3 Trevor Story trades Phillies should pursue with Rockies
By Matt Rappa
2. Phillies send Scott Kingery, Adonis Medina, and $18.5M
As part of the Nolan Arenado trade between the Colorado Rockies and St. Louis Cardinals, the third baseman’s soon-to-be former team is also sending around $50 million. This is almost unheard of, for a team to send that much cash in a deal for a player still in his prime. It could be because the Cardinals are nervous about Arenado’s opt-out clause after the 2021 season. Either way, final contract details and the overall trade is still being worked out.
The Rockies may want to receive cash in return to help offset what they are sending to St. Louis. In a trade for story, they could pay the remaining $18.5 million he is on the books for, before his free agency gets underway next offseason. In doing so, the Phillies would not have to also include in the package some of their better prospects.
Considering the Rockies would be losing both their starting third baseman and shortstop in just a matter of days, they would need a big-league ready infielder who can help in a pinch. Consider the versatile Scott Kingery, who is owed less than $20 million combined over the next three seasons, before either a $13 million team option or $1 million buyout kicks in for 2014.
With the Phillies having Alec Bohm at third, Story at shortstop, and Jean Segura at second, there would be a less of a need to have a utility player like Kingery on the Phillies roster. Arguably, for the first time since the days of Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, and Ryan Howard, there would be three everyday locks in the infield.
Including Adonis Medina might be difficult for the Phillies to help make the trade package more appealing for the Phillies, but we are far removed from the days when he was once considered the “1B” top throwing prospect in the organization behind SIxto Sanchez. The 24-year-old Medina got his first taste in the majors last year, allowing three hits, two runs, and three walks, while striking out four, across four innings in a September 20 start.
In the 2020 top prospect rankings, Medina is the Phillies’ fifth-ranked prospect in the organization.