Advertisement

Troy Tulowitzki trade blindsides Colorado Rockies players

By Jack McCarthy, The Sports Xchange
Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (2) warms up prior to the game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. on June 30, 2014. UPI/Mark Goldman
Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (2) warms up prior to the game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. on June 30, 2014. UPI/Mark Goldman | License Photo

CHICAGO -- Colorado Rockies second baseman DJ LeMahieu didn't see this coming.

Tuesday's trade of shortstop Troy Tulowitzki to Toronto left LeMahieu and other now-former Colorado teammates in shock and wondering what comes next as the Rockies embark on an apparent rebuilding effort.

Advertisement

"Obviously, shocked like everyone else, disappointed," LeMahieu said in front of his locker in the Wrigley Field visitors clubhouse on Tuesday. "We all thought someone might get dealt, but a deal like that I don''t think anyone really planned."

The six-player transaction sent Tulowitzki and 42-year-old journeyman right-handed pitcher LaTroy Hawkins to the Blue Jays in exchange for All-Star shortstop Jose Reyes and young right-handed pitchers Miguel Castro, Jeff Hoffman and Jesus Tinoco.

Colorado entered Tuesday last in the National League West at 42-55, 12 1/2 games behind the division-leading Los Angeles Dodgers.

Tulowitzki departed Colorado with a .300 average, including 12 homers and 53 RBIs though 87 games. He was 0-for-5 in his final Rockies game on Monday and saw a hitless streak reach 20 at-bats. Hawkins was 2-1 with a 3.63 ERA and two saves.

Advertisement

"He's going to help that team a lot, he's the best shortstop in baseball," LeMahieu said. "I think he's going to take his game to another level being in the playoff push."

Outfielder Carlos Gonzalez also expressed surprise at the trade of one of the faces of the franchise.

"It's tough, it's sad became I played with the guy for seven years," he said. "Whenever you build a relationship like we had it makes it even harder."

Published reports on Tuesday suggested that Gonzalez could be next.

He's currently on a hot streak that includes National League Player of the Week honors and a 4-for-5 performance with two homers in Monday's 9-8 loss to the Cubs.

Gonzalez was circumspect about his own status.

"I've been traded twice before so whatever happens doesn't surprise me," he said. "Nobody was looking for Tulo's trade yesterday, so I'm not waiting for my name to be out there. But if it happens, it happens. ... My motivation is to play good for this team and whatever happens in the future is up to them."

Reyes, Colorado's new shortstop, made his Major League debut in 2003 for the New York Mets (2003-11) . A four-time All-Star, he played one season for Miami and parts of three seasons with the Blue Jays. He is second among active big league players in triple (115) and steals (471).

Advertisement

Castro, 20, made his major league debut during Toronto's opening day game and is 0-2 in 13 relief appearances. Hoffman, 22, was a first-round (No. 9 overall) pick by the Blue Jays in the 2014 draft and was a collective 3-3 with a 2.93 ERA in 13 starts between Class A and Double-A. Tinoco, 20, is 2-6 with a 3.54 ERA in 15 starts for Class A Lansing (Mich.).

Latest Headlines