Colorado Rockies: Did Carlos Gonzalez demand a trade?

Does Carlos Gonzalez want a trade from the Colorado Rockies? He says no.

Colorado Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez has been the subject of trade rumors for years, especially in the wake of the team trading Troy Tulowitzki last season. The Rockies find themselves again under .500 and with the trade deadline closing in, CarGo again finds himself speculated about.

Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball had a report that CarGo wouldn’t mind leaving.

"Gonzalez has expressed an interest in going elsewhere and people around the team are aware of it (Rockies GM Jeff Bridich said he would keep all those conversations “private”), and the Rockies will likely float not one but two outfield stars, Gonzalez and also Charlie Blackmon (Carlos and Charlie seem to go together), just as they did this winter.Gonzalez, it’s said, badly wants to win, and has become frustrated by the difficulties of doing that in Colorado. It won’t necessarily be easy for the Rockies to deal him, however, as they consider him a plus in the clubhouse as well as the field. Plus, they are showing signs of real improvement (the last week or so notwithstanding)."

Then Heyman said this:

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Gonzalez then talked to the Denver Post about it.

"“I got a call this morning from Scott Boras, my agent, asking me what happened,” Gonzalez said. “I was surprised because I didn’t know what was up. I guess there was a story in a newspaper saying that I’d ask the front office, saying I want out.“I don’t know when that happened. Maybe I was asleep. Obviously, it didn’t happen.”"

The way Gonzalez continues to talk about the club, you get the feeling he doesn’t look like a guy who wants to leave Denver.

"“Who says it’s not possible to win?” Gonzalez said. “We have some great players around me. We have all-stars, we have Gold Glovers. Guys that are young and will continue to make strides. Guys like (rookie shortstop) Trevor Story, (right-handed rookie starter) Jon Gray. Young guys, who will hopefully can take that next step.“So hopefully we turn it around. I have been here for a lot of bad moments and tough situations, so I want to see the bright (side). I want to be here when that happens.”"

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Gonzalez is right. There are young promising players with the club along with a stacked farm system that is going to have some other impressive players coming. However, Gonzalez is set to be a free agent after the 2017 season when he becomes a free agent at 31.

If i was Jeff Bridich, I would deal Gonzalez and get other pieces to surround Story, Gray and Nolan Arrenado with. I don’t think Gonzalez will be there when the Rockies are ready to contend again, so it may be in their best interest to cash that chip.