The Rockies seem pretty gung ho for a starter who has little chance of succeeding in Denver.
The Colorado Rockies are interested in taking starting pitcher Dillon Gee off of the hands of the New York Mets, but a deal might not get done unless the Rockies are willing to include Rex Brothers, according to ESPN New York's Adam Rubin.
The Mets, who entered the Winter Meetings with a need for a right-handed bench bat and left-handed reliever, apparently like Brothers' chances at bouncing back from a disastrous 2014 season. Brothers melted down to the tune of a 5.59 ERA and 6.2 walks per nine innings after garnering legitimate All-Star consideration with a dominant 2013 in which he finished with a 1.74 ERA and 76 strikeouts in 67⅓ innings.
My disdain for a potential acquisition of Gee has already been well documented, so I'll focus on what parting with Brothers could mean for Colorado's bullpen.
Christian Friedrich and Yohan Flande, both of whom were candidates to be removed from the 40-man roster at the reserves deadline last month, will seemingly be in line to make the 25-man roster out of spring training in left-handed relief roles. Friedrich was particularly strong after transitioning to the bullpen at the end of 2014, allowing only two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out 13 batters in 11 innings. It's hard to expect Friedrich to replicate that performance going forward, but he should be given every opportunity to do so.
Gee, meanwhile, would provide a pretty decent depth option for when the Rockies inevitably get down to their 10th or 11th starter in 2015.
OK, I'll stop. But I do have an overwhelming feeling that this trade is going to happen – at least, the Gee portion of it. We'll see if I'm right.
UPDATE (6:53 p.m. MT): The Rockies have discussed certain players with the Mets, but Brothers isn't one of them, general manager Jeff Bridich told Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post.