The MLB’s non-waiver trade deadline came and went Monday, and while some other teams went nuts, the Colorado Rockies decided to stand pat. After several weeks of whispers — outfielders Carlos Gonzalez, Charlie Blackmon and reliever Boone Logan were the names mentioned most frequently — Colorado didn’t make a single move.
The Rockies’ improved play since the All-Star break is perhaps the biggest reason why this roster didn’t change. Colorado has gone 12-5 since its time off to climb back to 52-53. As of Monday morning, the Rockies were only five games back in the National League Wild Card race.
Improved starting pitching, particularly away from Coors Field, has been the key. The Rockies (somewhat inexplicably) have the fourth-best road ERA in all of baseball. Jon Gray looks like a legitimate ace, Jorge De La Rosa has shaken off that brutal start to the year, Tyler Anderson’s done nothing but baffle hitters since getting called up, Tyler Chatwood’s in the midst of a career year and Chad Bettis finally seems to have settled in.
No arms were added or subtracted from that group. Rockies manager Walt Weiss has said on multiple occasions this year that this is the best Rockies starting pitching staff he’s seen in his four seasons with the club. So it will be this group that tries to help Colorado to its first postseason berth since 2009.
Blackmon and Gonzalez will continue to man their usual spots in center and right field at Coors Field, respectively. Logan will still trot out of the bullpen as a reliable left-hander.
This good stretch of baseball since the All-Star break is proof that Colorado can be competitive with the roster it has intact. The Rockies could’ve kicked the can down the road and gotten back prospects for veterans like Blackmon, Gonzalez or Logan. They opted to not to, though, which perhaps signals that general manager Jeff Bridich and the Colorado brass thinks this team is good enough. We’ll know more as summer turns to fall.
