Trade season in Major League Baseball is starting to stir, and the Colorado Rockies may finally have a way to attack the problem that has haunted them for years: pitching.
The catch is that any real movement still depends on what happens on December 1, and whether trade talks are even allowed to get rolling. But if the market opens the way the Rockies hope, president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta appears ready to use one of the organization’s biggest strengths as currency.
That strength is the outfield.
At the recent General Managers Meetings in Las Vegas, DePodesta made it clear Colorado has more major league-ready outfielders than it can comfortably fit on a roster. He told MLB.com’s Thomas Harding, “It’s clear that we have some real outfield depth,” and added that the club could start exploring trade possibilities because of it.
DePodesta estimated the Rockies have seven or eight outfielders who could help in the majors right away. That kind of surplus changes the conversation. Instead of trying to squeeze everyone into the same picture, Colorado can begin looking at how that depth might help solve a far bigger issue.
And the outfield picture has changed fast over the past year.
Jake McCarthy has taken over the leadoff role. Mickey Moniak locked in his future with a two-year, $16.25 million extension in August.
Cole Carrigg turned heads after moving into center field when Brenton Doyle was traded to the Chicago White Sox. Zac Veen has also forced the issue with his work at Triple-A, where he won Pacific Coast League MVP honors and should be in line for more major league chances.
That still leaves Jordan Beck, Sterlin Thompson, Roldy Brito, Charlie Condon and Jared Thomas in the mix.
There are only so many at-bats and only so many spots to go around. DePodesta put it plainly: “Assuming health on all those guys, we don’t have room for all of them on our Opening Day roster,” DePodesta told MLB.com.
That kind of logjam can become a weapon if the front office plays it right. Other teams have noticed the Rockies’ depth, which means Colorado could have some real trade chips if it decides to move one or more of them.
The need on the other side of the equation is obvious. The Rockies finished the 2026 season as the worst team in baseball, and the pitching numbers were brutal. Colorado posted a 5.59 team ERA, while the starting rotation was even worse at 6.28.
Those numbers leave no room for spin. Pitching has to be addressed, and it has to be near the top of the list.
That’s why moving an outfielder could make sense. It could give the Rockies a path toward landing a young, controllable starter - the kind of arm they can try to build around.
Veen and Beck stand out as logical names to watch if Colorado decides to deal from its surplus. Veen has re-established himself in the minors, while Beck saw his playing time drop in 2026.
DePodesta also pointed to another area where the Rockies have extra bodies: second base. Willi Castro, Connor Norby, Adael Amador and Roc Riggio can all handle the position, giving Colorado even more flexibility as it searches for pitching help.
The market across the league is still unsettled, but DePodesta said he expects some teams to be ready to move once the GM meetings wrap up. The Rockies plan to be in that group.
The question now is whether they can turn all that depth into real pitching help without giving away too much in the process.
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