The New York Mets need a shortstop. Wilmer Flores and Ruben Tejada are nice players, but the Mets need someone who can make more of an impact at the position offensively.
That doesn’t leave general manager Sandy Alderson many options. How many MLB shortstops can provide middle-of-the-order run production, while also playing excellent defense?
Ian Desmond fits such criteria, but the Nationals probably aren’t trading him within the division (and don’t have a viable replacement on-hand). And the Mets are surely looking for something longer-term than a player who can be a free agent after next season. So there’s really only one guy.
rockies, mets talking about tulo. syndergaard woujld be centerpiece. (still very long way to go tho) http://t.co/nhEgbfQDaC
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) December 19, 2014
Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki is a market unto himself when it comes to MLB shortstops. Before a hip injury ended his 2014 season at 91 games, Tulowitzki compiled a slash average of .340/.432/.603 with 21 home runs and 52 RBI in 375 plate appearances. In the field, he saved three more runs than the average defensive shortstop and was credited with +3 Defensive Runs Saved.
One big issue is that Tulowitzki still has six years and at least $118 million left on his contract. If health continues to be an issue — and Tulowitzki has played 130 games or more once in the past five seasons — that is one giant horse pill for the Mets to swallow.
The other factor is what the Rockies would seek in return for their franchise player. A Mets trade package would presumably be built around top prospect Noah Syndergaard, but it would take a whole lot more. So much more that a source told ESPN New York’s Adam Rubin that Mets fans would go “bat s—” if they knew what Colorado has proposed.
