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It already seems like a foregone conclusion that Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki will be dealt by this year’s trade deadline. Every team that needs a shortstop seems to be interested in acquiring him, but they need to really consider what they would be doing to their organization if they dealt for Tulo.
First of all, his health is always a concern. He can’t stay on the field for more than half the season, it seems like. From 2012-14, the shortstop played in just 264 games, roughly 54 percent his team’s contests. Why pay top dollar, plus a mega-package of prospects for someone who barely plays in half the games?
When Tulo is on the field, he’s phenomenal. However, this season he hasn’t been as good as normal. He’s batting .303, which is,of course, a good sign. That’s lower than normal for him, though, and his power numbers are way down. He’s only hit six homers in 49 games. In addition, his on-base percentage is just .326, well-below average for a player of his pedigree.
On top of the health and declining production concerns, it appears a team will have to pay a king’s ransom for the star shortstop and it’s just not worth it. There are other cheaper alternatives to Tulowitzki such as Starlin Castro and even possibly Elvis Andrus.
The following four teams seem to be the ones interested in Tulowitzki: the New York Mets, Seattle Mariners,San Diego Padres and Washington Nationals. None of these clubs should be pursuing Tulowitzki.
For the Mets, the asking price would likely be either Jacob deGrom or Noah Syndergaard on top of another prospect. Those players are too valuable to give up for a guy who barely plays in half his team’s games and whose production seems to be declining.
In all likelihood, the Mariners would have to give up rookie Taijuan Walker in a deal. Again, it’s just not worth the risk.
It’s unknown whether the Padres could scrounge up enough prospects to get a deal done, but they’ve already sold the farm for the rest of their major league players, so they can’t afford to continue to do that.
The Nationals just jumped into this conversation recently, and this potential deal makes the least sense for them. Young stud Lucas Giolito would almost surely have to be involved in a deal, and the team is going to need him to replace pitcher Jordan Zimmermann if and when he leaves this offseason.
Above all else, the cost to have Tulowitzki on the squad should be enough to keep teams away. He is owed $20 million annually in each of the next four seasons, $14 million in 2020 and he has a $15 million team option ($4 million buyout) for 2021.
Unless the Rockies are paying almost his entire contract, which they won’t since they’d rather keep him than pay him to play somewhere else, he’s not worth the price tag. Based on his injuries, he’s worth half of what he’s paid. Therefore, unless the Rockies pay more than half his remaining salary, there’s no reason to deal for him.
People are judging Tulowitzki on his past and assuming he will just make whatever team he goes to a contender. Not so fast. Due to his injury history, price tag and the amount of prospects required to acquire him, contending teams should steer clear of the Rockies’ shortstop this trade deadline.
