Jays add Tulowitzki, Hawkins for Reyes, Hoffman, Castro, Tinoco

Troy Tulowitzki bounced out to third base for the first out in the top of the ninth at Wrigley Field Monday night.

The Colorado Rockies shortstop didn’t come out to play short for the bottom of the ninth.

Instead, he was replaced by Brandon Barnes.

The five-time National League all-star headed to the clubhouse ... and now to the Rogers Centre, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

The Blue Jays will acquire Tulowitzki, 30, and hard-throwing reliever LaTroy Hawkins, 42 for shortstop Jose Reyes, 32, minor leaguer Miguel Castro, 20, who opened the season on the Jays roster, Jeff Hoffman, ninth over-all pick in 2014 and Jesus Tinoco, 20, at class-A Lansing.

The Jays did offer lefty Daniel Norris, outfielder Dalton Pompey and Hoffman in talks with the Cleveland Indians for right-hander Carlos Carrasco.

Tulowitzki is in year five of a 10-year $157.75 Million US deal. Hawkins will retire at the end of this season.

Reyes, knocked for his lack of defence by everyone from the 500 level to broadcaster Jerry Howarth, is owed $48 million over the two years after this. 

But don’t the Jays need a starting pitcher?

Or is this like 1993 when the Jays could not pry Randy Johnson away from the Seattle Mariners and decided to add Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson and club other teams over the head? Well, there is a bit of a difference, these Jays are 50-50 heading into Tuesday night’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies, while Cito Gaston’s 1993 Jays were 15 games over .500.

Perhaps if Norris and Pompey are not involved, they could be moved elsewhere for a starter.

The Cincinnati Reds asked for Marcus Stroman in talks for Johnny Cueto.

While Reyes could not handle the turf at Rogers Centre, it could be a problem for Tulowitzki, who injured his left quad in 2008 in the first inning of a game in San Francisco. Since then he’s had a torn labrum in his left hip last season running to first base in Pittsburgh on July 19 and missed the rest of the season. He was hitting .340 with 21 home runs and 52 RBIs through 91 games last season when his season ended and later had surgery.

He also had surgery to removed scar tissue from his left groin in 2012, limiting him to 47 games.

In the midst of an 0-for-20 slump Tulowitzki is hitting .300 with 19 doubles, 12 homers and 52 RBIs. He has an .831 OPS in 87 games.

Reyes is hitting .285 with 17 doubles, four homers and 34 RBIs. He was 16-for-18 stealing bases and has a .708 OPS in 69 games. He’s made 13 errors, compared to 19 last year in 142 games. 

Hawkins had 23 saves for the Rockies last season, but John Axford has been closing for this season. The right-hander is 2-1 with two saves and a 3.63 ERA. He has walked four and struck out 20 in 22 1/3 innings. The Jays will be Hawkins 11th team.

Jays players reacted to the news ... 

Jose Bautista tweeted
One of the toughest things in sports, saying goodbye to a teammate who has become of your family!! 

Third baseman Josh Donaldson tweeted
Going to miss my boy @lamelaza_7. Once a brother always a brother.
 
Tulowitzki contract
2015: $20M
2016: $20M
2017: $20M
2018: $20M
2019: $20M
2020: $14M
2021: $15M club option ($4M buyout)
(Salaries for 2020 and 2021 may increase by $6M annually based on MVP votes, Gold Gloves, Silver Sluggers or All-Star selections
(Bonuses, including $25,000 each for Gold Glove, All Star)
($2M assignment bonus if traded, may be traded only once during contract)

Reyes contract
2015: $22M
2016: $22M
2017: $22M
2018: $22M club option ($4M buyout)
(AAward bonuses: $50,000 each for Gold Glove, All-Star. $0.1M for Silver Slugger. $0.25M for LCS MVP. $0.5M for MVP. $1M for WS MVP
(Will donate $176,666 annually to charity)
(Deal does not include no-trade protection)