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Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
★★★
It’s easy to figure out why the Blue Jays traded Jose Reyes (and a few minor-league players) for Troy Tulowitzki. Tulo is a great defensive shortstop who, even with a slow May this year, is batting .300/.348/.471, and has hit .333/.400/.533 since his slump ended on May 29. Sure, he’s owed at least $98 million from 2016 through 2020, but the Jays are owned by Rogers Communications, and Toronto is an enormous market that the organization hasn’t fully tapped into financially yet. They can spend if they choose to, and grabbing Tulo suggests they might have just chosen to in order to try to snap their 21-season playoff drought.
The Rockies and Reyes, though? Reyes isn’t owed anywhere near as much total money, but he’s also older and significantly worse now that he’s no longer a good defender at short. He’s still owed a minimum of $48 million between 2016 and 2017. Maybe Reyes will be flipped to another team before the deadline, but even then, this is a strange acquisition. That’s because the Rockies didn’t get a whole lot else for their greatest trade asset, one teams have wanted to pry from them for years. Basically, we’re left waiting to see what they get by flipping Reyes -- if anything -- and what they do with the money they cleared by dealing Tulo’s future away.
Jeff Hoffman is a great prospect, but he’s also just one guy. Miguel Castro is a 20-year-old arm with major-league bullpen experience and some promise, but he’s not a major building block. They’re lovely to have, but at the cost of bringing back Reyes while losing Tulowitzki? This deal makes you appreciate what the Phillies have been doing with Cole Hamels so far: they’ve demanded a huge return for a piece that they could still rebuild around if they chose to, not feeling forced to move him just to clear payroll. The Rockies certainly acted as if they absolutely had to trade Tulo, because seriously: Jose Reyes. In 2015!
- The Giants have won six games in a row, and now find themselves half-a-game behind the NL West-leading Dodgers.
- These same Giants are also inquiring on Aroldis Chapman, now that the Reds have finally opened up the doors to their summer sale.
- The Orioles aren’t quite ready to sell yet, and have discussed Justin Upton, as well as starting pitchers, with the Padres.
- The Rangers want Cole Hamels, but won’t part with prospect Nomar Mazara to make it happen.
- The Red Sox traded Shane Victorino to the Angels before the game Monday night. The Angels should be happy, as Victorino can still field and cost them little.
- Victorino, who was arguably Boston’s best player in their championship 2013, gave a heartfelt, tearful goodbye to the Red Sox and their fans.
- The Reds trading Johnny Cueto bummed out Grant Brisbee, for two very different reasons.
- The Yankees won, but this trash can that Mark Teixeira threw around certainly did not.
- Sean Doolittle keeps a secret burrito in his car. You know, in case there is traffic.
- The Mets traded a prospect to get Tyler Clippard from the A’s.
- Craig Kimbrel could be on the move again, this time to the Nationals, who would once again be trying to keep Drew Storen from throwing key innings in the playoffs.
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