Rox acquire 2B Riggio, LHP Shields from Yanks in deal for Bird

CLEVELAND -- The Rockies obtained second baseman Roc Riggio (Yankees’ No. 10 prospect) and left-hander Ben Shields (No. 28 prospect) in return for relief pitcher Jake Bird ahead of Thursday afternoon’s Trade Deadline.

Rockies general manager Bill Schmidt said both of Colorado's new prospects will be assigned to Double-A Hartford.

TRADE DETAILS
Rockies get: 2B Roc Riggio (Rockies' No. 11 prospect), LHP Ben Shields (No. 27)
Yankees get: RHP Jake Bird

Riggio (23, a fourth-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft out of Oklahoma State) and Shields (26, a non-drafted free agent who signed in ‘23 and has progressed quickly after a collegiate career at Massachusetts and George Mason) were at Double-A Somerset.

Bird, 29, who was 4-1 with a 4.73 ERA in 45 games with the Rockies, is the Major Leaguer in the club’s second trade with the Yankees during this Deadline period. Third baseman Ryan McMahon went to the Bronx Bombers last week for starting pitching prospects Griffin Herring (now the Rockies’ No. 5 prospect), a lefty, and Josh Grosz (No. 19), a righty, both of whom are at High-A Spokane.

Also, the Rockies acquired relief pitching depth on Wednesday when they traded veteran Tyler Kinley to the Braves for Double-A right-hander Austin Smith.

In all, Schmidt believed the Rockies -- in a lengthy rebuild that has included two 100-plus loss seasons and a 28-80 mark so far this in 2025 -- increased talent and competition.

“We added two left-handers, right-handers and a guy that has a chance to be an offensive second baseman,” Schmidt said. “We like what all four guys bring.”

In the days leading to the Trade Deadline, teams targeted the youth in the Rockies’ bullpen, especially rookie right-handed closer Seth Halvorsen and second-year righty Victor Vodnik.

“I had a high ask for those guys, Vodnik and Halverson,” Schmidt said. “We think there’s still a lot of upside to them. We’ve had Victor the last two years [after a trade with the Braves at the ‘23 deadline] and he’s made progress. We’ve had Halvorsen [a seventh-round pick in ‘23] for just the last year, really.”

Schmidt said Bird helped the Rockies by attracting a pair of prospects, and should help the Yankees.

“Jake did a good job here -- very competitive with the sinker and the slider, and he had no fear of Coors Field,” Schmidt said. “You look at the fact he was a senior sign [out of UCLA] and he made it to this point. And to this point has had a very successful career.

“He filled a lot of roles. He could be a multiple-inning reliever. He could pitch late in the game for you. He'd give you three, four innings if he had to. One thing about Jake was he was never afraid to take the ball. I wish nothing but the best for him."

Last year in his first full pro season, the lively left-handed-hitting Riggio batted .221 at High-A Hudson Valley, but he flashed potential with 11 home runs and 27 stolen bases in 106 games. Riggio began the 2025 season on the injured list and posted a 1.033 OPS with six home runs, four doubles and one triple for Hudson Valley.

After joining Somerset, Riggio played 40 games and slashed .261/.335/.542 with 11 home runs, 28 RBIs, 10 doubles and seven stolen bases.

“I go back to when Roc Riggio played at Thousand Oaks High School with [A's infielders] Jack Wilson and Max Muncy ... [before] he went to Oklahoma State,” Schmidt said. “He’s always been a competitor. There’s a toughness to him. He’s looking to beat you.

“You’re looking at an offensive second baseman. He’s not a big guy [listed at 5-foot-9, 180 pounds], but he’s got 11 home runs and an OPS over .900. He’s having a real good year.”

Riggio adds organizational depth at second base, with switch-hitting Adael Amador, who has had Major League stints the last two seasons, playing at Triple-A Albuquerque.

“That’s what it’s all about -- competition,” Schmidt said.

The 6-foot-4 Shields, whose career took off after he transferred to George Mason and struck out 107 batters in 80 2/3 innings as a fifth-year senior in 2023, honed his delivery and progressed quickly with a deceptive fastball in the mid-90s, a curve and a slider.

Shields missed the first two months of this season with a hip ailment from last year. Since becoming active, he has 42 strikeouts against 14 walks in 35 2/3 innings over nine starts at four levels. Shields logged 26 strikeouts against 10 walks in 23 2/3 innings over five starts for Somerset.

“Our pro scouts who cover Minor League Baseball came upon him and said, ‘Hey, this guy, even though he’s a little older, has a good arm,’” Schmidt said. “He’s starting, and if he has to, he can go to the bullpen.

“Anytime any team can add left-handed pitching, it’s good. And we got two good left-handers [Herring and Shields] in these trades with the Yankees.”