The White Sox have far and away been the talk of the offseason so far. By trading away Chris Sale and Adam Eaton, they have injected a handful of young, talented players with high-upside to their once barren farm system.
Most White Sox fans have been happy with Rick Hahn's moves so far, but are starting to get restless knowing that players like Jose Quintana, Todd Frazier and David Robertson are still on the roster. Look, everyone knows that all three will eventually be traded. They just do not fit the long-term plan the White Sox have going forward. However, the one team that matches up perfectly with the White Sox is the one that has barely been talked about.
That team is the Colorado Rockies.
Rocky Mountain High
The Rockies have quietly built a very solid team this offseason and seem to be only a few pieces away from being a legitimate contender. Last season they actually scored more runs (845) than the Cubs, and that was without a full season from rookie sensation Trevor Story. This offseason, the Rockies have brought in Ian Desmond to boost the offense even more. What does not make sense, is that he is slated as of today to play first base.
All-in-all offensively, this team can already go head-to-head with the best teams in the league. If they can bring in a power-hitting first baseman, it would allow them to move Desmond to the outfield, giving them a more balanced offensive attack.
One player they can bring in to play first would be none other than Chicago's Frazier.
Todd had a very productive first season with the White Sox. While his average of .225 was lower than normal, he still managed to belt 40 home runs, drive in 98, and get on base at a .302 clip. Playing half his games at Coors field, he could realistically hit closer to 50 home runs and drive in 115. Obviously Frazier is a natural third baseman, but first base is widely considered one of the easier positions to play. With him being a plus defender already at third, it should be a fairly easy transition to first.
Frazier Boosts An Already Strong Lineup
A projected lineup for Colorado including Frazier would maybe look something like this:
1 Charlie Blackmon OF
2 DJ LeMahieu 2B
3 Nolan Arenado 3B
4 Todd Frazier 1B
5 Carlos Gonzalez OF
6 Trevor Story SS
7 Ian Desmond OF
8 Tony Wolters C
9 (Pitcher)
The Return?
The White Sox could ask for OF prospect Raimel Tapia in return for Frazier. Tapia is the No. 71 prospect currently and is consistent in essentially every tool except for power, where he is slightly below average. If he fills out, his ceiling is a .300 hitter with 20 home run potential, while his floor is roughly a .270 hitter with 10-15 home run potential. He is also a formidable base-stealing threat.
With Frazier, this offense would surely be one of the leagues most balanced and consistent, and could easily compete with the likes of the Cubs. However, where the Rockies need the most help is in the run prevention department.
Last season, the Rockies' record in one-run games was an abysmal 12-20. They also had below .500 records to weak teams like the San Diego Padres and the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Rockies desperately need another frontline starter and a solid bullpen arm to contend in 2017.
The White Sox just so happen to have both of those pieces in Jose Quintana and David Robertson.
The Blockbuster
Everyone knows Quintana has been the talk of the offseason. His career numbers (aside from his win-loss record, which is for the most part out of his control) are comparable to a low-end ace or a very high-end number 2. He will give any team a 3.55 or under ERA and 200+ innings. Perhaps the most enticing part about bringing Quintana to Colorado (besides his contract) is his ability to keep the ball in the park. He did give up 22 in 2016, but only 16 in 2015 and a mere 10 in 2014. Having a pitcher who can keep teams from hitting home runs is a prize any team would want, but none more so than the Rockies.
David Robertson used to be regarded as one of the top closers in the league, but after a below average 2016, his value has definitely dropped. That being said, that does not mean that he cannot be an effective set-up man for Colorado. Especially with them just signing closer Greg Holland. In fact, with both Holland and Robertson, the bullpen for Colorado could turn from their biggest weakness, into a strength. The Sox would have to probably eat some of Robertson's money, but if they can package both him and Quintana, the return would be nothing short of incredible.
The headliner in this deal would most certainly be shortstop/second baseman Brendan Rodgers. Rodgers is currently the No. 6 prospect in all of baseball. He has bat speed comparable to Javy Baez, and experts have compared his overall game to Troy Tulowitzki. Unfortunately, Rodgers is blocked by Trevor Story and the rest of Colorado's dynamic infield.
Enter the White Sox, who can offer Quintana and Robertson for Rodgers (6), Jeff Hoffman (35), and Riley Pint (39).
Hoffman has a fastball that sits in the mid 90's with late life, and also possesses a power curve. Pint actually has more upside than Hoffman, with his fastball consistently hitting 98 and the ability to touch 102. Some scouts are nervous that his violent delivery can lead to injury, and he struggles to consistently throw strikes; however, with a little fine-tuning, he should pan out to be the frontline starter many are pegging him to be.
Many Sox fans would undoubtedly be upset if the franchise acquires more pitching, rather than position players. Remember, a rebuild is about acquiring the best talent out there. This trade does just that.
A Long Shot That Just Might Make Sense
Obviously this would be an incredible haul to give up. Trading three top 40 prospects in baseball is borderline insane. People may ask why other teams have not offered that type of package to the White Sox for Quintana's services. The answer is actually simple: they are not as close to competing as Colorado. Pittsburg is a fringe wild card team. The Yankees are waiting for their prospects to develop and will compete in two years. Adding Quintana would not help them right away. Atlanta is rebuilding. Houston would not include Alex Bregman in a deal. Colorado on the other hand, is quietly right there. Adding one, or a package of Quintana/Frazier/Robertson puts them as an immediate threat to not only win their division, but make a deep postseason run.
A similar scenario would be Cleveland going all in last season and trading for Andrew Miller. The Yankees got a haul in return including top prospect Clint Frazier. When a team is a piece or two away from becoming a legitimate contender, you pull the trigger.
If the Rockies decided to go with either of these trades, their farm system would admittedly take a pretty substantial hit. However, they have the foundation in place to win in 2017. All they need are a power hitting first baseman, a frontline starter, and some bullpen help. The White Sox can offer literally all of that. These two teams just make too much sense at the end of the day. The White Sox get the talent they need to build for the future, while the Rockies load up for a very probable World Series run.
For now though, all we can do is wait and see what happens down the road.
