MLB Trade Rumors 2016: Rockies Send Corey Dickerson to Rays
The Colorado Rockies traded for lefty reliever Jake McGee and minor league pitcher German Marquez, in the process sending outfielder Corey Dickerson and minor league third baseman Kevin Padlo to the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Rays will be getting a player who is versatile enough to be able to play three outfield positions and Dickerson showed that last year with the Rockies. He batted .304/.333/.536 in 68 games in Colorado, along with making 10 homers. He could have done a lot more if not for a couple of injuries he suffered during the regular season, first a plantar fasciitis, and then subsequently followed by a rib fracture. He then will be eligible for salary arbitration right after the season, and if he performs well in Tampa, he get can a lucrative contract in free agency by 2020.
But joining the Rays is somehow an intriguing prospect for Dickerson, considering that just like the Rockies, they also have several outfielders at their disposal. He will be competing with mainstays like Desmond Jennings, Steven Souza Jr., Kevin Kiermaier, and Brandon Guyer. But because he's been specifically targeted by the team, someone else is expected to be relegated to a designated hitter role.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
Colorado, on the other hand, will definitely make use of the hard-throwing 29-year-old McGee this upcoming season. The veteran currently has an ERA of 139 and 4.43 k/bb ratio in six years as a major league pro. Prior to joining the Rockies in this trade, he played for the Rays in all those six years. McGee can be a reliable addition to the bullpen, especially if one looks back at his performance two seasons ago, where he went 5-2 with 1.89 ERA in 73 games.
The team is presently loaded with left-handed outfielders, which is why unloading Dickerson, who is not entitled for salary arbitration this year, made a lot of sense. He became the most expandable outfielder with Charlie Blackmon and Carlos Gonzalez staying put.
