The Colorado Rockies are known for their lack of activity at MLB’s trade deadline, which made last year’s decision to trade several veterans quite surprising. However, according to Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post, the team doesn’t seem poised for any major moves this year, and Ryan McMahon is expected to remain with the team through the fall.
Despite a recent slump, McMahon is second on the team with a 1.6 fWAR this season. The third baseman has a batting line of .265/.344/.458, with 12 home runs and 37 RBIs in 70 games. A two-time Gold Glove finalist, McMahon has also played second base and occasionally first base in the big leagues. A former high school star quarterback, he is an exceptional athlete who can play multiple positions while being a rare left-handed bat.
Although many competitive teams are interested in acquiring McMahon, the Rockies are keeping him due to his team-friendly contract through 2027. However, his positive contributions are not significantly benefiting the Rockies right now, as the team is on track for a second consecutive 100-loss season. Early in his career, McMahon delivered clutch hits as a bench player for the playoff teams in 2017 and 2018.
Last year, the Rockies traded several veterans at the deadline, including All-Star C.J. Cron and Randal Grichuk to the Angels for prospects. Cron, an All-Star in 2022, is currently a free agent after a poor stint in Southern California, while Grichuk is having a strong 2024 season with Arizona. The team also traded reliever Brad Hand, who is no longer in the major leagues.
This summer, the Rockies could sell off more assets, but most of their successful players are younger and expected to be part of their future, such as Ezequiel Tovar and Brenton Doyle. McMahon, at 29, is the youngest among the more tradable players, which includes last year’s All-Star Elias Diaz, fellow catcher Jacob Stallings, and veteran outfielder Jake Cave. The Rockies may hope for a quick turnaround, allowing McMahon to still be part of the team when they are competitive again.
