DENVER, CO -- The Colorado Rockies have finally traded the face of their franchise in Troy Tulowitzki. Todd Helton handed the franchise to the young short stop when he broke on the the scene in 2006 and Tulowitzki has not looked back.

As shocking of a move it may be to people, Tulowitzki is a winner and he has been outperforming on a losing team since 2009. In the long run and big picture for the Rockies, they need to receive pitching at some point.

Side-Effects of Trading Tulowitzki:

Tulowitzki to the Toronto Blue Jays is a stunner and heartbreaker to the already broken fan base in Colorado. He has been the face of the franchise since he showed up in 2007 and it has been his team since. The Rockies will lose major production on the offensive and defensive sides of the game. In over 1,000 games in a Colorado Rockies uniform, Tulowitzki hit .299 with 188 home runs and 656 RBI’s. The five-time All-Star anchored the middle of the Rockies line-up for nine years. Defensively, the Rockies have traded the best defensive short stop in the game. Tulowitzki has posted a .985 fielding percentage in the last 10 years committing just 74 errors in 4,950 chances.

In return, the Rockies received veteran shortstop Jose Reyes. Reyes does not fit the picture in Colorado which means he will probably be on his way somewhere else as well. Again, Rockies management attempted to make a trade and did not receive team needs. Instead, they move a fan favorite and receive little to no pitching which is something the Rockies have desperately needed for a very long time.

LaTroy Hawkins and some Blue Jays minor leaguers were also involved in the deal.

Positives of Trading Tulowitzki:

From the Blake Street Bombers too Todd Helton too Troy Tulowitzki, all good things must come to an end and it is time to pass the torch. Third baseman Nolan Arenado now has the chance to step into the spotlight and take over a slipping ball club. This also gives the Rockies a chance to make moves they have been waiting to make for a while.

Young short stop Trevor Story looks to step in and fill the role for Tulowitzki. Story, who has been playing in Albuquerque, was drafted by the Rockies in the first round of the 2011 MLB draft and has been on a tear as of late. Story is hitting .301 with six home runs and 16 RBI’s in just 19 games in Triple-A.

This will also clear up cap space for the Rockies to make other moves. Carlos Gonzalez and Wilin Rosario could be other pieces of the puzzle that could be moved by the Rockies before the Friday deadline. This would allow the Rockies to keep Ben Paulsen at first base as the everyday guy where he has excelled. Albuquerque right fielder Kyle Parker would also have the opportunity to move up to the big club. The former Clemson Tiger starting quarterback was drafted by the Rockies in the first round of the 2010 MLB draft. Parker has posted a .286 average with 24 home runs and 130 RBI’s in two seasons in Triple-A.

Final Thoughts:

Tulowitzki moves on and in the long run is a step in the rebuilding process for the Rockies organization. It is hard to say goodbye especially to a franchise player such as Tulowitzki who helped bring first World Series games to Colorado in franchise history. Tulowitzki could possibly be considered the greatest to slip on a Rockies uniform. He will always be mentioned in the likes of Dante Bichette, Vinny Castilla, Larry Walker, and Todd Helton and will be missed dearly in Colorado.