Rockies teammates Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki continue to be the subjects of trade speculation. (Doug Pensinger, Getty Images)
The Rockies are a big piece in the puzzle that is the looming trade deadline.
Speculation about whom the club is willing to shop starts with Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez, moves on to Jorge De La Rosa and trickles down to outfielders Drew Stubbs and Brandon Barnes.
There has also been chatter, but no real evidence, that closer La Troy Hawkins also could be dealt.
The latest national take on Tulo and CarGo comes from who breaks down the pros and cons of the players ended up with the Mets or Yankees. According to Sherman: “Mets officials have told their Rockies counterparts if Troy Tulowitzki or Carlos Gonzalez are ever made available, they want in on the action.”
I continue to believe that if the Rockies were to ever move either Tulo or CarGo, it would happen in the offseason. Although the Yankees have long been the team tied to Tulo, the Mets actually have more depth in their system to pull off a big deal.
“Mets officials have told their Rockies counterparts if Troy Tulowitzki or Carlos Gonzalez are ever made available, they want in on the action.”
The De La Rosa situation remains fluid. The latest team in the rumor mill is the Yankees, who could use a lefty starter, and who have a catcher, Francisco Cervelli, a player the Rockies have liked in the past.
In my opinion, the Rockies desperately need a quality defensive catcher to work with the young pitchers coming up, especially Eddie Butler and Jon Gray. Wilin Rosario, for all of his power at the plate, is not working out behind the plate. I think the Rockies’ brass knows that.
From everything I’ve been told, the Rockies’ asking price for De La Rosa is very steep. The Rockies and the Orioles talked, but the Rockies wanted Kevin Gausman, a Colorado kid. It makes sense. Gausman is only 23, grew up pitching at altitude and is one of the best young pitchers in baseball, but the Orioles weren’t willing trade him.
the Rockies are interested in a number of Baltimore’s minor-league pitchers, including lefty Tim Berry at Double-A Bowie, 2013 top pick Hunter Harvey at Class A Delmarva, and right-handers Mike Wright and Tyler Wilson at Triple-A Norfolk.
But also keep in mind that owner Dick Monfort told me earlier this month that Rockies want to re-sign De La Rosa, even though it would cost them $14 million in a qualifying offer. De La Rosa likes Colorado and owns a 41-14 record at Coors Field. And given the injuries to Tyler Chatwood and Jhoulys Chacin, can the Rockies really afford to trade their best pitcher? That’s why the asking price is so high.
The Mariners could use Stubbs, a right-handed bat, as they attempt to make a push for the playoffs. but right now it doesn’t look like a deal will get done.
The Toronto Blue Jays have been scouting Barnes, the Rockies’ utility outfielder. , a Barnes deal, at the right price, could make sense, but an MLB source says Toronto has not yet put together a deal for Barnes.
Stay tuned. The rumors will continue to swirl and the Rockies will be in the middle of them.
Tags: Brandon Barnes, Carlos Gonzales, Drew Stubbs, Francisco Cervelli, Jorge De La Rosa, Troy Tulowitzki
