This cannot have been how Colorado Rockies fans imagined it would go down. Troy Tulowitzki being traded wasn’t supposed to be a late-night occurrence, happening when many of us were sleeping. (Even in the Mountain time zone, though the shortstop was pulled in the ninth inning of the Rockies’ 9-8 loss to the Cubs on Monday.) This was supposed to be a trade we all saw coming, that was rumored for hours, if not days or weeks — or even months.
The narrative already seemed to be written too, at least if Tulowitzki himself had a say in it. He would go to the Yankees or Mets, becoming New York’s next great shortstop and marquee ballplayer. The Rockies would get stellar pitching talent in return, the kind easily found at the top of prospects lists at ESPN, Baseball America or MLB.com. Putting disappointment at losing a franchise player aside, virtually everyone would be happy once the deal was settled.
Everyone still has a chance to be happy with Tulowitzki being traded to the Toronto Blue Jays with reliever LaTroy Hawkins in exchange for shortstop Jose Reyes and three minor league pitchers. But it’s not quite the deal that either Rockies fans or those who follow baseball closely would have envisioned.
First of all, we don’t even know how long Reyes is going to remain in a Rockies uniform. The likelihood of him being flipped before the July 31 trade deadline seems pretty high. Sure, he has a place in the lineup. Obviously, they need a shortstop right now and Reyes is having a good season, compiling a slash average of .285/.322/.385 with 17 doubles and 16 stolen bases. It’s kind of exciting to think about what kind of extra-base show his speed and Coors Field’s spacious outfield might create.
BOSTON, MA – June 14: Jose Reyes #7 of the Toronto Blue Jays acknowledges his dugout after hitting a double against the Boston Red Sox during the seventh inning of the game at Fenway Park on June 14, 2015 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
But there’s no long-term future with Reyes and the Rockies. It makes no sense for Colorado’s payroll to be tied up with the $48 million Reyes is owed through 2018, along with the remainder of his $22 million salary for this season. Not with this trade beginning the much-needed rebuild that ownership seemed to perpetually deny was necessary. The market for Reyes could be limited — especially with his contract — but the Padres, Mets and Pirates seem like possible fits if the Rockies eat some of that salary.
Colorado also has a shortstop ready to take over that position with Trevor Story. Currently at Triple-A Alburquerque after being promoted this season, the 22-year-old infielder has been putting up good numbers during his five years in the Rockies’ minor-league system. Between Double- and Triple-A, Story is batting .281 with a .907 OPS, 32 doubles, 16 home runs, 56 RBI and 15 steals. And if he’s not the future at shortstop, Story will probably keep the position stocked until this year’s No. 1 draft pick, Brendan Rodgers, is ready.
Pitching is always a dire need for the Rockies and if Tulowitzki was going to be traded, young arms had to come in return. And though Hoffman and Castro might not be immediately recognizable names among the top prospects in baseball, each was highly regarded in the Blue Jays’ organization.
Hoffman, 22, began the season ranked as Toronto’s No. 3 prospect by Baseball America and was the team’s top draft pick last year. Returning from Tommy John surgery, he’s already advanced from high Single-A to Double-A this season, compiling a 2.93 ERA with 46 strikeouts and 17 walks in 67.2 innings overall.
Castro, 20, has already been in the big leagues as the Blue Jays gave him a shot as their closer. He was rushed to the majors (as demonstrated by six walks in 12.1 innings), yet still struck out a batter per inning. Castro’s performance with Triple-A Buffalo (12 walks and 26 hits in 19.2 innings) indicates he still has some significant issues with his control, but his age and strikeout stuff make him an encouraging prospect who could be Colorado’s closer of the future.
The @Rockies have acquired SS Jose Reyes & RHPs Miguel Castro, Jeff Hoffman & Jesus Tinoco from Toronto. pic.twitter.com/xMtLHYlDgv
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) July 28, 2015
Tinoco was reported as part of the deal hours after the news initially broke. Pitching in low Single-A, he’s still a raw talent. But with 68 strikeouts and 22 walks in 81.1 innings, the 20-year-old demonstrates an impressive command of the strike zone so early in his career. As you might expect from someone his age and at this point of development, Tinoco still needs to add secondary pitches to his arsenal which would surely improve his numbers. For an organization in need of young starting pitching, he provides depth for the Rockies and hope for an eventual addition to the big league rotation.
With Tulowitzki getting traded, you have to believe outfielder Carlos Gonzalez is next, whether it’s before Friday’s deadline or during the offseason. Among current contenders, the 29-year-old would be a good fit with the Giants, Angels, Mets or Orioles. After a rough first two months of the season, Gonzalez has exploded in July, batting .405 with a 1.328 OPS, 10 homers and 23 RBI for the month. He also doesn’t make crazy money ($37 million through 2017, in addition to what remains of his $16 million salary this year), which could better enable the Rockies to move him at the deadline.
For general manager Jeff Bridich, finally breaking the seal on the Rockies’ reconstruction has to be a relief. Presumably, he could see what the rest of us did, that this team wasn’t winning with its two high-paid superstars and had the opportunity to add pitching to a promising young core of position players. Other pieces, such as starter Jorge De La Rosa, reliever John Axford, outfielders such as Brandon Barnes and Drew Stubbs, and maybe even Justin Morneau (if he recovers from his neck injury and concussion concerns) could soon be used to stockpile prospects and young arms.
It’s a long overdue process that owner Dick Monfort has tried to stave off in the name of keeping marketable franchise superstars around. But that didn’t lead to winning baseball. As disappointing and heartbreaking as it might be for Rockies fans to see Tulowitzki go (and Gonzalez likely to follow), it has to be encouraging that there’s more of a hopeful future for this team than there was 24 hours ago. Trading Tulowitzki was likely just the beginning.
