Rockies trade SS Tulowitzki to the Blue Jays

Long-time Rockies All-Star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki has been traded to the Toronto Blue Jays, confirms Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. There’s no word on the full return yet, but Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reports that Jose Reyes is part of what is going back to Colorado with LaTroy Hawkins going to Toronto.

Tulowitzki, 30, was drafted by the Rockies in the first round, seventh overall, in 2005 and has spent his entire professional career with the franchise. He’s a five-time All-Star and twice finished fifth in NL MVP voting. To say he’s a Rockies franchise icon is an understatement.

This season, Tulowitzki is hitting .300/.348/.471 with 19 doubles, 12 homers and 53 RBI.

The Blue Jays have the top offense in baseball by a significant margin when it comes to runs scored, but they have had pitching issues. The move for Tulowitzki makes their offense even better than before.

Tulowitzki has long been discussed as a possible trade candidate for the seemingly perpetually rebuilding Rockies, but ownership has long held tightly to their franchise centerpiece. It looks like now they are ready to turn the reins over to All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado.

Reyes, 32, is hitting .285/.322/.385 with 17 doubles, four homers, 16 steals and 36 runs this season. He, like Tulo, has had durability issues for the past several years.

Hawkins, 42, has a 3.63 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 20 strikeouts in 22 1/3 innings this season. The Blue Jays would be his 10th team in 21 big-league seasons.

There will obviously be more to the deal and we’ll pass those details along when we get them.

News of the trade to Toronto was first reported by Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.

Troy Tulowitzki is finally headed out of Colorado. (USATSI)

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