The Colorado Rockies have traded outfielder Corey Dickerson and a minor-leaguer to be named later to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for reliever Jake McGee and minor-leaguer German Marquez, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The Rockies had a surplus of outfielders after signing free agent Gerardo Parra to a three-year deal during the offseason.
Dickerson, who will turn 27 in May, batted .304 with 10 home runs and 31 RBIs last season but was limited to 65 games due to injuries. He was on the disabled list twice with plantar fasciitis in his left foot and one time for a broken rib. In 2014, he led the Rockies with 24 home runs. Dickerson has spent most of his Major League career in left field, though he’s seen 200 innings in center as well.
The left-handed McGee, who will turn 30 in August, went 1-2 and saved six games for the Rays last season with a 2.41 ERA in 39 innings after beginning the season on the disabled list following arthroscopic surgery on his left elbow. McGee could enter the season as the favorite to close games in Colorado, as right-hander Adam Ottavino recovers from Tommy John surgery in 2015.
Both players were drafted by their respective teams and haven't been traded from them until now. The trade has accomplished multiple goals for the Rays, who will add a young bat in the form of Dickerson and gain a bit of money from the payroll by shedding McGee’s $4.8 million salary in the deal. That’s not to suggest in any way that this is a salary dump, of course, as McGee has quietly emerged as one of the better left-handed relievers in the game in the past few years.
Tampa Bay acquired a talented and affordable player. Dickerson won't be eligible for arbitration until next season and won't enter free agency until 2020. Marquez has been one of Tampa Bay's best prospects since he was drafted in 2012. He went 7-13 with a 3.56 ERA last year for the Charlotte Stone Crabs.