Colorado Rockies news and links for Wednesday, July 23, 2025
The trade deadline is just a week away, and the baseball world will stand by to see if the Colorado Rockies actually do anything to sell off pieces.
It’s going to be a slow burn, so to pass the time, why not put on our general manager hats once again to look at some hypothetical trades? With the aid of the Out of the Park Baseball game on my computer, I used the “Shop A Player” function to explore the offers the game could generate and determine what appealed to me the most. The stats are generally up to date as of Tuesday morning.
Ryan McMahon to Philadelphia for prospects
The Trade
- Philadelphia Phillies receive: Ryan McMahon (3B)
- Rockies receive: Eduardo Tait (C), Zach Arnold (1B)
McMahon is the big ticket item for the Rockies that teams are likely most interested in. They have been hesitant to entertain offers for him the last couple of years, but with the team on a historically bad pace, moving a veteran like McMahon becomes pertinent as part of a necessary rebuild.
The Phillies have needed a bat. They have also generally needed an upgrade at the hot corner. Alec Bohm has been serviceable enough at the plate this season, but has seen a slight drop from previous seasons. He also recently landed on the 10-day injured list with a fractured rib, leaving the spot open to utility players and rookies if the Phillies don’t make a trade.
Tait is ranked as the Phillies’ No. 4 prospect per MLB Pipeline, No. 59 prospect in all of Major League Baseball as well as the No. 6 overall catcher. He has slashed .251/.322/.436 with 11 home runs and 51 RBI this year in Low-A Clearwater and is just 18 years old. This feels like an unrealistic outcome but if you could get that type of prospect for McMahon, I’d say take it.
Arnold serves as just a random throw-in to bolster a thin position for the Rockies system. In 67 games with the High-A Jersey Shore BlueClaws, he is batting .214/.290/.332 with six home runs.
Also, just because I was curious, the computer GM for the Phillies would accept a trade if I asked for Otto Kemp in addition to the other two.
Jimmy Herget Stays Put
The Trade
- No realistic trade available
Jon Marosi reported a few days ago that Jimmy Herget was generating trade interest. The 31-year-old has been surprisingly solid for the Rockies, especially with a 1.23 ERA on the road and is sure to have someone checking in on his services
The computer AI didn’t get the memo, though, as the only generated trade in the game was Houston trying to offload 28-year-old pitcher Cristian Javier, who is owed $42.8 million through 2027 and is currently recovering from Tommy John surgery.
The San Francisco Giants also wanted to offload either Justin Verlander or Jung Hoo Lee, which doesn’t make any sense for the Rockies, especially financially.
Jake Bird and Kyle Farmer head to Wrigley
The Trade
- Chicago Cubs receive: Jake Bird (RP), Kyle Farmer (UTL)
- Rockies receive: Brooks Caple (SP)
In reality, we know that the Cubs are focused more on adding to their rotation and finding a third baseman (interestingly, they did not appear in the McMahon trade offers). Still, an already solid bullpen could always use reinforcements, and Jake Bird could fit the bill. He’s been roughed up a little lately, but that’s been the cost of being one of the most reliable and effective relievers in the first half with a hefty workload.
I was surprised to see the AI throw Kyle Farmer into the mix. He’s not the offensive upgrade the team is looking for, but hey, if they want him, then they can have him.
Brooks Caple was a ninth-round pick by the Cubs last season, and after a strong first two months in Low-A, posting a 1.80 ERA, he was moved up to High-A in June, where he’s struggled a bit more with the South Bend Cubs. In eight starts, he has a 6.58 ERA and does have some command issues.
Germán Márquez
The Trade
- Cubs receive: Germán Márquez (RP), Kyle Farmer (UTL)
- Rockies receive: Ty Southisene (2B), Chase Strumpf (3B)
Another interesting trade with the Cubs involving Farmer, but now featuring Márquez as the primary piece. Márquez got off to a rough start but really turned things around over latter half of May through June. Things get a little hairy in the trade department though, considering he is dealing with some biceps tendinitis that was causing some shoulder tightness. He is a free agent after the season, so the Rockies need him healthy if they want to move him.
