MLB Trade Rumors: Dan Uggla To The Rockies??

Rockies SS Troy Tulowitzki was placed on the DL with a broken wrist on Friday, and since then there has been speculation that the Rockies will look outside the organization to replace him, as Tulo will be out 6-8 weeks. Should Tulo be out the minimum 6 weeks, we are looking at an early August return, otherwise we are looking at a mid-late August return.

Before getting injured, Tulo was hitting .306-.375-.502 with 9 HRs, 34 RBIs, 7 SBs, and 47 runs scored. To replace that production will be difficult for the Rockies. Internal infield options Chris Nelson and Jonathan Herrera won't come close to that production, and Melvin Mora can't play everyday, so the Rockies could look outside the organization to replace Tulo.

One option is Florida Marlins second baseman Dan Uggla who is eligible for arbitration this offseason, and the Marlins will more than likely look to deal Uggla should they fall out of the NL East race within the next month or so.

Uggla is hitting .259-.361-.486 with 14 HRs, 38 RBIs and 49 runs scored. He has averaged 30-100 over the last 4 seasons, and would look good hitting in the middle of the Rockies lineup. (Did i just say that??) The Rockies lineup without Tulo does not scare many teams as their top HR hitters areCarlos Gonzalez and Seth Smith, both of whom are young and have never started for a full season.Brad Hawpe has disappointed in the power department with just 5 bombs this season. Third baseman Ian Stewart has been riding the pine of late and has only 7 HRs to date, and first baseman Todd Helton has turned into the modern day Sean Casey.

So who would the Rockies have to give up for Dan Uggla? I am sure the Marlins would be looking for starting pitchers and the Rockies have a few very good pitching prospects in the minors, and one at the major league level that I am curious to see if they would make him available once Jorge De La Rosa returns from the DL. Jhoulys Chacin is the pitcher at the major league level who I think could become expendable should JDLR come back healthy within the next few weeks.

The Rockies rotation of Ubaldo (we can refer to him as just Ubaldo going forward, can't we?), JDLR, Aaron Cook, Jeff Francis and Jason Hammel is a formidable 1-5 rotation. Chacin could become expendable should the Rockies feel Uggla is the guy they want playing second base with Tulo on the DL.