It has been reported that the Rockies have sent scouts to Kuroda's most recent start.

Kuroda has the power in his contract to veto any trade.

Jamey Carroll: Los Angeles Dodgers

Jamey Carroll, second baseman for the Dodgers, has also been linked to a move back to the MIle High City. Carroll was a part of that improbable Rockies run to the World Series, where he hit the game-winning sacrifice fly to propel the Rockies into the postseason over the San Diego Padres. 

The Rockies are looking for a more consistent hitter at the second base position in their lineup, and Carroll seems to fit that mold. Carroll is currently batting .300 with eight RBI's. 

Carroll is familiar with many of the players on the Rockies, so the transition would be a quick one if the Rockies were able to pull off a deal.

Mark Ellis: Oakland Athletics

Mark Ellis is one of the best defensive second basemen in the majors, and is a top trade target as the deadline rolls around. The Rockies, as stated before, want to improve that position for the hitting side, but his defense will obviously be welcome. 

Ellis is in his 8th year with the A's and is batting .216. It's not very impressive, but because Ellis was on the 15-day DL, the Rockies may be able to get him for cheap and give their lineup a nice shakeup.

Wandy Rodriguez: Houston Astros

A trade of Wandy Rodriguez to the Rockies may not come to the minds of most fans, but it's an intriguing one to think about nonetheless. 

With the season-ending injury to Jorge De La Rosa, Wandy would be a terrific fit in Colorado. De La Rosa is a left hander, and Wandy is a left hander as well. There are other similarities, but you can understand the fit. Rodriguez is 5-4 with nine quality starts and an ERA of 3.21. 

The price tag will surely be high, and could include a couple of prospects, but for a team like the Rockies, who are on the verge of a late-season run to the playoffs, it may be worth it.

Paul Maholm: Pittsburgh Pirates

This last player is pure speculation. Paul Maholm would fit beautifully in the Mile High City, as he could become the go-to lefty in the rotation for the Rox. 

Maholm has done wonders for the Pirates this season, putting together a 3.21 ERA with 63 strikeouts. The Pirates are only four games out of the NL Central, but if a deal could be worked out the Pirates get a few of the Rockies' top prospects.

Again, this slide is just pure speculation, but if the right deal is put on the table, it would be tough for Pittsburgh to say no.

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