Rockies, Diamondbacks make interesting intradivision trade

The Rockies picked up some outfield help from a division rival on Saturday.

Colorado acquired outfielder Jake McCarthy from the Diamondbacks in exchange for minor league pitcher Josh Grosz, the teams announced.

McCarthy, 28, struggled in 2025 with a .204 average and .591 OPS in 67 games and spent a decent chunk of the season — from the end of April until the end of June — with Triple-A Reno.

But at his best, he gives the Rockies great speed and versatility to play any outfield position, which could be a big benefit in the expanses of Coors Field. According to Baseball Savant, McCarthy ranked in the 99th percentile in sprint speed in 2025 and posted five outs above average in 2024.

A first-round pick by Arizona in 2018, he turned in a strong first full season four years later when he hit .283/.342/.427, adding 23 stolen bases. He finished fourth in the National League Rookie of the Year vote.

For his career, he’s hit .260 with a 96 OPS+ — four points under league average.

The Rockies previously added veteran right-hander Michael Lorenzen on a reported one-year, $8 million contract this week.

Colorado is trying to change its fortunes after it flirted with baseball ignominy last season with a 43-119 record. In hopes of improving their front office, the Rockies poached former Mets executive Paul DePodesta from the NFL’s Browns to take over the team’s baseball operations. He had not worked in baseball since 2015.

“It’s not for me to decide, where I come in from the outside and say, ‘I have the answers, here it is,’” DePodesta told reporters at the GM meetings in the fall. “But I’m really curious for all of us to get together as an organization and decide what it is we want to be. And then stick to it, and figure out how we’re actually going to implement it, and how we’re going to get there.”