Colorado Rockies news and links for Friday, August 1, 2025
Considering the Colorado Rockies’ history of making few significant moves at the trade deadline, even as they are miles away from even dreaming of contending, Colorado continued to play it low-key as the trade deadline came and went this season.
The biggest surprise is that the players who were traded revealed a possible change in mindset in the front office.
Even though Colorado only traded away three players and the state of the organization could certainly call for more, the Rockies showed a willingness to part with homegrown players. When all was said and done after the trade deadline passed at 4 p.m. MT on Thursday, the Rockies traded away three veteran players who had been in the Rockies organization for a combined 23 years:
- 3B Ryan McMahon to the New York Yankees for RHP Josh Grosz and LHP Griffin Herring
- RHP Reliever Tyler Kinley to the Atlanta Braves for RHP Austin Smith
- RHP Reliever Jake Bird to the Yankees for 2B Roc Riggio and LHP Ben Shields
McMahon was drafted by the Rockies in the second round of the 2013 MLB Draft and was playing in his ninth season in Colorado. Bird was drafted in the fifth round of the 2018 MLB Draft and was in his fourth season with the Rockies. Trading players a team drafted might not seem unusual for the rest of Major League Baseball, but this is something the Rockies usually don’t do, especially midseason.
Kinley was drafted by the Miami Marlins, but he almost felt like a homegrown player as he was in his fifth season with Colorado. Kinley was picked up by the Rockies in 2020 when he was waived after two seasons in Miami. He was the leader in the bullpen and represents the kind of player the Rockies usually won’t part with, especially after being in purple for so long.
To see how this season is different, all you have to do is look at the last few seasons:
2024 Trade Deadline
In 2024, the Rockies had trade chips like Cal Quantrill, Brendan Rodgers and Elias Díaz. None were traded. By the end of the season, Díaz was released, while Rodgers and Quantrill became free agents. Colorado did trade relievers Nick Mears and Jalen Beeks, two veterans who the Rockies signed after the 2022 season, and got Bradley Blalock and Luis Peralta (and Yujanyer Herrera) in return.
The lack of moves despite a 39-70 record on July 31 was, in the most generous phrasing, disheartening.
2023 Trade Deadline
In 2023, the Rockies — who were 42-64 at the trade deadline — made more moves, trading veterans C.J. Cron, Randal Grichuk, Mike Moustakas, Pierce Johnson and Brad Hand. At 42-64, the Rockies seemed to have a better understanding that the roster needed an overhaul. The result was getting players like Victor Vodnik and Tanner Gordon, along with pitching prospects Mason Albright, Connor Van Scoyoc and Jake Madden, among others.
2022 Trade Deadline
The Rockies were 46-57 at the trade deadline and did nothing. Despite having Trevor Story, Jon Gray, Daniel Bard, and Cron, the Rockies moved no one. They got a compensation pick when Story went to Boston, but Gray walked away, leaving the Rockies empty-handed, while Bard and Cron stayed.
2021 Trade Deadline
Colorado (46-59) traded reliever RHP Mychal Givens, who they received in a trade in 2020, to the Cincinnati Reds for RHP Case Williams and RHP Noah Davis.
In the previous four seasons, no long-term Rockies or players who were drafted by the Rockies were traded at the trade deadline.
Change Is Happening
With trades, drafts, cuts and free agent pickups over the last five seasons, the Rockies look very different now than when they started two seasons ago.
Lets’s rock #Rockies x #OpeningDay pic.twitter.com/oIy1EETK3P
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) March 30, 2023
Looking back at the 40-man Opening Day roster from 2023, there are only nine Rockies left after the trade deadline in 2025. Four of them are in the minor leagues, and one is on the IL. Four — Kyle Freeland, Austin Gomber, Antonio Senzatela and Ezequiel Tovar — are on the active 26-man roster.
Photo by Harrison Barden/Colorado Rockies/Getty Images
Change is happening, but is it good change?
Just look at this season. Colorado is 28-80. After 102 games, the Rockies have already lost more games than they did in 162 total games in their best nine seasons. There are still 60 games left. It could, and probably will, get worse.
On Aug. 1, it’s clear the Rockies haven’t improved in many areas or found answers for the future. Orlando Arcia is not the future nor even an acceptable replacement for McMahon, even in a lost season. Thairo Estrada is not the answer at second. Neither is Kyle Farmer. Michael Toglia is not the future first baseman. Neither Antonio Senzatela nor Austin Gomber belongs in an MLB rotation. Ryan Feltner lost his control and is struggling in Triple-A. Bud Black was fired after 40 games.
This list could go on, but we’ll keep it to this for now.
On the bright side, Hunter Goodman brought offense back to the catching position, along with a brighter future. Tyler Freeman and Mickey Moniak have been the best surprises, standing out in a crowded outfield. Jordan Beck could develop into a solid left fielder. At the moment, Warming Bernabel is promising at first, which is a huge relief after Toglia’s growing strikeout tendencies.
David Richard-Imagn Images
When it comes to pitching, Kyle Freeland and Germán Márquez (as long as his current biceps injury isn’t too serious) have surprisingly pitched decently, but haven’t been supported by run production. Perhaps Blalock and Gordon can continue trending in the right direction. In the bullpen, consistency is still rare, but Seth Halvorsen, Juan Mejia, Victor Vodnik and Jimmy Herget have flashed promise.
