One move each MLB Team should make this offseason

Colorado Rockies – Trade Carlos Gonzalez

The Rockies, well, aren’t very good. The team took the first step toward a full-blown rebuild by dealing Troy Tulowitzki to the Toronto Blue Jays mid-season, and now, it’s time to move on from Carlos Gonzalez.

CarGo has actually produced a remarkably strong season, topping 35 home runs with a slugging percentage north of .500. Still, his reputation as a brittle player proceeds him, and Gonzalez is owed $37 million over the next two seasons. Make no mistake, he could easily “earn” that money on the field, but Colorado has two strong young outfielders in Charlie Blackmon and Corey Dickerson, and Gonzalez can be leveraged into some young talent (read: pitching) given that he is under control for two more years.

Trading Gonzalez won’t help on the field in 2016, but it’s the right move for the organization moving forward.

Detroit Tigers – Fire Brad Ausmus; Invest in pitching

I’m giving you two for the price of one here.

Brad Ausmus has lost the locker room by all accounts, and moving away from the team’s manager is the only course of action. It is too obvious to suggest this, though, as virtually everyone expects Detroit to free itself from Ausmus immediately following the season.

As for the players, the Tigers desperately need a pitching upgrade. Justin Verlander isn’t Justin Verlander anymore, and Max Scherzer isn’t walking through that door. Anibal Sanchez is supposed to be a rock of this group, but he’s been a disaster through performance and injury woes in 2015, and Alfredo Simon is difficult to watch on a daily basis.

Ownership should at least consider blowing it up and starting over, but Mike Ilitch isn’t going to do that, so it’s time for another big push, beginning with a new manager and an improved rotation.

Next: Astros and Royals