MLB Trade Rumors 2013: Colorado Rockies Should be Buyers at Trade Deadline

By Michael Moraitis--Featured Columnist

The Colorado Rockies are very much in contention for the National League West division title and that's a perfect reason for this squad to be a buyer rather than a seller at the MLB trade deadline.

As it stands heading into Saturday, the Rockies are 4.5 games behind the division-leading Arizona Diamondbacks and just three games back of the second place Los Angeles Dodgers. In case you live under a rock, you know that a 4.5-game deficit isn't very much to make up with another half to play.

And judging from Rockies owner Dan Monfort's "no way" response to an inquiry about trading veteran Michael Cuddyer during a career year, this team isn't raising the white flag just yet, per Mike Axisa of CBSSports.com.

So, where can the Rockies improve in order to bolster their chances at making the playoffs?

Offensively speaking, the Rockies are pretty solid in the batter's box. With a lineup sporting guys like Dexter Fowler, Troy Tulowitzki, Carlos Gonzalez and Cuddyer, this team can swing the sticks with anyone in its division when healthy, which has been a problem during the 2013 campaign.

Sure, there have been issues lately for Colorado with driving in runs courtesy of their big bats, but this team certainly has the juice to more than get by without having to bring in another bat and waste young talent. Further proving that fact is the Rockies No. 10 ranking in runs scored in the league.

Pitching is a different issue entirely.

While their rotation has been a bit more solid recently, the Rockies are ranked No. 21 in the MLB in starter's ERA and No. 20 in bullpen ERA. With Rafael Betancourt hitting the disabled list on Saturday thanks to appendicitis, the Rockies now must look to a different option to close out games in the mean time.

Betancourt had successful appendectomy surgery last night Has been discharged from hospital
— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) July 20, 2013

That will only complicate things further in Colorado's bullpen--especially if Betancourt is out an extended period of time.

One move the Rockies have been linked to is the possible acquisition of New York Yankees starter, Phil Hughes. While Hughes would be a nice move to help shore up the bullpen, it isn't entirely clear if Hughes actually wants to be a reliever.

If they can convince him to become one, the Rockies would be wise to pull the trigger after his past success in the 'pen, but Hughes must give an assurance that he'll be okay with that role. Otherwise, the Rockies should avoid it altogether and look elsewhere to avoid locker room drama.

Not to mention, Hughes will be a free agent after this season is up.

Hughes would be a dreadful starter in Coors Field as he is no doubt a fly ball pitcher and gives up a ton of homers. In the thin air of the Rocky Mountains, that's about as far from ideal as one could get. At this point, it's reliever or bust in any deal involving Hughes going to Colorado.

Per Troy E. Renck of The Denver Post, reliever Jesse Crain of the Chicago White Sox has been named as a possibility and he would be a great fit. Not only is Crain having a sensational season with a 0.74 ERA and zero homers allowed, his parents also live in Boulder and he even owns a home there.

Crain has been on the shelf with a sore shoulder and hasn't pitched since June 29, but he is expected to be ready to take the mound this upcoming week. The Rockies will have to pay a hefty price for Crain's services, however, as impact relievers with great numbers like his don't come cheap.

A bigger risk is that Crain will be a free agent at season's end, so the Rockies must be careful not to sell the farm for him without some sort of a guarantee of returning for next season. Other than that, the move makes all the sense in the world.

As is always the case, no pitcher on the market whether reliever or starter will be cheap for the Rockies, so any move made will be heavily reliant on the price each team is asking for. Colorado can't sell off its future for a half-year rental unless it truly believes there is a great chance to compete this season and beyond with that new player.

No matter what they do, the Rockies will be taking a huge risk on any player they trade for in order to make themselves better. Realistically speaking though, trading for some form of bullpen help will likely be easier than a starter, so Colorado should keep their focus on that aspect of the team for the moment.

If that isn't a reality, the Rockies will have to get creative and make more moves like the acquisition of Armando Galarraga in the hopes that throwing multiple things against the wall will eventually result in it sticking.