Remember all the talk about the Colorado Rockies not wanting to trade Troy Tulowitzki because he was the face of the franchise? Yeah, it was a bunch of crap. Tulowitzki is heading to the Toronto Blue Jays for Jose Reyes and a package of minor leaguers.
BREAKING: Tulo traded to #BlueJays.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 28, 2015
Source: Jose Reyes and minor leaguers to #Rockies.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 28, 2015
Tulowitzki struggled early on for the Rockies this season, but has since rebounded and is hitting .300/.348/.471 with 12 homers on the season. He’s signed through 2020, and owed roughly $103 million over the next five and a half seasons.
Reyes is the lone name known going to Colorado at this point in time. He’s hit .285/.322/.385 with four homers and 16 steals on the season in 69 games. The 32-year old is guaranteed $38 million in 2016-17, including $4 million buyout on a $22 million 2018 club option.
Also heading to Toronto is reliever LaTroy Hawkins, who has a 3.63 ERA, 20 strikeouts, and four walks in 22 1/3 innings.
Heading to Colorado along with Reyes are a trio of minor league arms – Jeff Hoffman, Miguel Castro, and Jesus Tinoco. Hoffman was Toronto’s first round pick (ninth overall) last season, and made his pro debut in 2015 after spending 2014 recovering from Tommy John surgery. In 67 2/3 innings split between high-A and AA, he has a 2.93 ERA, 46 strikeouts, and 17 walks. Castro started the year in the Jays’ major league bullpen, but was demoted to the minors after striking out 12 and walking six in 12 1/3 innings. Between high-A and AAA this year in the minors, Castro has pitched to a 3.65 ERA, punching out 28 and walking 13 over 24 2/3 innings.
Finally, there’s Tinoco, the most raw of the trio heading to Denver. The 20-year old has spent the season with Lansing of the Class-A Midwest League, and has a 3.54 ERA in 81 1/3 innings, punching out 68 and walking 22.
The return seems a tad bit light to me, especially considering how often Tulowitzki’s name surfaced in trade talks. When you consider that the Blue Jays are eating all of his contract however, it makes a bit more sense.
But the important question is this – can he pitch? The Jays’ offense is somehow even better, but their pitching staff is still underwhelming.
