Rockies fans could fall in love with Mickey Moniak, but only if they get the chance for a long-term relationship.
As next Thursday’s trade deadline nears, the Rockies will be fielding calls about Moniak, if they haven’t already. The club must decide if the outfielder is integral to their rebuilding blueprint or if they’d be better off dealing him for prospects and/or pitching.
It won’t be an easy decision.
The Rockies are hoping several young outfielders, led by Zac Veen, Yanquiel Fernandez and Benny Montgomery, will eventually blossom. But what if the 27-year-old Moniak is already in full bloom? What if he’s part of the solution to the Rockies’ multi-layered problems?
He’s certainly affordable.
Just before this season began, the Rockies signed Moniak for $1.25 million. He’s under control for two more seasons, but he’s arbitration-eligible, so he’d cost more than the outfielders mentioned above. Moniak’s deal with Colorado came after he was released by the Angels, despite Moniak winning his arbitration case and being awarded a $2 million salary. He received termination pay from the Angels worth $484,000.
If teams come calling, the Rockies must consider the roller-coaster track record of a player whom the Phillies selected with the first overall pick in the 2016 draft out of La Costa Canyon High School in Carlsbad, Calif.
With the Angels last season, Moniak hit .219 with 14 homers and 49 RBIs. But in 2023, he batted .280 with 14 home runs, 45 RBIs, 21 doubles and two triples in just 85 games.
In August 2022, the Angels acquired Moniak and outfielder Jadiel Sanchez from the Phillies in exchange for right-hander Noah Syndergaard. In 2021, Moniak was optioned and recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to Philadelphia six times.
Roller-coaster ride, indeed.
But the affable Moniak just might have found baseball heaven at the foot of the Rockies.
“Everyone likes to talk about the altitude and the ball carrying a little bit, but the biggest thing here is there’s a lot of room to get your hits,” Moniak said, adding that he loves Denver. “It plays to my strengths and what I’ve done my whole (career), trying to hit line drives to the gaps, and use my speed for doubles and maybe triples. Historically, Coors Field is a great place to hit, and I’m enjoying this.”
There’s a lot to love about the outfielder. He hustles, plays with abandon and has surprising power. Witness his 450-foot home run to right field off St. Louis right-hander Erick Fedde on Tuesday night. It was Moniak’s 15th homer this season, a career high.
During Colorado’s season of historic failure, the outfielder has been a shooting star.
“He’s a baseball player,” said interim manager Warren Schaeffer, handing out one of his highest compliments. “He’s right in the middle of the action with the guys. He’s one of our leaders.”
Entering the weekend series at Baltimore, Moniak was slashing .423/.464/.769 (1.233 OPS) with four homers and 12 RBIs in 15 games in July. The Rockies have consistently come up empty in the clutch this season, hitting .228 with runners in scoring position. But Moniak’s RISP average is .367.
He’s primarily a right fielder, but he can play center, too.
“I love playing here at Coors,” he said. “I like the room to run and even when I’m in right field, it’s so big, it feels like I’m playing center. I think it’s fun.”
Schaeffer has studied how Moniak plays defense. He likes what he sees.
“Mickey, for me, has really good first-step quickness off the ball,” Schaeffer said. “Probably better than (Brenton) Doyle (a two-time Gold Glove winner). But Doyle has all of that makeup speed and the ability to do special things out there.
“But Mickey takes good routes, and his body’s in the right position. You can tell he’s been doing it for a while at a high level.”
Schaeffer loves Moniak’s game, but it’s general manager Bill Schmidt’s front office that will have to make decisions if suitors come calling. Moniak is trying to tune out the noise.
“I don’t have Twitter on my phone, I don’t have Instagram,” he said. “Just be where my feet are and kind of enjoy the moment. This season has flown by, as they all do. Who knows how long any of us can play this game? So I just try to control what I can control.
“I definitely want to be a Rockie for as long as possible, but if I were to get traded, I’m just grateful to be playing. So whether I’m playing here or somewhere else after the deadline, I’m just grateful.”
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