With the July 30 MLB trade deadline approaching, let's take a look at what's buzzing around MLB on Tuesday.
Rockies holding on to ace
At this writing, the Colorado Rockies are 11 games below .500, 12 games out of second wild card position in the National League, and given less than a 1.0 percent chance of making the postseason by SportsLine. In other words, the Rockies would figure to be sellers leading up to the deadline.
That's especially the case given the offseason departure of franchise third baseman Nolan Arenado via blockbuster swap with the Cardinals. However, to hear manager Bud Black tell it one of the Rockies' most lucrative potential trade pieces, right-handed starter Germán Márquez, won't be going anywhere leading up to the deadline:
Bud Black just told us regarding trade rumors for German Marquez “we have Marquez under control for a couple of years… he’s not going anywhere….. he’s not going to be traded” @Rockies @MLBNetworkRadio
— Jim Duquette (@Jim_Duquette) July 6, 2021
Márquez in his age-26 season has pitched to a 3.59 ERA/127 ERA+ and a 2.56 K/BB ratio in 18 starts and 105 1/3 innings, and he was recently named to the All-Star team for the first time in his career. Speaking of his career, Márquez has an ERA+ of 118 across parts of six major-league seasons, all with Colorado.
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As Black indicated, Márquez is under contract for multiple seasons -- through 2023 at reasonable rates, with a team option for 2024. Given his established level of performance, relative youth, and team control, Márquez would without question be a hot commodity if shopped. On top of all that, any number of contenders figure to be angling for starting pitching leading up to the deadline.
While Black isn't the decision-maker in the organization -- that would be interim GM Bill Schmidt -- the manager is very likely privy to all relevant discussions. As such, Black probably isn't speaking idly when he says Márquez will be staying in Denver. Given the Rockies' grim near- to mid-term outlook and their lackluster farm system, the wisdom of that can certainly be questioned. For now, though, it appears that one of the leading deadline names won't be a deadline name after all.
Brewers acquire Tellez from Blue Jays
The Milwaukee Brewers have agreed to acquire first baseman Rowdy Tellez from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for right-hander Trevor Richards and minor-league pitcher Bowden Francis.
OFFICIAL: We've acquired RHP Trevor Richards and RHP Bowden Francis from the Brewers in exchange for 1B Rowdy Tellez.
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) July 6, 2021
Welcome to the #BlueJays, @trevrchrds and @Bowdenpoint0! pic.twitter.com/CWBIcH1X5J
Tellez, 26, was recently sent down to Triple-A after struggling in Toronto for his first 50 games of the season. However, he owns a .638 slugging percentage in the minors since the demotion, and in 2020 he was central to Toronto's playoff run with a slash line of .283/.346/.540. He'll give the Brewers some left-handed pop, which is something they'll need now that Daniel Vogelbach is sidelined with a hamstring injury.
As for Richards, 28, he's pitched to a 3.69 ERA and 3.42 K/BB ratio in 21 relief appearances for the Brewers and Rays this season. The Brewers acquired him from Tampa Bay as part of the late May trade that also landed shortstop Willy Adames in Milwaukee.