Report: Mets Interested In Rockies Sluggers Tulowitzki, Gonzalez
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Are the Mets ready to go all in?
The New York franchise with a mid-market payroll could be looking to add one of Colorado's big bats, according to the N.Y. Post. And that would come at a steep price.
The Mets have made it clear to the Rockies that "they want in on the action" if shortstop Troy Tulowitzki or outfielder Carlos Gonzalez hit the trading block, the Post reported.
ERNIE: TULO MAKES TOO MUCH SENSE
Neither player is due to hit free agency any time soon. And there are doubts that last-place Colorado would even be willing to trade Tulowitzki or Gonzalez, according to the Post.
However, the idea that the Mets would want to be in on any potential conversations could be a signal that general manager Sandy Alderson is ready to move on from a rebuilding phase now in its fourth season. Many fans have been saying that 2015 could be the Mets' year, citing the team's full deck of riches on the mound.
Ace Matt Harvey should be back from Tommy John surgery, Zack Wheeler will have another year under his belt, and the team has some prized arms at Triple-A in Noah Syndergaard and Rafael Montero. Don't forget about Jon Niese, Dillon Gee or Bartolo Colon, who could be a goner by the July 31 trade deadline.
But those same fans would admit the Mets need another legitimate offensive threat in the lineup in order to take the next step. If there's a trade to be had, it's likely the Mets would have to say goodbye one or more starting pitchers.
"(B)ecause Colorado always needs to address pitching, I actually see the Mets as their perfect partner," a National League exec told the Post.
The Rockies also value some of New York's' positional prospects, including Brandon Nimmo, the Post reported.
Tulowitzki is as good as they come when healthy, and would be a major upgrade over Ruben Tejada at shortstop. He's leading the majors with a .340 average, and has 21 home runs and 52 RBIs. He was placed on the disabled list Tuesday with a thigh strain, which doesn't do much for his reputation of being injury-prone.
The four-time All-Star has a no-trade clause, though it sounds like he'd be willing to waive it for the right situation.
"In Todd Helton, there's someone who's easy to look at his career here and how it played out," Tulowitzki said earlier this month, according to the Denver Post. "I have the utmost respect for Todd, but at the same time, I don't want to be the next in line as somebody who was here for a long time and didn't have a chance to win every single year. He played in a couple postseason games and went to one World Series. But that's not me. I want to be somewhere where there's a chance to be in the playoffs every single year."
Would he consider the Mets a contender? Some believe the 29-year-old would rather be shipped to the Bronx, where he could replace his idol, the retiring Derek Jeter.
There's the issue of his contract, too. Tulowitzki is due "a minimum of $118 million" through the 2020 season, according to CBSSports.com. The Mets haven't been big spenders under Alderson, whose financial constraints come from ownership.
Gonzalez -- a.k.a. CarGo -- isn't in the same elite class, and he's not owed nearly as much money. He also has injury issues of his own. But he's still a two-time All-Star who has hit above .300 in three seasons, including .336 in 2010, when he knocked a career-high 34 home runs.
Gonzalez, 28, is batting .250 on the year with nine home runs and 34 RBIs. He has three years and $53 million remaining on his contract.
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