Here’s a look at the Rockies..
- Rockies GM Jeff Bridich seems to think that the trade speculation surrounding Troy Tulowitzki is a product of the team’s recent slide. “My hunch is that if we had a very different two weeks, and we had a record as we had in April, that we wouldn’t be talking about this at all, right now,” the GM said, according to Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post. “Funny how none of this came up in April when we were playing very different baseball.” Bridich spoke with reporters on Friday and tried to make the case that the Tulo trade talk was a product of the media stirring things up. Of course, the ball got rolling when agent Paul Cohen spoke on the record with Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
- The Rockies have gotten even worse under Bridich, Woody Paige of The Denver Post opines. The Rockies have now gone 5-18 in the last month and Paige rolls his eyes at the notion put forth by Bridich that the Rockies have not played up to “expectations.” The rotation, he notes, was widely projected as one of the worst in the majors at the outset of the season. Now, they’re at or near the bottom in league ERA, strikeouts, and walks, which is more or less what Paige expected.
- It’s time for Bridich to move his star shortstop, Jim Bowden of ESPN.com (Insider subscription required) opines. Bowden runs down the five best trade destinations for Tulowitzki, in order of fit, starting with the Mets. He suggests a package of left-hander Steven Matz, catcher Kevin Plawecki, and right-handed reliever Rafael Montero. One drawback for the Rockies is that such a haul would call for Colorado to eat $25-30MM of Tulo’s deal, in Bowden’s estimation.
“Funny how none of this came up in April when we were playing very different baseball.”
Isn’t that just baseball? I mean if the Phillies were playing great baseball do you think people who be clamoring for Hamels to be traded as much (you know what I mean)? Trade speculation is almost always in direct relation to the teams most recent performance.
Funny you mention Hamels. You could take the Tulowitzki comments, change the name to Hamels, and nobody would notice. Same issue; nobody wants to pay the contract and give up top prospects, even though a team might trade the same prospects, then sign him to a similar extension. So, it will be interesting to see how it all plays out.
One would think the number of teams that could take/need Tulo are limited, and Rockies might take a decent deal, if offered soon, because they could just go into rebuild then pretty easily with very few other forward commitments.
Rockies need Tulo to light it up and show he’s healthy. Of course if he did that and Cargo hit…they might believe they can win. I doubt anyone is banging the door down with an overwhelming offer right now. Reminds me of the last day of a garage sale….people wait and sneak in late.
Bogaerts, Napoli and either Craig or Victorino(the last 2 of 3 for Tulo salary relief).
Could include a pitching prospect if you take all three.
That wouldn’t be enough to get a deal done, not even close honestly. They’re going to want a prospect return, namely pitching, if they even decide to move him. It’s not as if they’re looking to just dump him, and trying to offer them less than premium pieces that you don’t exactly need anyways would just result in the phone being hung up. The only piece you mentioned I could see them being interested in a package is Bogaerts.
Why would the Rockies do this trade?
I’m pretty sure the Rockies would laugh at this. They would be getting one player for the future, it makes no sense at all.
While the post was basically Sox dumping all of their excess on the Rockies, if the Sox threw in some decent prospects, they might be able to also get Craig in there, if they ate up to half his salary.
Just a Sox fan dreaming? They would want 2 TOP prospects plus 2 more in any deal they make for Tulo.
you sir win the internet today for the worst trade proposal
I doubt the Sox would have much interest in Tulu. They would have to give Bogaerts, Owens, Margot + a couple smaller pieces.
It’s not that I don’t think BOS would want Tulo if the scenario was right, but they should probably be focusing on addressing the rotation situation with their trade chips before looking to make a luxury upgrade that will cost a haul.
I agree. I doubt they would really want him too much. He’s never healthy and is on the wrong side of 30. I love Bogarts and would rather see Margot used to get a pitcher.
He is 30 so how is that the wrong side of 30? LOL Cause he is 30 and a half? Wrong side of 30’s would be past 35 so not sure what you are saying.
Nope. You are wrong. The wrong side of 30 is every day after age 30. the right side is every day before 30. Also he was glass in his 20’s so I doubt hes gonna be iron man through his 30’s.
Makes no sense but that is OK. You cant be on the right side of 30 if you are in your 20’s LOL
I think you are a little confused lol. Look at the numbers 29, 30, 31. On one side of the 30 is 29 and the other is 31. For baseball players its much better to be 30 and younger as a players prime on average ends around 32.
