Guthrie trade value and Rockies prospects spotlight

Jeremy Guthrie

Jeremy Guthrie has trade value again but the Rockies and their fans must keep in mind that value is of a fourth starter on a good team and that might not bring much exciting quality back in a deal.

Rockies' general manager Dan O'Dowd had to be more than moderately pleased after Guthrie went six innings against St. Louis on July 4th, allowing only two runs, even if the team lost. In his last 18 1/3 innings, Guthrie's ERA has been 3.97, far improved from his overall season ERA of 6.56 coming into the game.

Now, will Guthrie be hotly desired by other teams before the trade deadline? He won't be any team's first choice and his body of work this season will lower his value but if teams believe he's healthy, then his body of work before this season (4.12 ERA in five seasons in Baltimore) will also factor into the price and that benefits the Rockies.

What could Guthrie bring in a trade now? Considering O'Dowd would want a positional player on a major-league roster or a prospect that is either a pitcher or positional talent, you might think the player won't make fans' hearts beat fast in anticipation of them in a Rockies' uniform but that doesn't mean a trade return won't have value. I can't say exactly what teams would part with but it won't be a top prospect.

It's up to O'Dowd to know a fair price, accept it and then hold firm to get it. Yes, the goal is to move Guthrie but it isn't to give him away for pennies on the dollar as Guthrie is a superior, yes superior player to the performance he's put in the books in 2012.

Rockies' Prospects Spotlight

Tyler Gagnon

Tyler Gagnon is back pitching and his first outing in 2012 was in relief, back at Tri-City, where he allowed two doubles (3 hits overall) in two innings, striking out five. The 23-year old Gagnon posted a 2.57 ERA and a .205 batting average against in 14 starts last season.

Outfielder David Dahl, the club's first-round pick in 2012, had three more hits at Grand Junction and now is hitting .375, while going 17-for-37 (.459) in his last 10 games. He's simply been sensational, far more than the Rockies could have expected and is producing more than I anticipated as well. He has but one home run but has belted five doubles, three triples and walked more (6) than struck out (5). Dahl also has stolen five bases in seven attempts. All of that is quite a line of early success.

Tyler Anderson

Tyler Anderson, the Rockies' no.1 pick in 2011 threw 5 1/3 innings at Low-A Asheville and allowed only one unearned run. He did walk three. Anderson now has seven quality starts in 10 outings and his ERA sits at 3.08. He's progressing, I imagine, exactly how the Rockies' have hoped.

Tyler Matzek walked four and gave up five runs, four earned in 4 1/3 innings at High-A Modesto. Matzek's inconsistency continues to hold him back from advancing up the ladder in the system and one day might be his professional undoing.