Major League Baseball

Winter Meeting's trade waiting to happen between M's, Rockies

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 6:36 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Colorado Rockies and Seattle Mariners are a trade match waiting to happen at next week’s Winter Meetings.

Rockies and Mariners officials had preliminary trade talks at the general managers’ meetings last month, according to major-league sources. And while those conversations have yet to intensify, the natural trade fit between the teams’ rosters could create an easy starting point for further negotiations when the industry gathers in San Diego.

The Mariners would like to add an outfielder, even after reaching agreement with free-agent outfielder/designated hitter Nelson Cruz, and the Rockies have depth at all three outfield positions. The Rockies, meanwhile, would like to upgrade their pitching staff, and the Mariners had the lowest ERA in the American League this year.

A trade involving Troy Tulowitzki or Carlos Gonzalez can’t be ruled out, although it’s difficult to imagine the Rockies will receive an offer equivalent to how highly they value either superstar. Still, neither Tulowitzki nor Gonzalez has to be included for a significant deal to occur between Colorado and Seattle.

The Rockies have three productive left-handed hitters in their outfield — Gonzalez, Charlie Blackmon (a surprise All-Star in 2014) and Corey Dickerson — along with right-handers Drew Stubbs and Brandon Barnes.

The Mariners have expressed interest in Gonzalez, Blackmon and Stubbs in the past, sources say.

Blackmon is appealing to the Mariners because of his ability to play center field, in addition to the corner spots. Blackmon could be Seattle’s primary left fielder but start in center if manager Lloyd McClendon wants to give Austin Jackson the day off against a tough right-handed starter. Blackmon also had 28 stolen bases this year in 38 tries.

The Rockies, who need a right-handed starter to slot between lefties Jorge De La Rosa and Tyler Matzek, likely would ask for top pitching prospect Taijuan Walker in any trade with Seattle for a significant hitter. The Mariners’ true willingness to move Walker remains unclear and will be closely monitored by other teams in San Diego.

Seattle’s bullpen is also of interest to the Rockies, who lack an obvious internal successor to 41-year-old closer LaTroy Hawkins. Mariners right-handers Danny Farquhar, Dominic Leone, Brandon Maurer and Carson Smith all pitched impressively in 2014.