The Colorado Rockies and St. Louis Cardinals will discuss a potential trade involving Troy Tulowitzki at this week’s GM/owners meetings, according to a report.
Yahoo! Sports’ Jeff Passan reports that the teams have already had “informal talks” about a potential trade and that the Cardinals have shown “significant interest” in Tulo. Passan also indicates that the Cardinals will inquire with the Texas Rangers about Elvis Andrus and Jurickson Profar.
It sounds like the Cardinals are interested in getting a shortstop to replace Pete Kozma and that this deal is being initiated by them, which is different from the Rockies actively shopping Tulo. Colorado may not have a serious need to dump the shortstop’s salary, but they may be open to the right deal depending on the package.
Tulo has $134 million guaranteed to him over the next seven years (his 2021 season is a club option with a $4 million buyout). He has a no-trade clause and would have to approve any deal, but St. Louis would likely be an appealing destination.
The Cardinals have won the NL Central seven times since 2000 and reached the postseason all but four times during that span. The Rockies have reached the playoffs twice in that span, made the World Series once, and have finished last in the division the past two seasons.
The Rockies may feel that trading Tulo, who is homegrown and one of the most popular players on the team, would be difficult to do to the fans, but could be worthwhile depending on the return. The Cardinals have a hoard of talented young players, and the Rockies could get back three major leaguers for him: Matt Adams, one of the young starters like Lance Lynn or Shelby Miller, and one of their relievers like Kevin Siegriest or Trevor Rosenthal. That kind of return would have to appeal to any baseball team.
St. Louis obviously seems intent on getting a new shortstop and feel like they have expendable talent depending on what kind of upgrade they can make. For an MVP-type player like Tulo, trading all that talent might be worthwhile. The question is whether Colorado thinks it is.
