Responding to a report by Tim Brown that the Cardinals and Rockies were discussing a trade for Troy Tulowitzki, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports spoke to one GM who told him:
“The current message from the Rockies is that their two superstars — shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and left fielder Carlos Gonzalez — aren’t going anywhere.”
That GM said he has been told Gonzalez is “definitely” not available and was left with the impression that Tulowitzki isn’t being traded either.
A Rockies person also suggested that no Tulo trade is in the cards.
Heyman correctly asserts that while many team will inquire or even make offers for CarGo and Tulo, there’s no evidence that the Rockies will do anything more than listen and decline.
Original Post
Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports is reporting that the St. Louis Cardinals and Colorado Rockies are expected to meet at the GM Meetings and discuss parameters of a potential trade involving shortstop Troy Tulowitzki. Sources with knowledge of the situation told Yahoo that the two teams have already had informal talks about a deal for Tulo.
The Cardinals have also asked the Rangers about the possibility of trading for Elvis Andrus or Jurickson Profar, writes Passan.
St. Louis has made shortstop a top offseason priority much like the Mets, but the two teams are on opposite sides of the spectrum as the Cards are looking at top-shelf options while the Mets are sticking to middle-tier choices.
Last week, Rockies ownership said they had no intentions of trading their team’s best player, but Passan says that privately Colorado continues to the weigh advantages of freeing itself from the final seven years and $134 million remaining on Tulo’s contract.
First base prospect Matt Adams could be one player the Rockies would get as they seek to replace Todd Helton. And while pitching phenom Michael Wacha is going nowhere, the Cards are willing to move righthander Shelby Miller along with Adams and two other players to get Tulowitzki.
Tulo has a no-trade clause, but is good friends with former teammate Matt Holliday and the opportunity to join a winning franchise may be enough to sway him.
When the Mets grow up I hope they’ll be just like the St. Louis Cardinals…
