Carlos Gonzalez: Five potential trade destinations

Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

When the Colorado Rockies dealt Troy Tulowitzki to the Blue Jays last July, there were some rumblings that Carlos Gonzalez could shortly follow him out the door. Such a deal never materialized at the trade deadline, however, but now that the MLB offseason is in full swing, the star outfielder’s name is popping up again with increasing frequency.

It’s no secret that the Rockies are in rebuild mode, and it would make sense for them to cash in on Gonzalez while they can, as they did with their former shortstop. The 30-year-old represents a bit of a financial commitment to other clubs (he has two years and $37 million remaining on his contract), but he certainly doesn’t appear to lack for interest on the trade market.

A few years ago it would not have been a bold statement to call him one of the best-hitting outfielders in the game. From 2010 to 2013 he slashed .311/.370/.556 (133 OPS+) while averaging 27 home runs and 91 RBIs per season. He captured the NL batting title in 2010 with a .336 average and a league-high 197 hits.

Unfortunately, a rash of injuries limited him to just 70 games and a .238/.292/.431 slash line in 2014. He rebounded health-wise this year, playing in 153 games. Though his batting average (.271) and on-base percentage (.325) failed to reach his earlier standards, he rediscovered his power stroke in resounding fashion. He belted a career-best 40 homers, 27 of which came after the All-Star break.

As is the case with many Coors Field sluggers, teams may worry that CarGo will not fare as well in another home ballpark. It’s a legitimate concern: he owns a career .324/.382/.604 slash line in the Rocky Mountain air and a .255/.310/.441 line on the road. Regardless, his overall body of work and scorching finish to the 2015 campaign have made him a hot-ticket item.

The Winter Meetings may be drawing to a close, but expect more big names to be on the move. Gonzalez’s could be one of them, and here are five clubs that could be potential fits.

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