TORONTO – Much like the general public, reaction in the Toronto Blue Jays clubhouse to the acquisition of Troy Tulowitzki and LaTroy Hawkins from the Colorado Rockies for Jose Reyes and three prospects featured everything from shock to excitement to an expectation that more moves are still to come.
Jose Bautista called Tuesday’s deal bittersweet, while Edwin Encarnacion didn’t answer when asked if the team was improved. Josh Donaldson was eager to see Tulowitzki’s bat in the lineup, Marco Estrada was excited to reunite with his college teammate, while R.A. Dickey felt an important message was sent to the team.
"There is a psychological component to making a deal that’s important," said Dickey. "When you’re in the clubhouse and you feel like no stone has gone unturned, you really feel good about what your leadership is doing, it helps. Now we’ve got a pretty significant piece that they’ve added and my perception is they’re probably not done. You know (GM Alex Anthopoulos) is working hard and that sends an awfully positive message to the clubhouse and that’s something that’s very important."
Acquiring Tulowitzki isn’t a traditional deadline type of move, with there being both a significant transformative and long-term element to the deal, as opposed to being a straight add. That left plenty more for players to digest.
"Ultimately, everybody wants to win and everybody is going to have their own opinion," said Bautista. "But I think most guys would agree that this a good baseball move from the franchise moving forward, especially for this year and in the short term. Everybody’s opinion is going to vary, but it’s something that I guess you’re going to have to ask from person to person. I think it shows that we’re willing to make the moves if needed, if the pieces are right."
Is it an upgrade?
"If you want to look at it as a pure baseball move," Bautista answered, "I think there’re upgrades in different areas, maybe not necessarily what we need, but it is an upgrade, if you want to look at it that way."
Replied Encarnacion: "I don’t know," saying later, "it’s a good trade for Reyes and for Tulo. They both are great players."
Added Donaldson: "We’ll see. You would think that on paper, right? I’m not trying to shortchange anything that Jose Reyes has done here in his career. He’s done a great job and been a vital part of this organization. At the same time you look at a guy like Troy Tulowitzki, who’s one of the elite shortstops in the game."
Estrada remembers Tulowitzki as "a big leader" from their days at California State University Long Beach who was great at pumping teammates up on and off the field. He was also full of praise for Hawkins, whom he played with on the 2010 and ’11 Milwaukee Brewers.
"I get to reunite with Tulo and LaTroy, whom I both think the world of," said Estrada. "Also what they’re going to bring to our team, they’re both tremendous players, and I know a lot of people wanted pitching, we did pick up LaTroy, and I’m sure people still want another starter, or something, I don’t know, but for me, I’m looking at the big picture I guess and you’re adding more offence, maybe a little bit better defence, and just the veteran presence of both guys. I was excited to hear the news."
Still, there was disappointment at losing Reyes, a popular presence in the clubhouse. Encarnacion and Bautista both visited Reyes on Monday night after the shortstop was informed of the trade during a meeting at the Rogers Centre.
"He’s one of my best friends, I felt like I wanted to go there and give him support because I know the way he’s feeling. I tried to tell him keep going, keep working and keep doing your thing," said Encarnacion. "He feels sad because he wasn’t (ready) for this. It’s different when you’re waiting, you’ve heard (something) and you prepare your mind.
"Getting surprised like he was, it’s going to be difficult but he’s going to adjust."
Added Dickey: "We lose a guy that brought a lot of energy, was very special on the basepaths in particular and was a really good friend and brought a lot of chemistry to the clubhouse so you are losing something, you are. Looking back you’ll be able to tell if it was worth it, what you’re losing. Wherever Jose goes he’s going to make that team better."
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The issue in the short-term is how much better Tulowitzki makes the current Blue Jays, especially if there aren’t more deals to come.
"I think any club that’s within striking distance could use improvements," said Bautista. "If you ask anybody on those clubs, upgrades can be had anywhere. So, as long as you can make the club better I think the bulk of the team is going to welcome those changes. We’ll see. I’m sure Alex is trying. I’m trying not to get ahead of myself, and wish or demand anything because that’s not my job. My job is to go out there and play. We’re within striking distance. We’re not going to play forever and we have a chance to make something special happen here this year, and hopefully we can go after it."