The Colorado Rockies (11-18) haven't made the postseason since 2009 and they're already off to a poor start this year. The club's current 10-game losing streak perhaps has their star player - shortstop Troy Tulowitzki - rethinking his future in Colorado.
According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, Tulowitzki is meeting with his agent, Paul Cohen, in Los Angeles on Thursday morning to decide if it's appropriate to ask Rockies management for a trade, which will now spur various rumors. The 30-year-old is batting .298/.306/.481 with 16 runs scored, 2 home runs and 11 RBIs in 29 games this season and the Rockies' offense ranks at the bottom of the MLB.
Colorado's pitching staff is also the worst in the MLB thanks to a 5.48 ERA and the club looks like they're in the same position as they were last season. They finished with the second-worst record (66-96) in the league and ranked last in ERA in 2014.
As a result, Tulowitzki is likely not happy and wants to avoid being on a losing team for a fifth consecutive season. Since reaching the World Series in 2007, the Rockies are 537-626 with no NL West division titles and one postseason appearance.
"I just know that I don't want all of this hanging over my head every day I come to the ballpark. This game is hard enough as it is," Tulowitzki said, via ESPN.com.
"Cohen said he 'spent a tremendous amount of time' on this topic with Tulowitzki in the offseason," adds Sherman. "He explained 'it doesn't take a rocket scientist' to see why the subject will be renewed now - the Rockies are miserable again and the likelihood of being a contender any time soon is not strong."
Colorado reportedly received offers for Tulowitzki before last year's trade deadline and throughout the offseason, but new general manager Jeff Bridich said he was not willing to hastily part ways with the team's stars because he believed they had a chance to contend. Bridich commented on the trade rumors yesterday.
"Right now it's a lot of needless speculation due to our recent struggles," he told ESPN's Pedro Gomez.
In the event Bridich were to consider budging, trading Tulowitzki will be no easy task. The Rockies are going to want a good return for the shortstop, but he's owed over $100 million through the 2020 season and he's averaged just 88 games per season from 2012-2014 due to various injuries. If his health wasn't a red flag then various teams would likely be pouncing on such a deal, but the fact that it's probably going to take a few top prospects in addition to inheriting an immense contract complicates the matter.
Additionally, FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal said Colorado is "not ready to talk about a Tulo trade" and they're "looking for pitching, preferably at a low acquisition cost."
The Rockies won't have much say if they continue to lose and they won't want to risk having a divided clubhouse if Tulowitzki continues to grow unhappy.