Bottom line he is just 30 years old. Not saying he will not be declining but you are not going to find a elite short stop on the open market like him any time soon. When he is healthy he is a beast and is real good at his position. I would rather have a 30 years old short stop then a 35 or older short stop. In my mind 35 is on the down side of 30’s. Have a nice day.
Well in the post steroid era players careers are not going to be as long. I’d also rather have a 25 year old shortshop then a piece of glass who players 80-100 games a year. You too!
It’s an expression more so than anything. In context, the right side of 30 is being under it, and the wrong side is over it. Not that I agree that 30=doomed or anything, just the way the expression is typically used.
What Bowden proposed from the Mets is intriguing. I think Plawecki would absolutely have to be part of the deal, but the Rockies, if taking on salary, would probably hold out for Syndergaard at the expense of a quality third prospect. Matz has looked very good, but Syndergaard looks like the special sort of pitcher that the Rockies haven’t had.
Most of what I have read says that Syndergaard is untouchable, but the prospect of getting Tulo + salary relief, and presence of Wheeler+Harvey+DeGrom as well as possibly Matz could be enough to pry Syndergaard away. Syndergaard+Plawecki+Cecchini/Reynolds for Tulo + ~$40mil = good deal for both sides in my opinion. Plawecki is blocked by TDA and Tulo would be the SS for the next 5 years. Losing Syndergaard would hurt, but I feel like this trade makes each team better.
I think the Mets at this point would be more willing to package Matz and some other guys for a lesser SS than Tulo. Syndergaard is most likely not going anywhere.
I agree with that. I was just throwing around what I thought if their target turned out to be Tulo. Flores is hitting alright though and the SS options out there are pretty thin so I’m not sure they even make a move unless it’s for Castro/Tulo.
Some Mets fans including myself prefer Matz, who also happens to be a hometown kid, over Syndergaard. I would also say the great majority of Mets fans are opposed to trading for Tulo at all. Personally, I would decline to pick up Tulo even if he was put on waivers and given to us as I do not think he is worth his existing contract.
Tulo has so many question marks, it will be hard to find a compromise for him. How good is he away from Coors? How healthy will he be? Can he still play SS? If the Mets have to work with unknown factors, they might as well keep their prospects and gamble with them.
Yeah, I was just responding to the hypothetical if the Mets had interest. Of the factors you listed, health is the only unknown factor. His production away from Coors is pretty much the same except for batting average (50 points lower but still .280). There is no question Tulo would upgrade the Mets as he is a 5 WAR player at SS. Only question is whether the Mets think he is the missing piece to push them over the edge or not.
He averages 23 home runs a season away from Coors Field along with a .274 career road average. You also have to consider he plays 1/3 of his road games every year at pitcher friendly parks like AT&T, Dodger Stadium, and Petco.
Accounting for age decline and using his away numbers, I think a .275/.350/.450 projection with 20 HRs for the remainder of his contract is fair. But how many games will he play? And when he plays, will it be at shortstop or does he have to switch to another position?
I really don’t think the Mets are interested in Tulo. He’s 31 and gets hurt way to much. When was the last time he played 100 games? Three years ago. No thanks.
Just 30. Will be 31 when the regular season ends.
Rockies waited to long to move Tulo. This could get ugly.
It’s either salary relief or players that provide salary relief for one year or longer.
Xander is a good exchange or Hanley
for Tulo. If you think you are getting a
package similAr to what RAJ is asking dream on.
He misses too many games. Good luck.
The guy is elite at a position that’s extremely in demand. Yes, injury risk is going to play a role in conversations,and going to complicate talks majorly, but that doesn’t mean he’s instantly without tangible value, it’s going to take more than salary relief and un-needed pieces to land the guy. It’s one thing if you want to throw in a Craig into a package to balance out salaries a bit, but not as a cornerstone piece.
How would Hanley make sense?
Try and find a player like Tulo on the open market and then make this post. Bottom line when healthy Tulo is one of the best 5 players in the majors and fields his position great and is cost effective for the next 6 years. Does this mean they will get 4 prospects and not pay some salary? NO is does not but you are not going to get a player like him in exchange of over paid Red Sox players even if you think even swap is good. Would you make this trade is Tulo was a Red Sox and looking to deal him?
I don’t think anybody believes that Tulo can finish out his contract as a shortstop. He will need to be moved to a corner infield or DH spot sooner rather than later. That pretty much takes the Mets and Yankees out of the equation. Boston does not appear to be willing to part with any of their top prospects in any trade so I don’t see that happening.
