CHICAGO — In the quiet and shocked visitors clubhouse at Wrigley Field Monday, Rockies players watched star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki enter manager Walt Weiss’ office for a long meeting.
Word quickly spread that Tulowitzki, 30, had been traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in the biggest trade in Rockies history. The Rockies confirmed the trade Tuesday morning, that Tulo had been dealt to Toronto for veteran shortstop Jose Reyes and prospects.
Tulowitzki was taken out of Monday night’s game in the ninth inning of the Rockies’ 9-8, walk-off loss to the Cubs.
The deal with Toronto will include relief pitcher LaTroy Hawkins, the 42-year-old right-hander who is in the final season of his career.
Colorado will get right-handed pitching prospects Miguel Castro, Jeff Hoffman and Jesus Tinoco. Castro, a 20-year-old reliever, opened the season with the Blue Jays and had a 4.38 ERA and four saves in 13 games. Hoffman, 22, was the Blue Jays’ first-round selection (ninth overall pick) in 2014 and has a 3-3 record with a 2.93 ERA in 13 starts between Single-A and Double-A play. Tinoco, 20, is 2-6 with a 3.54 ERA in 15 starts in with Single-A Lansing this year.
It remained unclear late Monday whether the Rockies would hold on to Reyes or flip him to a contending team in the coming days.
PHOTOS: Troy Tulowitzki trade ends career with Colorado Rockies
Reyes, 32 , is due $22 million per year through 2017, with an option for 2018 for another $22 million. Reyes was sidelined early in the season with a fractured left rib suffered on a check swing in Toronto’s fourth game of 2015.
The four-time All-Star and 2011 NL batting champion is hitting .285 with four home runs and 34 RBIs in 69 games.
Tulowitzki is under contract through 2020 (with a club option in 2021) and due at least another $108 million, including a $2 million relocation bonus for being traded. The deal saves the Rockies approximately $50 million.
Tulowitzki was not seen leaving Wrigley Field on the Rockies’ team bus late Monday night, but Rockies staff members said Tulo was no longer at the ballpark.
The Rockies said they would have no official comment on the situation until Tuesday. Tulowitzki was unavailable for comment.
“I know word is out there,” Weiss said about the trade. “But at this time I can’t confirm it. There is a lot of things going on right now. So it’s not official. I will know more, when we know more about the situation.”
A Tulowitzki trade had been rumored since last November’s general managers meetings in Phoenix when first-year Rockies GM Jeff Bridich said his “eyes and ears were open” to all possibilities.
The Tulo trade rumors peaked again in May, with Bridich calling the rumors a “media production.”
At that time, Tulowitzki said he planned to continue his career with the Rockies, but he said understood the trade speculation.
“When you make the most money on the team and your team’s not playing well, you’re going to be that target,” Tulowitzki said. “I understand … (with) my contract, and with me being here longer than anyone in this locker room, what comes with that territory. That’s fair.”
Tulowitzki is hitting .300 this season, with 12 home runs and 52 RBIs, though he went 0-for-4 Monday night as he continued a recent slump that has seen him go 0-for-20, the longest hitless streak of his career.
Tulo is a career .299 hitter with a .372 on-base percentage and a .886 OPS. He’s hit 188 homers in all or parts of 10 seasons, all with Colorado. He was a first-round draft choice out of Long Beach State in 2005, the seventh overall player selected. He’s a five-time all-star, including a selection this season.
However, he’s been prone to injury. He played in just 91 games last season before being shut down for a left hip injury. He had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his hip last August. He has played more than 126 games in a season only once since 2009.
The Rockies, and owner Dick Monfort in particular, have been reluctant to trade their best player. Colorado in 2011 signed Tulowitzki to a 10-year, $157.75 million contract extension. The same year, they also signed Carlos Gonzalez to a seven-year, $80 million deal. The plan was to ride out their two superstars to multiple playoff appearances.
“The goal is to keep those two guys for their whole careers,” Monfort said last summer. “They are the (team’s) best players.”
But the plan fizzled as the Rockies continued to lose.
Since 2011, the Rockies have finished last in the National League West twice. They finished fourth twice. In the four-and-a-half seasons since Tulowitzki and Gonzalez got big contract extensions, the Rockies are 319-425, with a winning percentage of just .429.
“Both of them are elite players. Two of the best in the game. I’m sure it bothers them more than anybody,” Weiss said earlier this season.
Tulo’s rise was meteoric. In 2007, he finished second in the National League rookie of the year voting after hitting .291 with 24 home runs and 99 RBIs. He helped the Rockies reach their only World Series.
Two years later, he was an MVP candidate, hitting .297 with 32 home runs and 92 RBIs as the Rockies made the playoffs again. It was the last time the Rockies would play in the postseason with Tulowitzki.
By 2012, Tulowitzki started missing large chunks of games. A left groin injury forced him out after only 47 games that year, and he underwent surgery to repair his groin.
But Tulowitzki was still an elite shortstop before his 2014 injury. He compiled a first-half WAR that was second only to Angels center fielder Mike Trout. Since 2011, Tulowitzki ranks as the second-best shortstop in baseball, ordered by WAR, second only to Reyes.
This season, Tulo started slowly, but came on in June and July, including a 41-game on-base streak, the best of his career and tied for the second longest in team history.
While the Rockies are currently in last place in the NL West at 42-55, the Blue Jays are hoping to make a late-season run at the New York Yankees in the AL East. Toronto currently trails New York by seven games.
Patrick Saunders: psaunders@denverpost.com or twitter.com/psaundersdp
The Troy Tulowitzki trade
The Rockies late Monday traded Troy Tulowitzki, their best player, to the Toronto Blue Jays. Here’s the breakdown:
GOING
Troy Tulowitzki, shortstop
Five-time all-star shortstop and, at 30, still the game’s best at his position.
LaTroy Hawkins, RHP
The 42-year-old closer in the final year of his career will now pitch for an 11th team.
COMING
Jose Reyes, SS
Former Mets standout and a four-time all-star; declined some since winning the NL batting title in 2011.
Jeff Hoffman, RHP
The No. 9 overall draft pick in 2014; 22-years-old; underwent Tommy John surgery last year; now in Double-A.
Miguel Castro, RHP
Hard-throwing 20-year-old debuted this year and pitched in 13 games he was sent back to Triple-A.
Jesus Tinoco, RHP
Carries a 2-6 record with a 2.54 ERA in Single-A this season.
