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Trade Troy Tulowitzki For A Great Pitcher? It's Not That Easy

DENVER (CBS4) - Former Rockies outfielder Ryan Spilborghs says the Rockies current nosedive is all about pitching.

Ryan Spilborghs
Vic Lombardi with Ryan Spilborghs (credit: CBS)

"If I was to show you what the starting pitching has done right now, 28 games right now is three less than any other baseball team (and) 80 walks! 80 walks leads the major leagues," he told CBS4's Vic Lombardi on Xfinity Monday Live. "And when you think about that ... that gives this defense no shot.

"The gold glove defense of Nolan and Tulo and D.J. and Justin Morneau, they have no chance," he said. "I've already seen I think with seven starts that Rockies starters have had five or more walks."

Troy Tulowitzki
Troy Tulowitzki (credit: Harry How/Getty Images)

So if the Rockies struggles boil down to one thing: pitching ... why not trade a star player like Troy Tulowitzki for a good pitcher or two?

It depends on what you get in return. It has to be a pitcher or pair of pitchers that will make an impact "at the major league level," according to Spilborghs, who is now an analyst for Root Sports.

"I'll use Ubaldo (Jimenez) as an example. In 2011 the Rockies traded Ubaldo for the Cleveland Indians' top two picks. The best pitcher that the Indians had. Everyone -- Baseball America, ESPN -- (thought) the Rockies won this deal. You've got Drew Pomeranz, he's the best pitcher Cleveland has, and Alex White, the best secondary pitcher the Indians have. Where are they?"

Spilborghs says the team is in no way obligated to trade Tulowitzki or Carlos Gonzalez.

"These guys have contracts that are very team-friendly for the next three years (if you're Gonzalez) to seven years, in the case of Tulowitzki," Spilborghs said.

Spilborghs said any new pitcher on the Rockies "needs a special fortitude" and that Pomeranz and White are example of pitchers that seemed to lack that.

Watch more video with Ryan Spilborghs in the Xfinity Monday Live section.

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