How come nobody mentions Baltimore as a landing spot for Tulo? They could put together a package headed by Bundy and some lesser pieces. They will have massive salary space so they could absorb his whole contract. They could also put him at either first base or DH. He would be able to stay healthy and put up Nelson Cruz like numbers in that ballpark.
I dont understand the whole thing about the Red Sox not willing to deal top prospects. Most teams dont like doing that. The Red Sox have several top 100 prospects that they WOULD trade. I dont think any team would have traded Swihart or Betts in a hamels trade. That said I doubt they have any real interest in him and will probably go after pitching.Also I doubt Tulu improves, I mean hes already really good and Coors is the best hitting park in baseball.
I don’t think we can discount Tulos take on where he might be traded to as well. I realize he has little factual say at this point…but if a team on the other end got wind he was discontent to go there…they might back off. Realistically, we’re either talking about a California team, or a consistent contender.
Well beggers really cant be choosers. I doubt that a non contending team will try to trade for him as it makes little sense. Also its likely that there are few teams in a worst position then the Rockies so I dont see many teams that he would turn down a trade to realistically. Also most non contending teams couldn’t afford him. I dont think he has much say.
All in Tulos mind what a contending team is. I’ve heard.Seattle brought up. Tulo might see that as a hit/miss org.
I think he would 100% say yes to a deal with Seattle. Now that you brought that up I’m kind of hoping for that. How sweet a lineup that would be 3-6.
Solid! Cruz is completely unpitchable right now. His zone rating is red to the point of hot pink. That is the one team that could use him the very most possibly. Never been to the Series… In a.somewhat weak division that looks winable. Absolute straight improvement.
I have no clue why the Sox pitched to him the other night. First base open and Seeger who isnt very hot coming up.
Yeah….maybe a hunch…it won’t show up in a stat line
.but Seager’s swings and balls off the bat have been looking better…maybe they didn’t want to walk into that. No idea.
Cashman did not want to trade Jesus Montero. He was the Yankees’ best prospect but if you want an ace or a pitcher who has legitimate ace stuff you have to give quality. Trying to trade 5 or 6 mediocre prospects does not cut it. The only time that worked was when the Mets traded Tom Seaver.
That was a very rare one for one prospect/young player trade. It wasnt like Panada was a cy young winner. And its WAY too early to call him an ace. The Red Sox have guys like Owens and Margot. They are far from mediocre prospects. Owens is a top 20-30 prospect.
Pineda fits in the category”a pitcher who has legitimate ace stuff”, not to butt into the conversation 😛
Agreed. But that was a trade we rarely see happen and its very different from the Red Sox postion. I’m sure if the Red Sox were offered at top pitching propsect or good young pitcher for Blake, they would think long and hard and might make the deal.
I doubt that very much. Cherington has not shown a willingness to trade away any top young players except for Iglesias and that was only because he assumed that Bogaerts was the better player. He appears to be afraid of making a mistake and being second guessed.
Detroit was in a bind and needed Iglesias….that appeared like an extreme sell high trade. Guy was hitting… After it’d been questioned whether his bat could even keep that amazing glove in the lineup.
We only know what little gets leaked. I would still much rather have Bogaerts then Iglesias. Young pitchers dont come up for trade every day. Its not like they refused Betts for Sonny Gray, they refused him for a very well paid pitcher on the wrong side of 30.
Yeah…early to call Pineda an ace…he’s not past injury prone actually.
Man, some crazy trade proposals here today.
I’ll just give Bridich this much….it’ll be difficult for the Rockies to ever post more than an average staff ERA. But I’m not sure how much I’d blame him for much anyway….ownership keeps mangling that organization. Hire the best people and do your best to stay out of it….that’s what owners by and large need.to do.
I think if the mets want a short stop, I think they go talk to the cubs for castro
How’s about Segura? I know Milwaukee doesn’t have to deal him.
damaged goods atm…has only had one decent offensive year…walk rate is atrocious
These Tulo trade proposals are out of control. The first question a buying team has to assess is whether they would pay 5 years/$98M for Tulo. Considering that players do not get better or healthier after age 30, I think most teams would say NO! And if that is the conclusion then Tulo essentially has ZERO trade value. No way a team even gives up a top prospect for him without the Rockies taking on a significant amount of money.
he’s got a lot of value, honestly. He’s inarguably the best hitting SS in the league today, even with the injury problems. A lot of teams would be put off by the fragility concerns, sure… but he’s still valuable.