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Rockies Trade Candidate Getting Hot at Right Time

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Ryan McMahon achieved his first career all-star appearance after a stellar first half last season. It appeared the Colorado Rockies had missed a golden opportunity to trade him. McMahon had a paltry April this season, hitting .126/.267/.218 with two home runs and four RBI. But a recent resurgence offensively is happening at just the right time for Colorado.

Ryan McMahon Finding His Offensive Groove

In the last ten games, McMahon has had arguably his best stretch of baseball this season. Unsurprisingly, it has coincided with the Rockies’ best stretch of baseball this season. In their last ten, the Rockies have gone 4-6. Securing at least a series split Tuesday night against the Washington Nationals with a 10-6 win. In which McMahon had a 396-foot homer to right center as part of a four-homer seventh for Colorado. The Rockies went a combined 8-46 in April and May, winning only four games in each month.

Per StatMuse, McMahon has hit a scorching .343 with 12 hits, five home runs, seven RBI, and seven runs scored. In an 8-1 loss against the New York Mets on June 7, McMahon found his spark offensively. McMahon scored the Rockies’ only run with a 392-foot homer to center in the fourth inning. It was McMahon’s first home run since May 11 against the San Diego Padres and his first RBI since May 30 against the Mets.

After a solid beginning to May, McMahon again struggled mightily offensively to end the month. Per Statmuse, in the previous ten games before his recent hot stretch, McMahon hit .158 with just six hits and two RBI. As the Rockies continued to lose, it seemed increasingly apparent they had missed their opportunity to trade McMahon. But that was not the case. McMahon’s recent hot streak came out of nowhere, and his trade value is again beginning to see the light.

 

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McMahon Trade Value on the Rise

McMahon has always been an excellent defender. He has filled in admirably at the hot corner since Nolan Arenado was traded in 2021. Per Statcast, McMahon is currently in the 90th percentile league-wide with a fielding run value of 4. He has finished with a fielding run value of at least 6 since 2021. Per Statcast, McMahon’s five outs above average this season put him in the 96th percentile. Good for third among third basemen in Major League Baseball. Behind only Ernie Clement (11 OAA) of the Toronto Blue Jays and Ke’Bryan Hayes (11 OAA) of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

 

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A team will be getting a top-five third baseman defensively if they trade for McMahon. When McMahon is good offensively, his value grows exponentially. He is a career .241 hitter and finished with at least 20 home runs each season from 2021-24. However, he is often the victim of a second-half swoon. But a contender desperate for a left-handed bat at the deadline will perhaps pull the trigger on a McMahon trade. If McMahon can stay hot and come even close to his first-half production last season.

A team trading for McMahon could bet on McMahon reaching his ceiling offensively on a more consistent basis if he leaves the confines of Coors Field. While Coors can serve as a boost for offensive numbers, the altitude has historically made it very difficult for Rockies hitters when they go on the road. Over his last 20 games, McMahon has shown the two extremes of his offensive game. For the Rockies’ sake, they need his offense in the future to reflect the last ten rather than the former.

McMahon Could Sway Rockies’ Deadline

Other than a select group of quality relievers, McMahon is the only other realistic trade candidate for the Rockies. Whether a McMahon trade happens or not could sway the Rockies’ deadline. The Rockies have historically missed badly at the deadline, namely, when they allowed star shortstop Trevor Story to sign elsewhere following the 2021 season. It was widely expected that Story would be traded at the deadline.

But general manager Bill Schmidt has been active in the last couple of deadlines. He will almost certainly shop McMahon if his play warrants it. According to Spotrac, McMahon has two years remaining on the six-year, $70 million fully guaranteed deal he signed in 2022. He is owed $12 million annually this season, which will increase to $16 million annually in 2026-27. Currently in his age-30 season, the Rockies would have to pay a decent amount of his remaining salary in any trade.

But if McMahon continues his strong offensive play, he could net the Rockies a solid haul of prospects. Even a modest return in a McMahon trade for the Rockies would have to be considered a win. After the first month of this season, it appeared they had missed their opportunity for good. Instead, McMahon’s recent offensive play has given the Rockies a glimpse of a life raft at the deadline. It’s time for the Rockies to swim and not sink.

Main Photo Credits: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images

The post Rockies Trade Candidate Getting Hot at Right Time appeared first on Last Word On Baseball.