Report: Tulowitzki May Soon Ask For A Trade; Are The Mets An Option?
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- According to the New York Post, shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and his agent, Paul Cohen, will meet in Los Angeles on Thursday morning to decide whether to ask Rockies management for a trade.
"To say that it is not a possibility would be silly," Cohen told the newspaper.
The Rockies (11-18) have lost 10 in a row and figure to be sellers this summer.
Cohen told the Post that he "spent a tremendous amount of time" discussing this issue with his client during the offseason. Two people who know Tulowitzki well told the Post's Joel Sherman that the four-time All-Star is frustrated with his team's poor play over the past few seasons and wants out of Denver.
The Mets could certainly use a shortstop, though there are risks involved and acquiring him might not be practical. Tulowitzki, 30, has played more than 140 games just three times in his career and is coming off major hip surgery.
He's also expensive. Entering the 2015 season, the two-time Gold Glove Award winner had six years and $118 million left on his contract. Would the Mets take on that deal? It's hard to imagine. Rockies general manager Jeff Bridich would likely want a wealth of young pitching in return, something Mets GM Sandy Alderson has been hesitant to part with in the past.
And just like Hanley Ramirez, Tulowitzki might be forced to change positions sooner rather than later due to his advanced age and injury history. There's also a question as to how the veteran's bat would translate away from the friendly confines of Coors Field.
If Tulowitzki is traded, the Post reports that he'll receive a $2 million bonus and will have full no-trade protection.
For what it's worth, Bridich told MLB.com that he's not looking to deal Tulowitzki or Carlos Gonzalez right now.
"It's early in May," Bridich said. "If and when those situations come up, we'll deal with that then."
The Wilmer Flores experiment has been a failure thus far for the Mets. In 28 games, the 23-year-old is hitting .245 with four home runs and 10 RBIs. He's posted a very poor .297 on-base percentage and has struggled in the field, committing seven errors.
Tulowitzki is hitting .298 with two homers and 11 RBIs.
