Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki endured his first batting practice session of spring training on Monday. The 30-year-old says he "ready to go" following his season-ending hip surgery. If he can stay healthy and produce for a good while in the beginning of the season it's possible he gets traded.
Tulo spoke to reporters after batting practice and addressed a number of issues, including his health and trade rumors involving his name. The four-time All-Star played in only 91 games in 2014 (despite slashing .340/.432/.603/1.035 with 71 runs scored, 21 home runs and 52 RBIs) and has only played in 264 games over the past three seasons.
"You guys judge for yourself," Tulowitzki said when asked about his health, via Thomas Harding of MLB.com. "I can say I'm healthy [as much] as I want. It doesn't matter until I get out there and play."
"My goal is what you guys want, for me to play. Everything else will take care of itself if I played."
Early on in the offseason Tulowitzki was mentioned as a prime trade candidate because of the Rockies' management changeover. New general manager Jeff Bridich said he would "entertain" trade talks for his star shortstop.
However, sources said the Rockies would not be prepared to trade either Tulowitzki or All-Star outfielder Carlos Gonzalez (who underwent season-ending knee surgery) until the two returned to full health because the team would want to get maximum value for them. This essentially ruled out any trades during the offseason, which was upheld when the Rockies rejected offers for Tulo from the New York Mets.
"I do pay attention and I saw my name being thrown all over," Tulo added when asked about trade rumors. "I do know that rumors fly, and fly at a high rate nowadays with social media ... the Rockies kept me involved and I think they said that from the start ... I never listen to anything because I knew we would be communicating if anything came close."
Colorado finds themselves perhaps at the bottom of an NL West division as the Padres, Dodgers, Diamondbacks and Giants spent the offseason re-tooling their rosters. Trading Tulowitzki and/or Gonzalez when healthy could yield the Rockies a lot of young talent and help them begin preparing for the future. They have prospects OF David Dahl (ranked No. 1 in their farm system) and SS/3B Rosell Herrera (ranked No. 9) who are slated to make their major league debuts in 2016, so replacing these two All-Stars isn't hopeless. It would also potentially relieve the Rockies a maximum of $171 million in salary commitments.
The Rockies finished third in the MLB for runs scored (755) last season, but ranked at the very bottom of the league in ERA (4.84), losses (96), wins (66), opponents' batting average (.276), saves (24), blown saves (26), among others.
If the Rockies pitching continues to struggle and Tulowitzki proves to be healthy and productive following surgery, it wouldn't be shocking if the star shortstop was traded to help upgrade the pitching staff.
