According to Buster Olney of ESPN, it’s doubtful that Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon gets dealt because they’re looking for an Adam Eaton like package for him.
Blackmon, 30, will become a free agent after the 2018 season while Eaton is under the Washington Nationals through the 2019 season.
Original Post – Dec 13
The Colorado Rockies surprised quite a few people with their recent signing of Ian Desmond. The team also currently remains in talks with free agent first baseman, Mark Trumbo, leading many to believe that they may look to deal a player like Charlie Blackmon.
The Rockies are said to be in the market to flip one of their bats in return for a top of the rotation starter. This is where the Mets could possibly swoop in.
Blackmon, 30, is coming off his best season yet, hitting to a .324/.381/.552 batting line with 29 homers and 82 RBI. He also has the ability to swipe a bag or two, taking 17 in 2016 and 43 the season before.
He has put himself into conversations as one of the better center fielders in the game today. Blackmon plays a position the Mets could use some help with and adding him certainly would give the team a big boost. That of course, would probably require trading both Jay Bruce and Curtis Granderson to get the team below that $150 million threshold.
Rumors circulated at the MLB Winter Meetings this past week that the Rockies had offered up Blackmon to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for starting pitcher, Marcus Stroman, a deal that was rebuffed.
It may behoove the Mets to try to swoop in and offer the Rockies a package revolving around Steven Matz or Robert Gsellman. Matz of course could provide Colorado that top of the line starter they crave while Gsellman has also shown flashes of being a dominant force himself.
It is unknown exactly how much Colorado may be looking for in return for a player of Blackmon’s caliber. A pitcher though like Matz could possibly entice them. Injuries though are what may hold back such a deal as Matz has proven unable to pitch a full season thus far without injury.
Ultimately the Rockies seem as though they would like to shift Desmond back to the outfield and not have him play first base as currently constructed. If they sign Trumbo, the likelihood of them trading either Blackmon or Carlos Gonzalez seems quite high.
If Blackmon is indeed in play, the Mets should take every opportunity to attempt to make that trade happen. Blackmon could be the final piece of the puzzle type player to really put the Mets over the top.
