DENVER – Outfielder Mickey Moniak’s disappointment over being released by the Angels didn’t last long.
“I almost had a sense of calm afterwards, especially after talking to my agent, knowing that Colorado was an option,” Moniak said. “From the second he said that, I kind of had my heart set on here.
“My in-laws live in Centennial [a Denver suburb] and that was a good thing, to have them here – moving at the drop of the hat. I had to go to Tampa [where the Rockies opened], while my wife had to move all the stuff from California – and the dog.”
Moniak continued his peaceful, easy feeling Tuesday night in the first inning of the Rockies’ 8-4 victory over the Cardinals at Coors Field. Moniak clubbed a first-inning home run – his career single-season best 15th – to extend his on-base streak to 15 games, and went 2-for-4 with two runs and a second RBI on a bases-loaded walk in the eighth.
Moniak has nine homers in his last 19 games at home, but after a slow start he has hit everywhere – .348 with 12 home runs in 36 games since May 25.
A first overall pick in 2016 with the Phillies, Moniak, 27, showed enough potential with the Phils that the Angels took him in a 2022 trade, and he batted .280 in 85 games for them in 2023. All this seems to point to a guy who has found a home.
Well, maybe.
The Rockies, themselves, have made no noises about dealing Moniak, who is heading into his second year of arbitration. But with the Rockies – 25-76 and in the past having been criticized for not dealing enough or aggressively – in transition, other clubs are wondering how dedicated a seller the Rockies are.
“I’ve learned that you’ve got to be where your feet are in this game and in life in general – if you look toward other things you can’t control, life will pass you by, quick,” Moniak said. “I’m very grateful to be here. I’m happy here. The amount of love that the fan base and this organization has shown me in the few short months of being here has been incredible.
“That being said, the game is a business.”
Should the Rockies entertain trading Moniak to do business?
The Rockies have outfield depth. Moniak, Brenton Doyle, Jordan Beck, Tyler Freeman and Rockies No. 5 prospect (according to MLB Pipeline) Yanquiel Fernández are all 27 or younger. Counting Fernández, seven of the team’s top 15 prospects are primarily outfielders.
Should a team make an offer for an outfielder of Major League experience, it could ask for Moniak. It also could approach the Rockies about two-time Gold Glove Award-winning center fielder Brenton Doyle, whose diving catch and throw to complete a double play in the third inning was a boon to rookie starter Bradley Blalock (2 ER, 8 H, 5 1/3 IP). Or the Rockies can deal from the prospect stack.
In the short term, the Trade Deadline invites the Rockies to make changes right when they begin playing well.
They’re 3-2 since the All-Star break. They’ve missed big-money signee Kris Bryant since April and they’re without second baseman Thairo Estrada, who has been on the injured list twice. But, with shortstop Ezequiel Tovar’s return from injury after the break, they’re playing better with a lineup closer to what they intended.
Several stars Tuesday are figures of Trade Deadline intrigue.
Ryan McMahon increased his appeal with a three-run homer in the second inning. In five games since the All-Star break, which are being scouted by multiple clubs looking for help at third base, McMahon has three home runs, two doubles and seven RBIs.
Relievers Victor Vodnik and Seth Halvorsen, who were handed the final innings, are young, hard-throwing righties who are in demand – in part because Vodnik isn’t a free agent until 2030, Halvorsen not until 2031.
The con of dealing Moniak? A .319/.376/.652 home slash line.
Moniak and Freeman, also obtained just before the season (from the Guardians for outfielder Nolan Jones) are counters to the Rockies’ reputation for big swings and many misses. They’re also eager to see if switch-hitting rookie second baseman Adael Amador’s two-double performance Tuesday with his revised setup is a sign of stingier batting.
“Everyone likes to talk about the altitude and the ball carrying a little bit, but the biggest thing here is there’s a lot of room to get your hits,” Moniak said. “It plays to my strengths, what I’ve done my whole life – try to hit line drives to the gaps, and use my speed for doubles and maybe triples.
“Historically, it’s a great place to hit, and I’m enjoying this.”