Trading CarGo And Tulo? Just Don’t

Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

It is September 22, 2013, and the fake Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez trade rumors are already starting. The discontent created by games missed due to injury motivates a number of fans to call for such trades, assuming that the Rockies could get a haul for either of them. It is that point that I would like to point out, again, that video game trades don’t happen in real life.

Then there is the notion that if one writer in New York says that the team they cover should trade for one or both of the stars, that somehow qualifies as a trade “rumor” instead of the blowhard musings of a columnist.

Can you imagine if some of the Mark Kiszla columns turned into “rumors?” Yikes.

Anyhow, those are just a few of the reasons that I appreciated Troy Renck’s column this morning that attempted to throw some ice water on these rumors ahead of the off-season. From today’s Denver Post:

"The Rockies are not shopping all-stars Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez. They have not called teams about them, according to sources with direct knowledge of the Rockies’ talks and plans.“The likelihood that both will be traded this offseason is zero. There remains an extremely slim possibility that one will be dealt, but only to address multiple needs, not as a salary dump.”"

But when the Rockies have shown that they have legitimate building blocks to be a decent team sooner than later, what incentive is there to pursue this type of deal? As I’ve wondered before, if rebuilding includes efforts to acquire cornerstone players, why would you trade them when you already have them? Because, and I will say this as many times as I have to say it…video game trades don’t happen in real life.

Renck writes the following about what they would have to get in return for CarGo or Tulo:

"Tulo and CarGo are different. It would be one or the other. Most likely neither. And, for all those who will tweet me, it’s not a yard sale where you barter with extra outfielders and pitchers recovering from surgery.“Any deal would have to be a home run.”"

And that deal likely does not exist. So let’s just be done with these “rumors” now and get excited about an improved Rockies team with CarGo and Tulo in the center of things next season.