Just Mets

The Mets have all but announced their new and permanent middle infield configuration will be Ruben Tejada at shortstop and Wilmer Flores at second base.

In fact, Terry Collins featured this infield configuration during the second game of Sunday’s doubleheader.

But if history suggests anything, Tejada will eventually become overexposed playing everyday, especially at a premium position on the infield.

Therefore, it’s safe to say the situation at shortstop for the Mets will remain in flux, at least until they cultivate one in either Gavin Cecchini or Amed Rosario, or acquire a solution from the outside.

There’s one shortstop outside the organization which has been on the Mets radar for quite sometime. His name is Troy Tulowitzki, he’s healthy and he’s currently the shortstop for the once again irrelevant Colorado Rockies, who are currently cellar dwelling in the National League West.

It hasn’t been the 30-year-old shortstop’s best start to a season, but he has produced a .313/.347/.480 line with a productive 113 OPS+ through 68 games this season. He has eight home runs, 41 RBI and 18 doubles.

He has struggled quite a bit defensively this season, posting a -4.3 ultimate zone rating (UZR) with -3 defensive runs saved (DRS) and a pedestrian .975 fielding percentage.

But Tulowitzki would still represent a massive upgrade at a position the Mets have simply not had much success with since the departure of Jose Reyes following the 2011 season.

The price in trade is a key reason why the Mets and Rockies haven’t been able to come together in a deal for the star shortstop. While it was clear the Mets expressed interest in Tulowitzki over the winter, people in the industry indicated the price the Mets would have to pay to acquire him was significantly above and beyond the Mets comfort level. It would’ve required the Mets to relinquish at least two top pitching prospects and possibly another top prospect as well. Aside from that price being way too steep, there was absolutely no way they could or would do it at the time given they already had an idea Zack Wheeler’s elbow would be a problem, which is why talks just presumably fizzled.

Still, the perception among baseball executives is the Mets and Rockies still matchup best for a trade involving Tulowitzki, reports Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, and Jon Heyman of CBS Sports opined the Mets will eventually look to the trade market or turn to Matt Reynolds for a short-term fix at shortstop.

If the Mets were to acquire Tulowitzki, and for now it remains highly unlikely, that wouldn’t necessarily close the door on either Cecchini or Rosario down the line. Given his age and surgically repaired hip, it’s conceivable Tulowitzki will eventually migrate away from shortstop to a corner infield position, potentially third base, which could allow for one of those two Mets prospects to eventually succeed him at shortstop.

For now, however, this remains only a theory and a perception. It takes two to tango in these deals.

Tulowitzki is in the fifth year of a ten-year, $157.75 million contract he signed with Colorado after the 2010 season. He is owed $20 million a year from 2015-2019, then $14 million in 2020. He has a $15 million club option for 2021 with a $4 million buyout.

If Tulowitzki is traded during any point of the contract, he will receive a $2 million bonus, and a full no-trade clause kicks in if he is traded.