Earlier this afternoon, Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reported that the Mets were talking to the Rockies about shortstop Troy Tulowitzki. That was confirmed by Mets beat reporter Marc Carig of Newsday:
“According to a source, the Mets are indeed doing their due diligence. Have checked with Rockies on shortstop Troy Tulowitzki.”
However, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports later reported that any discussions about Tulowitzki were not significant. The consensus was that the Mets were simply fishing around to gauge the Rockies asking price.
The word is they want one top pitching prospect, and are unwilling to eat any portion of Tulo’s remaining $116 million dollar contract which includes the built-in $2 million assignment bonus if he’s traded. Basically, as Carig pointed out, the Mets were just doing their due diligence and checking in.
November 6
Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reports that the Colorado Rockies are prepared to listen to offers for All Star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki this offseason as well as Carlos Gonzalez.
“The Rockies are telling clubs they are keeping their “eyes and ears open” for potential deals involving both players, according to major-league sources.”
Rosenthal points out that their willingness to discuss Tulowitzki and Gonzalez is a departure for the Rockies, which previously has refused to entertain deals for its two stars.
Tulowitzki, 30, underwent season-ending surgery in mid-August which cut down what was an incredible season that him batting .340/.432/.603 with 21 home runs in 315 at-bats. When healthy, he ranks among the ten best players in the game and plays a premium position.
He is owed $114 million over the next six seasons, plus a $15 million club option or $4 million buyout for 2021. And therein lies the problem for the Mets, according to Rosenthal, the Rockies are unwilling to give any discount in terms of salary or players received.
That pretty much makes any talk of trading for Tulo a moot point. But assuming they had the wherewithal to take on a contract this size, what would the cost be in prospects?
