Post-Mortem on the Tulo Trade

When I moved to Colorado in 1997, the Rockies were in the Blake Street Bomber phase of their history with Galarraga, Bichette, Castilla and Walker leading the team with homers.  Eric Young was also part of that team and was traded in August of that year, much to the dismay of many fans who had become attached to the hometown team players.

Coming from the East Coast and grown up on the Phillies where players come and go regularly, it surprised me that the Rockies fans didn't realize that players tend to stay only a few years, especially in the free agency era starting in the mid-1970's.

Little did I know that 2 weeks prior to the EY trade to the Dodgers, a young player had taken to the outfield in his Major League Debut as a Rockie and would stay in that uniform until his retirement 16 years later.  We know him as #17 Todd Helton.

But Helton is a rare exception in a business where players rarely play for one team.  Many people expected Tulowitzki to be a Rockie for life, but it was inevitable that he would eventually be traded.  Whether the Rockies got value in return remains to be seen, but many teams have to "grow" by trading seasoned veterans in their prime, to get a future.

The Phillies are in their 133rd season and only have 3 players with 10 years or more playing their entire career in Philadelphia:  Mike Schmidt 18 years, Terry Harmon 10 years, and Bob Miller 10 years.  

In all 167 players have played with one team or franchise their entire career.  There are others who were traded late in their careers such as Willie Mays and Hank Aaron, and there are others who were traded early in their careers and made their mark with primarily one team.    

The expectation that the Rockies would have 2 in their first 30+ years was unrealistic.  You can create a "family" of players but in order to grow you have to have turnover.

Tulo will be missed here in Colorado, however, more players will come up through the system.  Eventually, the Rockies may figure out who the prototype pitcher for them actually is.  They've been very successful at bringing up young hitters that can play good to great defense.   But their Rockies careers will probably be 6 years or less.  Embrace it.