At the 2023 MLB Trade deadline, the Colorado Rockies moved out five expiring contracts – C.J. Cron, Randal Grichuk, Peirce Johnson, Mike Moustakas and Brad Hand – for seven prospect pitchers.

Having already broken down the moves that brough Jake Madden, Mason Albright, Tanner Gordon, and Connor Van Scoyoc into the system, I focus on the specifics of the acquisitions of Alec Barger and Justin Bruihl out of the Los Angeles Dodgers system.

How did they do overall when you combine each of these moves together and look at them wholistically? Who are the standouts and how much does it really shift the needle when it comes to the Rockies pitching depth?

Then, it’s time for the wider conversation on GM Bill Schmidt, owner Dick Monfort, and the philosophy and direction of the team. Does Schmidt have enough agency to do what he needs to do? Does he have a plan? Can that plan work? And things really changed from previous regimes or was this just a one-time thing of them doing what needed to be done?

Plus, is the real challenge getting the team back to relevance or keeping them there once they finally manage to pull themselves out of this hole that they have dug? And how achievable is that goal?

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Listen to “Grading the Colorado Rockies front office post trade deadline” on Spreaker.