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MLB Trade Rumors: Should the Rockies deal Troy Tulowitzki?

Ray takes a look at whether the Rockies should deal shortstop Troy Tulowitzki this offseason.

By Ray Guilfoyle
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Updated Sunday 11/10/2013

I am updating this piece, as Yahoo's Jeff Passan reports late this evening that the Cardinals and Rockies are expected to discuss a trade involving Troy Tulowitzki. Here is an excerpt from Passan's article:

Officials from the St. Louis Cardinals and Colorado Rockies are expected to meet at the GM/owners' meetings in Orlando this week and discuss parameters of a potential trade involving Troy Tulowitzki, which already has been broached in informal talks between the parties, sources with knowledge of the situation told Yahoo Sports.

Below is my original article published on October 30th. Make sure you vote in the poll below.

Troy Tulowitzki is the face of the Rockies franchise. No question about it. He is one of the best hitters in the game and also one of the best fielding shortstops. When healthy, he can put up 25-30 home run season with 90-100 RBI and a .290-.300 average and hit in the middle of the Rockies lineup.

So, why trade him? Here are a few reasons:

1. He is just 29 years of age, but has played 150 or more games just twice since 2007,

2. He has a habit of getting injured, and plays with nagging injuries, which comes with the territory when playing shortstop.

3. He is 6'3" and weighs 215 pounds. There aren't many shortstops who are bigger than he is. How much longer can he play shortstop?

4. He is signed for $145 million through 2021 and will begin making $20 million per year from 2015 - 2019. That's a lot of coin to be paying a shortstop in his mid-30s toward the end of that contract.

5. The Rockies have finished higher than third just once since 2007, his first full season in the big leagues, and have finished with a losing record in each of the last three seasons.

So, once the team can get over the fact that they are trading the face of their franchise, who should they trade him to? Which teams would come calling if Tulo would become available on the trade market?

The Rockies owner said that he won't deal Tulo this offseason. But, all we heard last offseason from Tulowitzki was that he was preparing himself to be traded. Could the owner be bluffing? Maybe.

Here's a list of teams that make sense for the Rockies:

Cardinals

The Cardinals have a plethora of outstanding young arms to offer in a deal for Tulowitzki. They also have outfielder Oscar Taveras. I don't see the Cardinals dealing Taveras, but why not? The team needs a shortstop who can hit. You all saw how well Peter Kozma hit in the playoffs right? Now is the time to make a deal for the Cardinals. Offer Taveras, or a package headed by Carlos Martinez and Matt Adams. The Rockies need young starters and a first baseman to replace Todd Helton.

Pirates

The Pirates can't keep running Clint Barmes out there every day, can they? Offer the Rockies a package headed by Jameson Taillon and Gregory Polanco. That should get trade talks started. Taillon is one of the best pitching prospects in the game and ranked 12th in John Sickels end of season Top 75 Prospects, while Polanco ranked 21st.

Dodgers

It will never happen within the division, but the Dodgers have several high end prospects they could deal in Joc Pederson, Corey Seager, Zach Lee and Julio Urias in returm for Tulowitzki. Two of those four could get a deal done, with a lower level minor leaguer thrown in. A trade for Tulo would push Hanley Ramirez to third base, which is ideal, in my opinion. All four of these prospects were ranked in John Sickels end of season Top 75 Prospects.

Mariners

The Mariners are looking to make a splash and have plenty of prospects they could deal: Brad Miller, Nick Franklin, Mike Zunnino, James Paxton, Taijuan Walker....package a few of them for Tulo. Throw in Dustin Ackley for good measure. He needs a change of scenery, I think.

Diamondbacks

Another division rival. But they have young arms and one too many shortstops in Chris Owings and Didi Gregorious. Package Owings and Archie Bradley and you will get Dan O'Dowd's attention.

Wherever he is traded, Tulowitzki's fantasy value takes a bit of a dip, especially if he is traded to the Dodgers, Pirates or Mariners, who all play in pitchers parks.

The likelihood of a Tulowitzki trade is slim, but you really never know when the Rockies hear an offer that they feel is compelling enough to deal him.

What do you think? Should the Rockies deal Tulowitzki this offseason?

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