The World Series is over, and the hot stove is about to be cranked up.
As previously discussed, the Colorado Rockies have plenty to sort through on their 40-man roster
. With a potential lockout looming
, they might have less than a month to conduct much of their offseason business.
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Paul DePodesta and Josh Byrnes were active last offseason, acquiring players such as TJ Rumfield
and Brennan Bernardino. At the trade deadline, they added Mason Adams
, Mark Manfredi
, Nick Frasso
and Connor Norby
, among others.
DePodesta has indicated that the front office intends to approach this offseason aggressively
. This time, they'll enter November with their staff in place and a full year of organizational evaluations behind them.
Hunter Goodman and Jake McCarthy have received plenty of national attention as trade candidates
. Both could bring back significant talent, but neither ranks particularly high among the players I expect Colorado to move.
Trade value and trade likelihood aren't necessarily the same thing.
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The trade board
| Trade Outlook
|
Players
|
| Most likely to be moved
|
Zac Veen, Jordan Beck, Willi Castro, Adael Amador, Jimmy Herget, Brennan Bernardino, Juan Mejía
|
| Possible
|
Jake McCarthy, Jaden Hill, Zach Agnos
|
| Unlikely
|
Hunter Goodman, Mickey Moniak, Connor Norby, Ezequiel Tovar, Nick Frasso, Mark Manfredi, Ryan Feltner, Tanner Gordon, Sean Sullivan
|
| Staying put
|
Kyle Karros, Cole Carrigg, TJ Rumfield, Chase Dollander, Mason Adams, Gabriel Hughes
|
These are my predictions for players who have reached the majors, not reports of player availability. I don't expect everyone in the top group to be traded. Prospects are discussed separately below.
What's a 40-home-run catcher worth?
Hunter Goodman followed a 31-homer season in 2025 with 41 in 2026, giving Colorado a two-time All-Star catcher
under team control through 2029.
But what's he worth?
Oakland received five players, including Atlanta's top prospect Kyle Muller, in the three-team trade that sent Sean Murphy to the Braves in December 2022. Kansas City received pitchers Ryan Bergert and Stephen Kolek when it traded Freddy Fermin to San Diego in 2025.
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Murphy was a Gold Glove winner with an established offensive track record, while Fermin's appeal leaned more heavily on defense. Both offered more value behind the plate than Goodman has demonstrated, but neither came close to matching his offensive production.
Finding a comparable offseason trade involving a 40-home-run hitter is even more difficult. The most recent example I could find was Giancarlo Stanton, who hit 59 home runs in 2017 before being traded to the Yankees that winter. His enormous contract and no-trade clause, however, made that a very different transaction.
For Goodman, I'd expect Colorado to demand an established, controllable starting pitcher with top-of-the-rotation potential and additional young talent. An entirely prospect-based package would need to be exceptional.
Trading Goodman would remove Colorado's most dangerous power hitter with no obvious replacement behind the plate or in the lineup.
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His production might simply be more valuable in Colorado than anything another organization is willing to surrender. For that reason, I don't expect Goodman to be traded this offseason.
More valuable in Colorado?
Jake McCarthy hit .291/.334/.475 with 15 home runs and 32 stolen bases in 2026. He's affordable, athletic and capable of playing all three outfield positions, although his range in center and throwing arm present limitations.
Would another team view him as an everyday outfielder who can hit near the top of the lineup, or a fourth outfielder better suited to the bench?
Colorado saw the former for much of 2026. But his stronger numbers at Coors Field and defensive limitations could affect his value elsewhere.
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Mickey Moniak presents a similar question. He improved from -8 Outs Above Average in 2025 to roughly average defensively in 2026 while continuing to provide left-handed power.
His .195/.225/.379 second half raises questions about how much of that offense he'd reproduce elsewhere. Colorado also signed him to a two-year extension
in August.
I'd listen on both, but I suspect Colorado's asking price would be higher than most teams are willing to pay.
Something's gotta give
Colorado has more infielders than obvious places to play them.
Willi Castro hit .260/.331/.417 with 15 home runs in 2026, offering versatility and insurance behind Ezequiel Tovar at shortstop.
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Adael Amador, primarily a second baseman, finished strong with a .277/.362/.482 line in 27 major-league games.
Then there's Connor Norby.
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Acquired in the Victor Vodnik trade, Norby hit .302/.387/.457 in 40 games with Colorado. His right-handed bat and ability to play first, second and third give the Rockies more options than Amador does. I'd be surprised if DePodesta and Byrnes moved Norby before getting a longer look.
Tovar's age, contract and defensive ability also make a trade unlikely despite his difficult offensive season.
That leaves Castro and Amador.
Of the two, Amador seems more expendable. Castro might have the broader market. I wouldn't be surprised if one of them is moved this offseason.
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A change of scenery
Zac Veen
and Jordan Beck
were once among Colorado's most promising prospects. Neither has established himself in the majors.
Veen earned Pacific Coast League MVP honors
after hitting .327/.402/.635 with 24 home runs at Triple-A, although consistent contact remains a concern. With Colorado's crowded outfield, his resurgence might present an opportunity to trade him while his value is rising.
Beck's season was considerably less encouraging. After hitting 16 home runs with 19 stolen bases in 2025, he managed just one homer and a .552 OPS in 2026.
But former top prospects can retain trade value. Miami dealt JJ Bleday to Oakland for A.J. Puk in 2023, while Atlanta acquired Chris Sale and cash from Boston for Vaughn Grissom.
