Report: Rockies, Cardinals to talk Troy Tulowitzki trade
Troy Tulowitzki is reportedly a prime trade target of the Cardinals. (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
The St. Louis Cardinals and Colorado Rockies are expected to discuss a potential blockbuster trade involving Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki at this week's MLB GM/owners' meetings, Yahoo Sports' Jeff Passan reported Sunday.
The National League champion Cardinals want to upgrade at shortstop after starting 25-year-old Pete Kozma there last season. In 404 at-bats at shortstop, Kozma batted just .220 with one homer, 35 RBIs and a .556 OPS.
ESPN.com's Jim Bowden reported Sunday that the Cardinals are expected to dangle their surplus of young starting pitching for a "young, controllable shortstop." The organization's preference, according to Passan, is Tulowitzki, who hit .312 with 25 homers, 82 RBIs and a .931 OPS in 126 games last season.
The Rockies have previously said the 29-year-old Tulowitzki isn't going anywhere, but their position is different privately, Passan reported:
While Rockies ownership has said publicly it has no intentions of trading Tulowitzki, privately it continues to weigh advantages of freeing itself from the final seven years and $134 million guaranteed remaining on his contract against the loss of a superstar and the public-relations hit of trading a beloved homegrown player.
Tulowitzki has a no-trade clause, meaning he would have to approve any potential trade. Passan also reported the Cardinals have inquired about the possibility of acquiring one of the Texas Rangers' young shortstops — Elvis Andrus or Jurickson Profar.
