With the Mets shifting Wilmer Flores to second base and Daniel Murphy to third base, the club is once again left with a gaping hole at the most important position on the infield: shortstop.
Sure, Ruben Tejada has solidified the position defensively, but if history is any indication, he will eventually become overexposed playing everyday, if it hasn’t happened already (although he has a .751 OPS in his last nine games).
And, it’s hard to envision the Mets playing in October and Tejada starting playoff games at shortstop, anyway.
For the better part of a year, the Mets and Rockies have been linked in trade speculation regarding their star shortstop, 30-year-old Troy Tulowitzki.
Tulowitzki was particularly complimentary of the Mets pitching staff at the All-Star Game in Cincinnati this week.
“The Mets pitching staff is phenomenal,’’ Tulowitzki told Kevin Kernan of the New York Post. “Pitching wins and if they keep that intact, they are going to be good for a long time.’’
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.
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 to find an answer at shortstop.
With the Rockies floundering in the National League West again, it’s logical to conclude team brass would consider moving their prized shortstop this summer. He has shown to be fully healthy following major hip surgery last year, and the now five-time All-Star has posted a .313/.351/.831 line with ten home runs and 49 RBI in 316 plate appearances in 79 games.
But the Rockies are not so inclined to move Tulowitzki ahead of the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, according to Jim Bowden of ESPN/MLB Network Radio.
“The buzz around the All-Star shortstop is that the Rockies would prefer to wait until the offseason to talk trade,” Bowden explains.
So they say, anyway.
Even if that is valid. it doesn’t mean they can’t and won’t pick up at some point in the near future, especially if there’s sudden motivation for Colorado to get a deal done. And, Tulowitzki’s value could diminish in the trade market as it’s conceivable he will have to move out from shortstop in the not to distant future.
Having said that, the Mets need to keep that in mind as well should they decide to pursue a trade for the star shortstop. Would they be able to get enough out of Tulowitzki at short to get them to Amed Rosario, who is still 2-3 years away?
Risk is part of the game, but given Tulowitzki’s age, injury history and salary, it would be a major consideration in the scenario.
He’s 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.
Just Mets 