With Troy Tulowitzki reportedly heading from the Rockies to the Blue Jays, it’s a different trade market today than it was yesterday. Toronto declared itself committed to the present in spending several important trade chips on the star shortstop. Meanwhile, the Rockies now have another expensive veteran shortstop that features as a trade candidate in Jose Reyes. Though we’ve yet to hear anything regarding Colorado’s intentions with regard to Reyes, early indications are that the club is motivated to deal outfielder Carlos Gonzalez.
Here are some potential areas of impact of the blockbuster:
- The Rockies did not add Reyes with a deal already in place to move him elsewhere, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported overnight on Twitter (as we noted in the Tulo deal post). While another move makes sense at first glance — Colorado is not in contention, and could turn to prospect Trevor Story and/or utilityman Daniel Descalso — it’s far from a sure thing. As I explained in assessing the trade market for shortstops, despite the relative lack of quality veterans available via trade, it’s also not clear that there’s much demand at the position.
- The Mets are uninterested in bringing back Reyes, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com tweets. New York still has a potential need up the middle, but the veteran has not shown enough for the club to be amenable to taking on his big contract. In fact, the Mets declined a chance to land Reyes already, as the Blue Jays were widely shopping his deal, per Andy Martino of the New York Daily News.
- Neither do the Mets intend to pursue Gonzalez, Marc Carig of Newsday hears (Twitter link). Though New York appears still to be in the market for outfield bats, the team may not be willing to consider that level of salary commitment.
- While the Blue Jays have sufficient lineup depth to move a major league bat for pitching, tweets Buster Olney of ESPN.com, the club does not have any plans to do so this summer. That had seemed at least one plausible path to improving the club’s rotation over the next few days. It remains to be seen how the loss of three talented pitching prospects in the Tulo deal will impact Toronto’s efforts to build out its staff. Certainly, the Jays have now evidenced a willingness to give up future assets to improve their team in the near term, but it’s unclear as yet whether they’ll be more or less inclined to do more of the same in chasing arms.
- In a tweet this morning, Blue Jays righty Marcus Stroman indicated that he’s still focused on trying to work back by September. That may be somewhat optimistic, but it is worth remembering that he’s working back from a knee injury rather than arm problems (though Toronto will want to prevent the latter from developing out of the former). A hypothetical return from Stroman is still probably too much of a wild card to have an impact on Toronto’s current plans, but adding him back to the rotation would obviously represent a major boost at no cost.
Doesn’t the impact of the Tulo/Reyes trade impact the market for Zobrist too? He’s got plenty of SS experience as well as being a rare bat on this market.
No contenders seem to be in search of a SS. So it doesn’t really seem to change much.
Zobrist has interest from KC as a 2B though. Heartbreaking to replace Infante there…but
“Heartbreaking” seems a lil much when you’re taking about replacing a journeyman who’s been on the team for a year and a half.
And isn’t very good.
Zobrist is not controllable…
At this point he no longer has tbe range for short. Can play it in a pich though.
I can’t picture the Rockies eating enough salary to make Reyes an appealing option. Of course, that wouldn’t be the biggest surprise in the last 10 hours!
Why wouldn’t the Rockies eat salary if needed?
Reyes staying does not help the rebuild and costs them 100% of his contract – if they can get some relief and a prospect, it’s worth it to them.
I have a feeling the Mets would be very interested in both CarGo and Reyes if the Rockies would pay down some of the contracts
Reyes would be a sidegrade for the Mets, not an upgrade. CarGo would be a great addition although it’s hard to see where he would fit with Grandy and Conforto starting everyday. Gómez makes more sense for the team as constructed since he can play CF, where Lagares is struggling to hit.
I can see them eating the rest of the money this year and all of next year. Would be 26 mil for 2 and a half years or 44 mil for 3 and a half. Which is about fair market value for his production.
Even if stromans back they already said it would be out of the pen
Wow… I … am… surprised waking up to this. As a blue jays fan, im excited because reyes is no long on defence and tulo is a beast. Im also disappointed, AA always addressed the areas where we are already strong.
Disappointed when your team trades for Tulo….smdh
Well if AA doesn’t address the pitching need, then I would be disappointed too. Upgrading a strength is always nice, but they aren’t a whole lot better by this trade. Getting an elite pitcher, or even a good #2, would do wonders for the Blue Jays.
Tulo on the turf up in Toronto? He’ll be lucky to play half those games at SS. They must plan to have him DH long-term.
http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/inside-blue-jays-push-natural-grass/
Unless this happens, and I don’t recall hearing Reyes complaining about the turf, or Josh Donaldson.
Every team coming in seems to complain. But given Tulos chronic leg issues…the turf would have to be about the greatest risk of anywhere he could have been dealt.
Those guys were/are still playing, and for the Jays no less. Let’s see what they say after they retire and don’t have to worry about any blowback from the guys signing their paychecks.
Here I am, relaxing and playing a game of chess and the Jays and Rockies tumble into the room and kick the board over. Jesus guys… way to blow up the environment
When comparing the stats of Reyes and Tulowitski, it would seen that all lifetime stats, save for SB’s, are close to equal. Tulo may have more power, but that’s may be neutralized when he leaves the rare air of Colorado. Depending on how well the other players in the deal develop, the Rockies may just make out better.
Trends and current age/health are far more important than lifetime stats in evaluating players
Their lifetime stats might be similar, but Reyes has also played 5 more years than Tulo, so he has had more time to accumulate those lifetime stats.
Does this “force” the Yankees to get more aggressive for a Hamels or a Price?
I don’t think it changes anything. The Jays didn’t improve much.
Instead of losing a game 8-6, they’ll now lose games 10-8!
Tulo is a character guy, great offense, solid defense and likely to play 1B with Goins finally getting his shot at full-time SS, in future years. There are some aging bats in the lineup, so a good move now and in the future. We all see JR looking more liable at SS and there’s nowhere else he can go. Will miss his lead-off skills. Probably the most happy ball player so he’ll be fine.
I wouldn’t hold my breath on moving Tulo. He is fairly resigned to being a shortstop for the rest of his career.
Fail! No way Tulo plays first!
Does Toronto further empty the system in pursuit of Mike Leake and Aroldis Chapman? Daniel Norris almost certainly would need to be involved. The Reds drafted, but didn’t sign, Matt Boyd. Pompey?
Who would take reyes contract? Not the mets. Have fun trying to flip him