Troy Tulowitzki
In 2007, the Colorado Rockies came out of nowhere to win the National League Pennant for the first and only time in franchise history. The Rockies would make the postseason again in 2009, but since then things have gotten worse as they have only had one winning season. The Rockies began this season with a record of 26-20 and there was optimism from their fan base in the Rocky Mountains as they appeared as if they were going to contend with the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants atop the National League West. But the Rockies are now 40-56 and they’re in last place in the NL West as they are 13 games behind the Giants and Dodgers who are tied for first place in the division. The Rockies currently have the second worst record in the National League and with the July 31st trade deadline looming in Major League Baseball, the Rockies should listen to offers as far as dealing their two best baseball players in All-Star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and outfielder Carlos Gonzalez.
The Rockies drafted Tulowitzki in the first round of the 2005 MLB Draft and by 2006 he made his Major League debut. When the Rockies went to the World Series in 2007, Tulowitzki batted .291 with 24 homers and 99 runs batted in as he finished second in the National League Rookie of the Year Award voting. Tulowitzki is a four-time NL All-Star and he is also one of the premier shortstops in baseball. For his nine-year MLB career the 29-year old Tulowitzki is a lifetime .299 hitter and he has averaged 30 home runs and 102 runs batted in. If Rockies general manager Dan O’Dowd is open to trading Tulowitzki, what would make him enticing to potential suitors would be the fact that he is under contract through 2021.
As far as potential suitors for Tulowitzki, the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets make the most sense. After 20 years in the Majors, Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter is retiring at the end of the season and the Bronx Bombers need a replacement for him. After winning the World Series last season, the Red Sox have struggled mightily this season; especially at shortstop. The Mets have not had a winning season since 2008 and they are in need of something to pump some life into their fan base while also filling a void at shortstop that they have been unable to fill since Jose Reyes left as a free agent in 2011.
The Yankees have the money to cover Tulowitzki’s salary, but they don’t have the prospects that the Rockies may seek in return. However if the Yankees would be willing to take on most or all of the $129 million that is remaining on Tulowitzki’s contract then the Rockies and O’Dowd might take a bite. The Red Sox have the finances and the prospects that the Rockies would covet in a deal for Tulowitzki. The Mets have the prospects to make a trade with the Rockies, but they are still a team that is strapped for cash and taking a stab at Tulowitzki is a long shot.
The downside for teams trying to trade for Tulowitzki is that he cannot stay healthy. Tulowitzki has never appeared in all 162 games during the regular season and he hasn’t appeared in more than 140 games since 2011 which could scare teams off. It didn’t help Tulowitzki’s case that he limped off of the field tonight in a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Carlos Gonzalez
For Gonzalez his baseball journey began in 2002 when he was signed as a 16-year old from Venezuela by the Arizona Diamondbacks. In 2007, the Diamondbacks would trade Gonzalez to the Oakland Athletics who would turn around and trade him to the Rockies in 2009. Gonzalez had his best season in 2010 when he led the National League in batting average (.336). Gonzalez also hit 34 home runs that season along with 117 runs batted in and 26 stolen bases as he finished third in the NL MVP voting. Gonzalez is a three-time National League All-Star, but like Tulowitzki, the man dubbed as “CarGo” cannot remain healthy. For his seven-year MLB career Gonzalez has never appeared in more than 145 games and this season he has only appeared in 56 games due to a thumb injury. Gonzalez is under contract with the Rockies through 2017 and he is still owed $53 million.
If the Rockies were to trade Gonzalez the two teams that jump out as potential suitors are the Red Sox and the Seattle Mariners. As is the case with Tulowitzki, the Red Sox have a need in the outfield that Gonzalez could fill. The Mariners need help in the outfield and they also need a bat in their lineup that can provide protection for All-Star second baseman Robinson Cano.
Aside from being out of the race in their division, the Rockies are also 12.5 games off of the pace in the National League’s Wild Card race. This team is not going anywhere with Tulowitzki and Gonzalez on their roster and the time for O’Dowd to re-tool the Rockies is now. More than anything the Rockies need help on their pitching staff as their 5.06 team earned run average this season is the worst in baseball. Pitching always trumps hitting and trading the bats of Tulowitzki and Gonzalez can bring some arms back to Denver where the Rockies are in dire straits of that.
Source: Baseball-reference.com
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