After the Colorado Rockies signed Gerardo Parra to a three-year deal, trade rumors began to intensify regarding the team's remaining outfielders: Carlos Gonzalez, Charlie Blackmon and Corey Dickerson. The latest such rumors are focused on Dickerson possible being dealt in the near future.
The Tampa Bay Rays have been one team linked to the Rockies in trade talks. Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reported over the weekend that the Rays have had "long ongoing trade talks" with Colorado involving Dickerson, "more so than Blackmon." Tampa would surrender a starter or reliever Jake McGee for one of the outfielders.
FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal confirmed earlier today that Dickerson is the most likely Rockies' outfielder to be traded because he "might require less of a return than Blackmon." He said the Rays are involved in the talks and Topkin added that he "would think" the deal would involve McGee in such a scenario.
Dickerson, 26, has experience playing all three outfield positions and he's under club control through the 2019 season. He has yet to hit arbitration, which is why the Rays are probably interested in acquiring him. On the other hand, Blackmon just hit his first year of arbitration eligibility and will earn $3.5 million in 2016. His last two campaigns indicate he'd be much more expensive than Dickerson, despite Dickerson being under club control for a longer period of time.
It also makes sense that the Rays are open to moving McGee. The reliever was the subject of trade rumors for much of the offseason likely because he's set to make $4.8 million in 2016 and the Rays simply aren't a club that pays that much for a reliever, especially when closer Brad Boxberger is under club control through 2019.
Then again, fitting Dickerson in the outfield may not be an easy task, unless the Rays have other trade plans in mind. Tampa has Desmond Jennings, Kevin Kiermaier and Steven Souza Jr. as their starting cast and there have been no trade rumors surrounding any of those three at any point this offseason. In any case, Jennings would likely be the one outfielder the Rays would be open to moving since he's making $3.3 million in 2016 and has played in only 290 games over the past three seasons. Additionally, Jennings figures to be the team's starting left fielder in 2016 and that's Dickerson's primary position.
Rays owner Stuart Sternberg has been focused on reducing the payroll in recent years, and ridding about $8 million in commitments to McGee and Jennings in exchange for cheaper players could be a goal before the 2016 season.
Stay tuned for updates on this development.
