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The Rays have acquired outfielder Corey Dickerson and a minor-league pitcher from the Rockies for left-hander Jake McGee and a minor-league pitcher, as first reported by Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com.
Sources: #Rays getting Dickerson. Expected to send multiple pitchers to #Rockies. Others possibly involved.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 28, 2016
A 26-year-old, Dickerson hit .304/.333/.536 with 10 home runs in a 2015 season that was, for him, shortened to just 65 games as he dealt with plantar fasciitis. He hit .312/.364/.567 with 24 home runs in 131 games in 2014.
McGee, a 28-year-old southpaw, has emerged as an elite reliever over the last two years, with a 1.89 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 19 saves in 71⅓ innings in 2014 followed up with a 2.41 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in 37⅓ innings in 2015, striking out more than 11 batters per nine innings in both seasons.
After signing Gerardo Parra to a three-year, $27.5 million deal earlier this month, the writing was on the wall for the Rockies to move one of their outfielders, and it turns out that Dickerson is the odd man out.
Dickerson could play in left field with the Rays and be spelled by right-hander Desmond Jennings against lefties or could be Tampa Bay's designated hitter, given his struggles defensively. Wherever he plays, he will bring a left-handed bat with plenty of pop to Kevin Cash's lineup.
As for McGee, he will be a late-inning option for the Rockies, and possibly their closer until Adam Ottavino's return midseason. He is certainly an upgrade over Colorado's other left-handed options in the bullpen, which include Boone Logan, Christian Friedrich and Chris Rusin.
The trade also included a swap of minor leaguers, as the Rays also sent minor league pitcher German Marquez to Colorado in the trade. Marquez posted a 3.56 ERA and 3.14 FIP with 104 strikeouts in 139 innings at High-A Charlotte as a 20-year-old in 2015. In return, Tampa Bay acquired third baseman Kevin Padlo from Colorado. At age 19 Padlo split 2015 between short-season Boise and low-A Asheville, hitting .257/.372/.447 in 97 games, with most of his success coming in Boise.