Blue Jays: What to do with Ryan Goins

With Goins playing so well, the calls to trade Tulowitzki have started on social media

In one of the least likely scenarios, at least in the immediate term, the Blue Jays could consider shopping their oft-injured, but start shortstop in Troy Tulowitzki. It’s hard to say what he might fetch them in return, but he is still an above average contributor on both sides of the ball, and is just 32 years old, so he should have some solid baseball left in him.

The problem for Tulo has always been his ability to stay healthy, and he’s already landed on the DL once this year, where he currently resides. Players don’t usually get healthier as they age, so anyone trading for the former Rockie would likely have reservations about how much he could stay on the field in the final 3 years of his contract.

The other issue with the former first round pick is his salary, as he’s owed 20 million annually through 2019, before it drops to 14 million for 2020, and a team option in 2021. By today’s standards the contract isn’t ridiculous (when he’s healthy), but he’s getting more expensive all the time, especially as the injuries continue to pile up.

Goins is younger, cheaper (just over 520k), and is just as capable on defence as Tulo, considering the latter is a two-time Gold Glover. Goins will never bring the same upside with the bat, but if you’re saving 18 or 19 million in the process, you can afford to bring in some offence in other areas.

This solution sounds simple, but in reality it would be difficult to find someone willing to give up a significant trade package for Tulo at the moment, even if he’s still an elite player. Consider the Jays sent over a package including Jeff Hoffman, Miguel Castro and more, it would be a tough pill to swallow to look at their current starter as a salary dump, but it might be closer to that than we care to admit.  He wouldn’t be bringing back the type of package he cost the Jays, anyway.