It’s pretty clear the Colorado Rockies, like many other teams, are looking to cut costs and shed some of their bigger contracts this offseason.
The name that comes to mind first is of course Nolan Arenado. The star third baseman has long been mentioned in trade rumors, and it’s appearing to be more and more likely he could be moved this offseason.
However, it looks like Arenado may not be the only star the Rockies ship out this winter. According to Nick Groke and Eno Sarris of the Athletic, Colorado seems have made shortstop Trevor Story available in trade talks.
If this truly is the case, Sandy Alderson and the Mets should certainly give the Rockies a call, and see what their asking price is.
Story, like fellow trade candidate Francisco Lindor, would provide the Mets with a significant upgrade at the shortstop position. The 28-year old is a premier MVP-level talent in all facets of the game, and has been getting better and better every season.
Story is not only a legit right-handed hitting power threat, but also an above-average defender, and a terrific base stealer.
During the pandemic shortened 2020 season, Story led the Rockies in home runs, triples, and doubles, and led the league with 15 stolen bases. He slashed .289/.355/.519 over 259 plate appearances.
On top of that, he was also statistically one of the best defenders – 5 DRS ranked third among SS and 5.3 UZR/150 ranked first – in the National League.
While Story would certainly be a tremendous acquisition, there are definitely some concerns with acquiring the slugger.
Like Lindor, Story is set to hit free agency at the end of next season. There is certainly some risk in shipping off a ton of assets for a potential one year rental. Instead, the organization may prefer to stand pat as Sandy Alderson has hinted, and if they so choose, try and sign one with a strong free agent class next offseason.
On top of that detail, there’s also the concern that comes with any big-time player leaving Colorado, the Coors Field effect. If you take a look at Story’s numbers, the home/road splits are little bit concerning. For his career, Story has a .994 and 125 OPS and OPS+ at Coors, compared to a .760 OPS and 75 OPS+ on the road.
The concerns are definitely legit, however, at the end of the day there is no denying Story would certainly be a massive upgrade for the Mets. The Mets certainly have some intriguing pieces, and should be able to put together a solid offer. Story is an absolute difference maker, and if he truly is available, is certainly a guy the Mets should at the very least check in on.
