The New York Mets are viewed as one of the top candidates to explore the trade market for a shortstop and rumors suggested the club made an offer for Colorado Rockies' shortstop Troy Tulowitzki at last year's deadline and during the offseason. The rumors are apparently no more.
Colorado is in search of upgrading their pitching staff, which the Mets could help with if the Rockies are indeed willing to trade Tulowitzki. The shortstop is meeting/already has met with his agent in Los Angeles this morning to discuss if it's time to ask the organization for a trade.
However, even if Tulo is made available, sources suggest the Mets are unlikely to make a move for the four-time All-Star.
"The Mets have shown little inclination to part with a top MLB-ready pitcher, much less the package Colorado would demand," writes Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com.
"A Mets official recently was insistent that the organization would be unlikely to deal from their core of young, MLB-ready pitching in order to obtain even a similarly cost-controlled young infielder from the Cubs."
Now, if the Mets are unwilling to give up young talent for middle infielders such as Cubs' Starlin Castro (owed just under $50 million through 2019) and 21-year-old Addison Russell, who is under club control for quite some time, it's unlikely they'd be willing to surrender a package of valuable prospects for Tulo. The 30-year-old is owed $118 million through the 2020 season and he's injury-prone. It's an investment owner Fred Wilpon would certainly be wary of making.
Yes, the Mets have some issues at shortstop, but general manager Sandy Alderson has reiterated he's preaching patience with who the team has right now.
"The New York Mets have not yet written off range-challenged Wilmer Flores as their No. 1 shortstop, although Ruben Tejada recently has started to chip away at least modestly at Flores' playing time. Flores, in fact, has a team-leading four home runs," adds Rubin.
Despite leading the team in homers, Flores is batting an anemic .237/.288/.402/.691 with 14 runs scored, 4 home runs and 10 RBIs in 29 games and has also made seven errors in his first 21 appearances at shortstop (although he hasn't made any in his last seven games). Tejada has provided little help in relief, slashing .235/.333/.324/.657 with four runs scored and three RBIs.
The Mets may indeed do something to upgrade the shortstop position if these struggles continue, but don't count on Tulowitzki being the guy.