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Neither is a direct comparison, but both demonstrate that struggling young hitters can still interest other organizations.
Veen might be the more attractive trade piece, while Beck could benefit more from a fresh opportunity. There's a good chance one of them is playing elsewhere in 2027.
Plenty of bullpen options
Colorado needs pitching, but that doesn't mean every pitcher should be retained.
Brennan Bernardino posted a 2.81 ERA in 64 innings in 2026. He's left-handed, inexpensive and under team control through 2029. At 34, he could be more valuable to a contender seeking immediate bullpen help.
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Jimmy Herget is a tougher sell. The 33-year-old struggled to a 5.70 ERA after posting a 2.48 mark over 83.1 innings in 2025.
Juan Mejía and Jaden Hill present another decision. Both pitchers are 26 and averaged around 97 mph with their fastballs in 2026, but finished with ERAs above 5.00. Both struggled with walks but showed promise with their secondary pitches.
Mejía posted a 3.96 ERA in 2025, and Colorado has seen more of him in the majors, making him my more likely trade candidate.
Zach Agnos covered 91 innings in 2026, although his 5.93 ERA and limited strikeout production make a significant return difficult to envision.
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Ryan Feltner, Tanner Gordon and Sean Sullivan also seem unlikely to draw much trade interest following disappointing 2026 seasons. All three have starting potential, although their long-term roles could ultimately be in the bullpen.
Meanwhile, Nick Frasso and Mark Manfredi were acquired at the deadline, making another immediate trade seem unlikely. Manfredi came over in the Antonio Senzatela deal
, while Frasso and Landyn Vidourek were acquired for Seth Halvorsen
.
Halvorsen hadn't consistently produced strong results, but his exceptional fastball was enough to attract a worthwhile return. It's a reminder that potential can carry real trade value, even when the results haven't followed.
With several bullpen options available, I expect Colorado to move an arm or two this offseason.
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What about the prospects?
Charlie Condon ( No. 2 PuRP
) is perhaps the most intriguing name.
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The former No. 3 overall pick
hit .273/.390/.514 with 27 home runs and 98 RBI at Albuquerque
, earning the Pacific Coast League's Top MLB Prospect award
. He's No. 56 on MLB Pipeline's Top 100 list.
With TJ Rumfield established at first base and questions about Condon's defensive home, Colorado could consider using his power to acquire pitching. It would take a substantial return, but Condon could headline such a deal.
Sterlin Thompson
( No. 16 PuRP
) offers another possibility after posting a .475 on-base percentage and 1.005 OPS at Triple-A before reaching the majors. His approach at the plate could make him attractive as part of a larger trade.
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Jared Thomas
( No. 8 PuRP
) and Jack O'Dowd
( HM PuRP
) are participating in the Arizona Fall League
, where O'Dowd has impressed. Both could draw interest from teams looking for young offensive talent.
Further down the system, Colorado has several intriguing young position-player prospects, including Roldy Brito ( No. 3 PuRP
), Cristian Arguelles ( No. 5 PuRP
) and Wilder Dalis ( No. 10 PuRP
). Brito is ranked No. 52 on MLB Pipeline's Top 100 list
, and any of the three could be included as part of a larger trade package.
I'd be far more surprised to see the Rockies move Ethan Holliday ( No. 1 PuRP
) or Tyler Bell ( No. 4 PuRP
). Ranked No. 23 and No. 62, respectively, on MLB Pipeline's Top 100, both are recovering from injuries.
As a general rule, I'm skeptical that DePodesta and Byrnes would trade recent draft picks before seeing a full professional season. I also don't expect Colorado to trade from its minor-league starting pitching depth, including Logan Reddemann ( No. 9 PuRP
), Brody Brecht ( No. 14 PuRP
), Jackson Cox ( No. 11 PuRP
), Jack Mahoney ( No. 15 PuRP
), and J.B. Middleton ( No. 22 PuRP
).
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I'm assuming most of Colorado's trades this offseason will be aimed at acquiring pitching.
Staying put
Kyle Karros, Cole Carrigg and TJ Rumfield are young, controllable players who appear to fit Colorado's longer-term plans.
Rumfield hit .300/.390/.453 over 155 games in 2026 and is a Gold Glove finalist
at first base. Carrigg posted an .818 OPS with 12 home runs and 11 stolen bases in 93 games, while Karros paired excellent third-base defense with 13 homers and a .347 on-base percentage.
There's also little reason to trade Chase Dollander, Mason Adams or Gabriel Hughes.
Dollander averaged 98.9 mph with his fastball in 2026 and posted a 3.89 ERA over 44 innings. Adams recorded 31 strikeouts in 29 innings while working with a six-pitch mix. Hughes struggled to a 6.33 ERA, but his 3.92 expected ERA and ability to limit hard contact offer reasons for optimism.
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All three are young, controllable starting pitchers with encouraging underlying numbers. Given Colorado's need for rotation help, I'd expect the Rockies to continue developing them rather than entertain moving any of them.
Who's actually going?
I expect the Rockies to be active over the next month with trades involving their outfield, infield or bullpen depth.
And knowing how DePodesta and Byrnes have operated so far, I wouldn't be surprised if they pull off a deal or two that nobody saw coming.
With December 1 approaching, there is no time to waste.
So, who would you move, who would you keep, and where have I gotten it completely wrong?
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