Is Givens trade the first step of the Rockies roster purge?
Jul 28, 2021, 11:04 AM
It appears the Colorado Rockies roster purge has begun, though it remains to be seen if the club will move star shortstop Trevor Story by Friday’s trade deadline.
Per MLB Insider Mark Feinsand, the Rockies are finalizing a deal to ship right-handed reliever Mychal Givens to the Cincinnati Reds. According to MLB.com Rockies reporter Thomas Harding, Colorado will receive their former fourth-round pick from 2020, right hander Case Williams.
Givens had a strong campaign thus far in 2021 for Colorado, turning in a 2.73 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 29 2/3 innings of work.
But despite shipping off one of their top relievers and the trade deadline rapidly approaching, reports indicate that the Rockies may not even move Story at all.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan wrote Tuesday that even as it is “confusing to executives” there is a “sense Story doesn’t move.”
In either case, Colorado will receive some compensation for Story if he moves on from the Rockies — whether that be via trade or free agency. If it’s by trade, the club would receive prospects in return. If he rejects a qualifying offer from Colorado and leaves via free agency, the Rockies will receive a compensatory draft pick.
Story has plenty of suitors, including the New York Yankees, who reportedly made a trade offer for the shortstop in recent days.
If Colorado does indeed pull the trigger on a Story trade, it’ll happen within the next few days. And there’s a possibility he’s not the only player on the way out of Denver.
