Story injury shows Rockies should trade SS sooner than later

In one play Thursday afternoon, Trevor Story showed his appeal to potential trade suitors … and also why the Colorado Rockies should trade him sooner rather than later.

Ranging up the middle on a grounder in the bottom of the third from the New York Mets’ Cameron Maybin, Story gobbled up the ball, spun and delivered a strike to first base for a web gem.

However, Story left the game before the bottom of the fourth with right arm tightness near his elbow, which manager Bud Black said occurred during the defensive highlight.

“On that throw, his arm tightened up as the inning went on,” Black said. “And when he got into the dugout, he let (Rockies head athletic trainer Keith Dugger) know that it progressed to the point where we’re going to be cautious here. And we took him out of the game. It was general tightness around the elbow.”

The moment highlighted what teams find attractive in the All-Star shortstop but also demonstrates the fragility of his trade value should the injury turn out to be more serious.

The best-case scenario is the incident serves as a cautionary tale for the Rockies, should they seek to move Story at some point this season.

Worst-case? Story’s injury turns into something more serious, plummeting his trade value.

Story is an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season, and with the Rockies near the bottom of the National League, his departure seems eminent — whether via trade or free agency.

However, a serious injury could put off trade talks, leaving the Rockies empty handed should Story walk away after this season.

Waiting until the trade deadline to move Story runs the risk of the Rockies getting back even less than they did by shipping Nolan Arenado to the St. Louis Cardinals this offseason: nothing.