This is still the worst team in baseball. They could soon be the worst team in the history of baseball.
What’s Next?
While trading McMahon, Kinley and Bird were good moves, will the return even make a dent? Colorado picked up three Single-A pitchers, one Double-A pitcher and a Double-A second baseman in trades for the veterans, so it will be a while before there is an answer to that question.
In the meantime, hopefully, more help will come from the farm in late 2025 or 2026 in the form of Charlie Condon (No. 1 MLB Pipeline in Rockies system) and Cole Carrigg (No. 2 MLB Pipeline) in the outfield, Kyle Karros (No. 8 MLB Pipeline) at third and Gabriel Hughes (No. 15 MLB Pipeline) in the starting rotation. It could get better.
Or, if the Rockies continue to make micro changes to correct a macro problem, the organization will continue to be a failure. More changes — bigger changes — are needed. Bill Schmidt has to go. The Kris Bryant contract alone is enough to show this massive makeover needs a new architect.
The starting lineup needs to look vastly different in 2026. And the Rockies have to stop bringing in stop-gap free agents to clog up prospect pipelines as the Rockies field lineups day in and day out that don’t produce much hope for a fun baseball game. With this trade deadline showing a glimmer of change, maybe more good change is coming to Colorado.
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On the farm
Triple-A: Albuquerque Isotopes 8, Sacramento River Cats 4
Keston Hiura hit a three-run homer and an RBI double and Drew Romo added a solo shot as the Isotopes were able to overcome an early 3-0 deficit to pull out the win on Thursday night. Sam Hilliard hit an RBI triple and Aaron Schunk and Braiden Ward each recorded run-scoring singles. Andrew Quezada gave up three runs on three hits in five innings to earn his first win of the season, Connor Van Scoyoc and Matt Turner each recorded holds and Nick Anderson struck out three in a scoreless ninth.
Double-A: Hartford Yard Goats at Reading Fightin Phils, PPD
Thursday night’s game was called due to rain and will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Saturday.
We tried our best, but tonight’s game has been postponed. Fans with tickets for tonight’s game can redeem them for any 2025 home game by calling or visiting the box office. Saturday’s game will now be a doubleheader. Two 7-inning games played back-to-back, beginning at 5pm. Only… pic.twitter.com/46tFvNb18E
— Hartford Yard Goats (@GoYardGoats) August 1, 2025
High-A: Hillsboro Hops 8, Spokane Indians 0
Spokane was held to four hits while the Hops hit three homers on their way to a shutout win on Thursday. Cole Messina had half of the Indians hits, Aidan Longwell doubled and Blake Wright chipped in a single. Josh Grosz took the loss, giving up five runs on eight hits with two walks and two strikeouts.
Single-A: Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 9, Fresno Grizzlies 3
Down 9-1, the Grizzlies scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth to try to spark a comeback, but it wasn’t enough. Wilder Dalis hit an RBI double and a run-scoring single, while Jacob Hinderleider added a sac grounder to account for Fresno’s scoring. Jackson Cox took the loss despite a strong showing where he only gave up one run on two hits with six strikeouts in four innings.
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Rockies trade Jake Bird to New York Yankees, receive two prospects | Purple Row
The Rockies were busy up to the final day before the trade deadline. Check out more about the prospects the Rockies got from the Yankees, which will provide pitching depth and depth at second base.
On Wednesday, the Athletic posted the third part of a series on “exploring how the personalities of MLB executives impact baseball’s trade deadline.” The piece compares trades from 2020 through 2024, including totals. The Rays made 76 trades in those five seasons to lead MLB, while the Rockies made 21, which was tied for the second-least (only the Nationals had fewer with 16). The Rockies most common trade partners for the last five years, when they’ve only traded with 14 other teams, are the Braves and Guardians. Colorado has made three deals with both teams.
Saturday will be a special day at Wrigley Field. The Cubs will pay tribute to Ryne Sandberg, who passed away on Monday at age 65 on Monday after battling cancer, by wearing his number. I can’t wait to see the pictures and it’s been amazing to see the tributes and kind words pour in for the Hall of Fame second baseman.
When I first started playing baseball as a little kid, I played second base. My coach gave us all homework to go find the best player at our position at watch them. Before the Rockies, before YouTube and before MLB.tv, the only baseball I could watch was the Braves on TBS or the Cubs on WGN.
Ryne Sandberg made it easy to pick. I watched as many games as I could. I became a Cubs fan. I collected Sandberg’s baseball cards and still have my collection. My room was covered with posters of the power-hitting, Gold Glover. My Rawlings baseball glove had Ryne Sandberg’s name inked into the palm. I even copied his look and wore his amazingly cool flip sunglasses.
I wasn’t the best hitter, but I was a good fielder, and I credit Sandberg for giving me an example to follow. I love him because he was a great man who loved the game. He gave me the gift of loving the game and becoming a baseball fan for life. His death hit me hard, as it has the entire baseball community. I am so grateful for the chance to watch him play first on TV and then in person in Colorado. Words can’t express the gift he gave me and so many others. Thanks, Ryno.
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