The Toronto Blue Jays have acquired shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and righty LaTroy Hawkins from the Colorado Rockies, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Both clubs have now confirmed that the deal is official. The Rockies will receive Jose Reyes, Miguel Castor, Jeff Hoffman and Jesus Tinoco in return.
The Rockies drafted shortstop Brendan Rodgers with their first-round pick this year and already have 22-year-old prospect Trevor Story in the minors. Colorado has no plans to flip Jose Reyes, according to Joel Sherman.
Tulowitzki will receive a $2 million assignment bonus for being traded. His contract now will now include a no-trade clause, according to Rosenthal. The 30-year-old is hitting a slash of .305/.353/.478 with 12 homers and 52 RBIs this season in 346 plate appearances. The five-time All-Star has struggled with injuries since 2012 and hasn’t played over 126 games since 2011, when he played in 143. The biggest question of the deal is how healthy can Tulowitzki stay especially with him playing on turf in Toronto.
Tulowitzki is still owed $96 million through 2020, while Reyes is owed $48 million through 2018. This move now gives the Rockies more flexibility in the future and should allow them to rebuild a lot faster.
Reyes, 32, has been consistent throughout his career and this season has been no different. The switch-hitter is hitting a slash of .285/.322/.385 with 4 homers, 34 RBIs and 16 stolen bases in 311 plate appearances. There will definitely be rumors of another Reyes trade in the upcoming days, but the Rockies said they plan to keep the shortstop this season.
Hoffman, 22, is the top prospect that the Rockies will receive from the Blue Jays. The right-hander has been sharp in his first season in the minors, posting an ERA of 2.93 with a WHIP of 1.256 in 67 2/3 innings. He has pitched in both High A-Advanced and Double-A this year. Hoffman was rated fourth in our preseason Top 20 Toronto prospects.
Castro might have the most upside of the pitchers that the Rockies will receive. The 20-year-old reliever has already seen big league action, posting a 4.38 ERA in 12 1/3 innings. He’s played four seasons in the minors, posting a 2.63 ERA in 195 1/3 innings. Castro was ranked ninth in our preseason top 20.
The last player that Colorado will get in the exchange is Jesus Tinoco. The 20-year-old is not as good as the other two prospects, but he will provide youth to the farm system. He has posted a 3.54 ERA in 81 1/3 innings for Class A Lansing this season.
This is a good trade for both teams this season and only time will tell who won the trade. The Blue Jays get two veterans, while the Rockies get three pitching prospects, something they’ve desperately needed for a long time. The Blue Jays add 42-year-old Hawkins and one of the best shortstops in the game. The Blue Jays currently set at second in the AL East with a record of 50-50 and seven games back of the Yankees. This could be the move that puts them over the hump and gets them to the playoffs for the first time since 1993.
BREAKING: Tulo traded to #BlueJays.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 28, 2015
Source: Jose Reyes and minor leaguers to #Rockies.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 28, 2015
Tulowitzki will receive a $2M assignment bonus for being traded and his contract converts to include full no-trade clause from here on out.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 28, 2015
Source: LaTroy Hawkins going with Tulo to #BlueJays.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 28, 2015
Miguel Castro likely going to #Rockies in the Tulowitzki blockbuster, source says. #BlueJays
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 28, 2015
#Rockies receiving four players from #BlueJays in all.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 28, 2015
there is no $ involved in the tulo trade. straight deal.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) July 28, 2015
Told #Rockies have no deals lined up to flip Reyes quickly. #Bluejays #Mets
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) July 28, 2015
Hearing Jeff Hoffman in the package to Colorado
— bob elliott (@elliottbaseball) July 28, 2015
Sources confirm #Rockies getting Reyes, Castro, Hoffman and one more player from #BlueJays in the blockbuster.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 28, 2015
hear 4th player going to colorado is rhp jesus tinoco. so it's tulo & hawkins for reyes, castro, hoffman & tinoco. #tulo
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) July 28, 2015
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