Rockies make a surprising outfielder trade in first deadline move

The Colorado Rockies activated Brenton Doyle just in time to ship him out.

The two-time Gold Glove center fielder has been traded to the Chicago White Sox, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal. The purple acquired two prospects in the deal.

Colorado snags right-hander Mason Adams and shortstop Carlos Vielma in return. Adams, the White Sox’s No. 8 prospect, is a 26-year-old command righty who posted a 2.92 ERA across Double-A and Triple-A in 2024 before Tommy John surgery cost him all of last season. He’s been solid in his comeback — 3.56 ERA in 12 starts at Triple-A Charlotte this year — and could slot into the Rockies’ rotation picture soon. Vielma is a teenage shortstop tearing up the Dominican Summer League, so he’s a long way from the bigs.

Doyle has played exactly two games since coming off the injured list Thursday after missing over two months with oblique and groin injuries. He went 2-for-6 with a double and an RBI in that brief return.

Cole Carrigg has seized center field since debuting June 9, slashing .305/.389/.525 with five homers in 44 games. The Rockies also have Mickey Moniak, Jake McCarthy that can play center, though they might be dealt on Monday and a wave of young outfielders behind them. But Doyle’s three years of remaining club control — made him the biggest chip of the bunch, so much so that there wasn’t much talk of him being dealt.

But the Rockies aren’t cashing on Doyle’s peak value from 2024, when he was .260/.317/.446, 23 HR, 30 SB. His bat ain’t there anymore. He’s posted just a .635 OPS over the last two seasons and this season he was hitting .207 with one home run in 43 games before the IL stint. The Sox are betting on his elite glove and buying low on the bat.

The White Sox must have liked the defense enough to help bolster their playoff chase — which has been one of the best stories in baseball this year as they’re on pace to win 25 more games than last year. It’s both a light return for the Rockies in the sense that Doyle’s resume is so strong and his team control is there but it’s also a strong return given Doyle’s recent bat and injuries. Adams could be a real factor for the Rockies on the mound, and soon.

Colorado is expected to make at least two trades before the deadline, per The Athletic, with reliever Antonio Senzatela also drawing heavy interest. This is the first deadline withPaul DePodesta at the helm and even if trading Doyle is his lone move, it’s a huge one. Now that he’s gone, the Rockies are fully leaning into Carrigg as the future in center.

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