The Colorado Rockies, once again, blew it big time.
This time, they had the opportunity to capitalize on a player that lots of teams could have used (and asked about in trade negotiations) in shortstop Trevor Story.
Multiple teams asked about the former All-Star shortstop, but Colorado opted to keep him and Jon Gray, their other top trade chip.
They are apparently content with getting a compensatory pick in next year’s draft by extending a one-year qualifying offer to Story, which he will surely decline as he will seek (and find, in all likelihood) a multi-year pact.
The Trade Deadline has arrived and Trevor Story will remain with the Rockies, per source. They will make him a qualifying offer and collect compensatory draft picks if he signs elsewhere.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) July 30, 2021
Did the Rockies make the right decision in ignoring a prospect package for Story and Gray?
No, they didn’t.
They Could Have Gotten Multiple Good Prospects, But Chose A Draft Pick
It’s true that it was a buyer’s market for position players, as opposed to a seller’s market for pitching, a situation that may have caused some underwhelming offers for Story.
There were a lot of bats available at the deadline, and not so much demand.
With pitching, however, it was quite the opposite: there were very few difference-makers, and they ended up being sold at high prices talent-wise.
Jose Berrios netted the Minnesota Twins two top 100 prospects in pitcher Simeon Woods-Richardson and outfielder Austin Martin.
Max Scherzer netted the Washington Nationals two top 50 prospects (depending on the publication you check) in catcher Keibert Ruiz and pitcher Josiah Gray, but they had to surrender Trea Turner.
The Cubs had to package rental shortstop Javier Baez with pitcher Trevor Williams, but they brought a very nice outfield prospect in Pete Crow-Armstrong from the Mets.
As you can see, the Rockies could have traded Story alone for one or two very good prospects, or packaged him with Gray, a fellow free-agent-to-be, and receive three or four good young players.
But they opted for one or two compensatory picks, likely far away from the top 10, and with the Rockies’ eye (or lack thereof) for talent, they might end up botching them too.
Getting several prospects in return for Story and Gray would be the logical path for any rebuilding franchise.
They could be closer to the majors, much more so than a single draft pick that will be very far away when he is selected by Colorado.
The Rockies could have gotten a Ruiz, a Crow-Armstrong, a Nick Madrigal, or even several good, but not elite prospects, like Texas did in their Joey Gallo trade with the Yankees.
But the Rockies, as they always do, chose the hard way.
Could They Re-Sign Story Or Gray?
The chances of Story re-signing with Colorado are slim, at best, but at least they have some hope in re-signing Gray.
They know pitchers don’t want to go to Colorado, and they need to work with what they got.
But it’s very telling that they haven’t been able to reach an extension with him to this point.
He is having a very good season so far, with a 3.62 ERA in 104.1 innings.
Story, on the other hand, hasn’t performed up to his ability in 2021, batting .241 with a .313 OBP and a .743 OPS.
He also has 13 homers and 17 stolen bases.
But MLB executives all agree that he is better than Baez; and Gray is way better than Williams.
The Rockies could have gotten a really good package for them.
Deadline losers:
THE COLORADO #ROCKIES.
I cannot comprehend how this team didn’t, at a minimum, deal off impending free agents. Had they moved Gray, Story and Marquez, the 2023 Rockies would’ve been in a much better spot. Seems like a lengthy rebuild is ahead.
— MLB Trade Deadline (@MLBDeadlineNews) July 31, 2021
Too bad they didn’t want it.
NEXT: 3 Next Colorado Rockies Stars Already In Organization