Tulowitzki, Gonzalez are likely to remain with the Rockies

Colorado Rockies owner Dick Monfort has no intentions of trading fan-favorites Troy Tulowitzki or Carlos Gonzalez this offseason, according to the Denver Post.

"The plan is to keep them. Next year, yes. And my plan is to always keep them. Is that the smartest thing in the world to do? I don’t know. But for our fans I think it’s the best thing to do."

The Rockies are coming off a 74-88 season, in which they finished in the cellar of the National League West. After remaining in the playoff hunt for much of the season’s first half, the club faded as the eventual division champion Los Angeles Dodgers caught fire.

Both Gonzalez and Tulowitzki have struggled to stay healthy for the Rockies, but as Monfort stated, both have tremendous potential to carry a club to the postseason.

"I love those two guys. And if they ever get on a tear … In Tampa Bay, every once in a while, Evan Longoria just carries them and we have two guys who can carry a team."

Both players were named to the National League All-Star team in 2013, despite injuries.

Gonzalez, 27, appeared in just 110 games for the Rockies, but put together an impressive .302 average to go with 26 home runs and 70 runs batted in. The left-fielder is in the middle of a seven-year/$80 million contract that runs through the 2017 campaign.

The franchise cornerstones had been mentioned as a potential trade piece as the Rockies seek their first postseason appearance since 2009, but Monfort’s recent remarks indicate a different plan in the Mile High City – build around the duo.

CarGo’s best campaign came in 2010, when he appeared in 145 games for the Rockies, hitting .336 with 34 home runs and 117 RBIs. He also notched 197 base hits and swiped 26 bases, en route to a Silver Slugger Award and the first of two Gold Gloves he’s earned in his young career. He also finished third in the National League MVP balloting, coming in behind Joey Votto of the Cincinnati Reds and Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Tulowitzki, who made his big league debut in 2006 as a 21-year old, has a career average of .295 to go along with 29 home runs and 103 RBIs per season. Given the fact that he is yet to turn 30 and is under team control through 2020 thanks to a seven-year/$45 million deal, he has also been a prominent member of the trade rumor circles around the league.

The 29 year-old Tulo already has two Gold Glove awards, 2 Silver Sluggers and has finished in the top ten of the National League MVP voting three times in his eight seasons with Colorado. Combined with the offensive potency of Gonzalez, Monfort and the Rockies’ front office believe they have most of the pieces they’ll need to contend in coming years.

"I would say if Oakland, Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh can win, there’s no reason we can’t."