Colorado Rockies: Re-examining the 2015 trade with the Toronto Blue Jays

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DENVER, CO – JULY 25: Troy Tulowitzki #2 of the Colorado Rockies reacts after flying out in the seventh inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds at Coors Field on July 25, 2015 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /

Just under four years ago, the Colorado Rockies and Toronto Blue Jays embarked on what would be a franchise-altering trade for both sides. Now, looking back on the deal, did either team really come out on top?

In late July of 2015, the Colorado Rockies dealt Troy Tulowitzki and LaTroy Hawkins to Toronto in exchange for shortstop Jose Reyes and three right-handed pitching prospects in Miguel Castro, Jeff Hoffman and Jesus Tinoco. Today, only Hoffman and Tinoco are with the team to which they were traded and, as of this writing, only Tinoco was a part of a Major League roster.

The trade has been examined in past articles, including this one. However, with Hoffman being sent back to Triple-A this past week and, for the moment, losing his place in the Colorado rotation, it’s worth diving into again.

First, let’s look at the Colorado side of the trade…

When Jeff Hoffman came into the Rockies system following the trade, he was immediately enshrined as the fourth-best prospect in Colorado’s farm system, per MLB.com. However, in his career with the Rockies, he has a 7-12 mark, a 6.05 ERA and has accounted for -1.0 WAR.

His latest demotion to Triple-A is a troubling sign as the Rockies chose to use Chi Chi Gonzalez, signed to a minor league deal in the offseason, in Tuesday’s start against the Giants in San Francisco. At 1-3 this season and throwing just 33.1 innings in seven starts, it’s not a stretch to wonder if the Rockies have seen enough of Hoffman to know that he doesn’t fit into their future
plans.

And what about the other two prospects brought to Colorado in the trade?

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Castro pitched in 24 games for the Rockies over the course of two seasons before he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles on April 7, 2017 for right-handed pitcher Jon Keller. He never pitched in the Rockies organization and retired after the 2017 season.

Accumulating -0.3 WAR during those 24 games, Castro was 0-1 with a 7.20 ERA with the Rockies. The two seasons after being traded to the Orioles, Castro posted a 2.2 WAR.

Tinoco, meanwhile, made his Rockies debut on May 31. As of this writing, he has seen action in just three games and has allowed one run in 4.1 innings while striking out three. It’s certainly early but it’s conceivable that the 24-year-old right-hander could wind up being the biggest asset Colorado received in the trade.

Reyes was a complete nightmare for the Rockies. He immediately made his displeasure about the trade known and was designated for assignment by Colorado in June of 2016 after he was reinstated following an arrest in the offseason for alleged domestic abuse. Colorado ate around $40 million worth of salary when he was designated for assignment, bringing a stunningly short but horrid time with the Rockies to an end.

Yes, Colorado needed a shortstop to take Tulowitzki’s place. However, in hindsight, the Rockies would have never taken Reyes had they known the problems he would cause on so many levels.

And what about the Toronto side?

DENVER, CO – JUNE 28: Troy Tulowitzki #2 of the Toronto Blue Jays throws to first base for an out in the sixth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on June 28, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. The Toronto Blue Jays defeat the Colorado Rockies 14-9. (Photo by Bart Young/Getty Images) /

Troy Tulowitzki was traded to the Blue Jays in a move that would hopefully give Toronto the final piece it needed to win a World Series. The Jays reached the American League Championship Series in 2015 and 2016 but would go no further.

Tulowitzki, however, could never piece it completely together in the postseason at the plate. He was the second-leading batter for the Jays in the 2015 ALCS against Kansas City, hitting .304 in 23 at-bats with a home run and seven RBI. That followed a .095 performance against Texas in the American League Division Series. The following season, he would hit just .111 in the 2016 ALCS against Cleveland after hitting .462 against Texas in the ALDS.

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That 2016 season also was the beginning of Tulowitzki’s injury issues in Toronto. A quad strain landed him on the 15-day DL in June. The following year, he would see action in just 66 games thanks to hamstring and ankle injuries. Bone spurs cost him the 2018 season and he would be released by the Blue Jays on December 11.

Picked up by the New York Yankees in April of this year, he is currently on the 60-day injured list with a left calf strain.

With Toronto, he totaled 4.8 WAR in 238 games. With Colorado, he totaled 39.4 WAR in 1,048 games.

Hawkins, meanwhile, pitched in 18 games with the Blue Jays and put up a 2.76 regular-season ERA. His postseason experience with Toronto was limited and unimpressive, giving up two runs in 0.2 innings in the ALDS and five runs in just one combined inning in the ALCS.

He retired that offseason.

WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 15: Jesus Tinoco #54 of the Colorado Rockies and the World Team works the fifth inning against the U.S. Team during the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at Nationals Park on July 15, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

It’s hard to see how Toronto didn’t win the trade in the short-term. Tulowitzki boosted an already potent Blue Jays lineup and was part of two consecutive runs to the American League Championship Series. Meanwhile, the Rockies were saddled with Reyes and had to wait for prospects to mature into their roles.

However, in the long-term, the Rockies still have two players left in their system from the trade in Hoffman and Tinoco. Hoffman’s future with the organization is still a bit clouded but Tinoco certainly brings promise for his potential in the Colorado bullpen.

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Could Tinoco build up 4.8 WAR during his Rockies career, matching what Tulowitzki gave the Blue Jays in that statistical category? It’s possible. Tinoco’s future (and any rebound by Hoffman) balanced against Tulowitzki’s short stay north of the border could ultimately be what decides exactly which franchise won a trade that sent shockwaves through both clubhouses.

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Just under four years ago, the Colorado Rockies and Toronto Blue Jays embarked on what would be a franchise-altering trade for both sides. Now, looking back on the deal, did either team really come out on top?

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