With the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline approaching, theScore's MLB editors explore fictitious trade scenarios that, in all likelihood, won't happen. But it sure would be cool if they did.
The New York Mets have spent nearly a half-decade trying to fill the void at shortstop that opened up when Jose Reyes left for Miami after the 2011 season. Troy Tulowitzki, a perennial All-Star on a perennial non-contender, has been linked to the club for years, but the Mets haven't been in a position to swing a deal for the 30-year-old shortstop. Until now.
Proposed Trade
Mets acquire: SS Troy Tulowitzki, LHP Harrison Musgrave
Rockies acquire: P Noah Syndergaard
Why the Mets should do it
For the first time in a long time, the Mets are relevant. Buoyed by an elite pitching staff, the Mets have stayed afloat in their division despite fielding an offense, both injury plagued and untalented, that owns the worst OPS (.660) in the National League. Their stable of young talent on the mound, though, remains the envy of baseball and they wield enough depth to unload a starter without setting themselves back; their rotation, after all, has become one of baseball's best with Zack Wheeler's arm confined to a sling. Tulowitzki, meanwhile, is hitting .316/.360/.495 (119 wRC+) with 12 homers this season and would instantly improve a lineup routinely deploying Michael Cuddyer and Lucas Duda in the No. 3 and 4 spots. The Mets also have no more than $40 million committed to their yearly payroll beyond 2016, making it easier for the club to absorb Tulowitzki's average salary of $18.8 million over the next five years.
Why the Rockies should do it
Over the last decade, the Rockies have watched just seven of their starters author an ERA+ above 110 while qualifying for the ERA title. For comparison's sake, the Nationals had four pitchers accomplish that feat last summer. The Rockies' prolonged inability to develop effective starting pitching has manifested once again in 2015, wherein the club's rotation ranks last in the National League in park-adjusted fielding independent pitching. Syndergaard, though, could give the Rockies the top starter they haven't had since their inception, frankly, while unloading the monies left on Tulowitzki's contract would also allow the club to pursue in free agency the kind of elite hurler they haven't been able to develop.
Why it won't happen
As badly as the Mets need offense, parting ways with a 22-year-old under control through 2021 - he also throws 98 miles per hour, by the way, with enough command of his secondary arsenal to fashion a 3.05 ERA with a 5.20 strikeout-to-walk ratio as a rookie - is simply too unpalatable. With David Wright on the mend and a promotion potentially looming for Michael Conforto, the Mets may be able to muster together enough offense to support their rotation without swapping one of the game's best young starters for a talented but injury-plagued shortstop.