Ty Southisene was a fourth-round pick last season and has struggled to find his footing in his first professional season. He is batting .193/.356/.205 in 51 games at the Low-A level.
Chase Strumpf is a former second-round pick back in 2019 and hasn’t quite materialized for the Cubs. He’s proved to have some moderate power and decent on-base skills, but nothing that has clicked or impressed the organization enough to promote him to the big leagues. Capable of playing all infield positions if needed, he would fill the space of Farmer.
Mickey Moniak and RyMac become Tigers
The Trade
- Detroit Tigers receive: Mickey Moniak (OF), Ryan McMahon (3B)
- Rockies receive: Jace Jung (3B), Brant Hurter (LHP)
This was quite the splash of a trade proposal. Mickey Moniak is having quite the year with the Rockies and the team obviously loves him, but that also makes it quite appealing to trade him. He has excelled in a platoon role that can start and the Tigers could likely use some outfield help, particularly in center field.
McMahon to Detroit still feels like a great match if they can get something done.
A first-round pick in 2022, Jace Jung has hit a bit of a hurdle in 2024 when he spent most of the year on the injured list in the minors. He made his big league debut in September last year but struggled to put things together. Still, he’s young and could still have a bright future and play out the season for the Rockies at third base.
They may be more reluctant to depart with Brant Hurter since the lefty has been a stalwart piece of the Tigers bullpen. He owns a 3.13 ERA over 30 appearances with 50 strikeouts to 20 walks. He has historically been a starter in the minors so the Rockies could stretch him back out or opt to keep him as he is now.
Conclusion
None of these trades are exactly perfect, or even realistic, probably. The AI is fairly stingy, and the game often undervalues and overvalues players on both sides of a deal. Still, there are scenarios in which the Rockies could make some intriguing deals. I won’t be too concerned with returns because there are so many players that need a look at the big league level that are already in the organization. The Rockies simply need to be active and get creative.
★ ★ ★
On the Farm
Triple-A: Salt Lake Bees 3, Albuquerque Isotopes 0
Albuquerque out-hit Salt Lake 7-5, but they were shutout as they went 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position. All but two batters had a hit, and all seven hits were singles as the team also drew six walks and struck out nine times. Karl Kauffmann went allowed one run over 1 2⁄3 innings in his start, walking three and striking out four. A notable appearance in relief was Carson Palmquist’s two perfect innings with four strikeouts.
Double-A: Hartford Yard Goats 4, New Hampshire Fisher Cats 2
Hartford only had four hits but they made them count in their 4-2 victory. Bryant Betancourt had two hits while Braylen Wimmer hit his first Double-A home run, a two-run shot in the first inning. All four runs came in the first with Betancourt driving in one run, Wimmer two, and Charlie Condon the other. Sean Sullivan was in control on the mound, allowing just one run on five hits over 6 2⁄3 innings.
High-A: Spokane Indians 2, Everett AquaSox 1
A pair of home runs late in the game proved the difference to win the game for Spokane. Tommy Hopfe, playing in his first game at High-A, belted a solo home run in the eighth to tie the game. In the ninth, GJ Hill hit a solo go-ahead home run to win the game as part of a two-hit game. Everett Catlett allowed one run through seven innings while striking out 10.
Low-A: Fresno Grizzlies 9, Modesto Nuts 8
Jimmy Obertop played hero with a go-ahead three-run double in the top of the ninth. The Grizzlies had 12 hits on the day, headlined by Robert Calaz’s two hits along with Derek Bernard, while both had two RBI each. Fisher Jameson started on the hill but didn’t get much help as he allowed four unearned runs in 2 2⁄3 innings. The defense committed four errors through the game, but so did Modesto.
★ ★ ★
No. 4 pick Holliday, Rockies agree to record bonus for HS player | MLB.com
Ethan Holliday signed for a record $9 million, the largest bonus for a high school player and tied for the fourth highest among all draftees in history.
Also worth noting that all 21 Rockies draft picks were signed.
Márquez relieved with injury diagnosis ahead of Trade Deadline | MLB.com
As mentioned in the main article, Márquez is likely to land on the IL, but luckily it doesn’t seem like anything the team is too concerned about. But it leaves a cloud over a potential trade.
★ ★ ★
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