The Colorado Rockies are headed for seller mode at the trade deadline, but the real question is whether they’ll actually put Hunter Goodman on the market.
Goodman has emerged as one of the most productive catching bats in the Majors, and the case for moving him starts with the kind of season he’s putting together. The right-handed hitter had 27 home runs at the break, production that has already made him a possible target for contenders such as the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox.
Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller put it bluntly: "If the Rockies are willing to move Goodman with three years of arbitration eligibility remaining, he might be the crown jewel of this year's trade deadline," wrote Bleacher Report's Kerry Miller. "If not, there's nothing worth getting excited about here."
That’s the tension for Colorado. The Rockies could decide Goodman is too important to their own long-term turnaround and keep him as part of the core. But if the front office doesn’t believe it has a realistic path to building a contender over the next few years, then dealing him could be the smarter move for the organization.
The Yankees stand out as one club with a clear need behind the plate, and they have pitching prospects that could appeal to Colorado, including Elmer Rodriguez and Ben Hess.
If Goodman stays put, the catcher market would likely shift toward Tyler Stephenson of the Cincinnati Reds. The source also notes the Minnesota Twins, who is a free agent at the end of the season.
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