Colorado Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez is one of the best hitters in baseball, but he could be on the move in the offseason as his team looks to rebuild with an eye on the future.
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Rockies Open to Trading Gonzalez
Sunday, Dec. 6
While Gonzalez drilled 40 home runs and tallied 97 RBI last season, Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported Colorado is "open-minded" about trading the outfielder. According to Spotrac, Gonzalez is under contract through the 2017 season, but the Rockies were a dismal 68-94 last season and are likely multiple years away from contention.
The team owes him a combined $37 million in base salary in 2016 and 2017, which is a lot for a potential bottom-feeder in the National League West to dole out to one player.
Trading Gonzalez in the offseason would fit under the sell-high category for the Rockies after he bounced back from an injury-plagued 2014 campaign. Gonzalez played only 70 games in 2014 and hit a career-worst .238 with 11 homers. It was his only season in the last six years in which he hasn't hit 22 long balls, which is why it was important for him to put up impressive numbers in 2015.
Gonzalez is only 30 years old and theoretically has a couple of years of prime production remaining in the tank. Whichever team trades for him would immediately land a multidimensional talent who could slide right into the middle of its order.
Gonzalez is a solid fielder with experience at all three outfield spots (although he was solely a right fielder last year). According to FanGraphs, Gonzalez has recorded 19 total defensive runs saved above average over the course of his career.
The Rockies traded Troy Tulowitzki last season in a rebuilding effort, and nobody on their roster has as much value as Gonzalez after his formidable 2015. Losing the 2010 National League batting title winner would hurt in the immediate future, but he would net plenty of prospects and potentially open the door for a younger outfielder to take his place.
Baseball America ranked the top 10 prospects in the Colorado system in November, and outfielder David Dahl was second, while outfielder Raimel Tapia was 10th. There are some possible stars waiting in the wings, but don’t expect the Rockies to contend in 2016 without Gonzalez in the middle of their order.
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