These could be the final weeks of Carlos Gonzalez' Rockies career

With Jorge De La Rosa now officially gone, Carlos Gonzalez is the Last of the Mohicans.

In 2017, the Colorado Rockies are set up to have their best season since 2009, a campaign that saw them reach 92 wins. Gonzalez was on that team. He is the only current Rockie who was.

The time in between saw a devastating collapse at the end of 2010, the departures via trade of high-profile players like Huston Street, Ubaldo Jimenez, Troy Tulowitzki, and Corey Dickerson, a run of mediocrity highlighted by injuries and prospect flops, two manager changes, and the naming of new GM Jeff Bridich.

And Carlos Gonzalez was there through it all.

He watched teammate Ryan Spilborghs become broadcaster Ryan Spilborghs, stood on the field and applauded along with everyone else when Todd Helton played his final game and then retired, and he has mentored players from Charlie Blackmon and DJ LeMahieu to David Dahl and Raimel Tapia.

Carlos Gonzalez may have been drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks and he may have made his MLB debut for the Oakland Athletics, but he is unmistakably, undeniably, and indelibly a Colorado Rockie.

But for how much longer?

The spectrum of possible outcomes is mind-boggling at this point. On an expiring 20 million dollar contract, CarGo could be traded at any moment should the right offer come in. Not only do the Rockies have plenty of outfielders available to take over in that case but they would likely jump at the opportunity to get something decent rather than risk losing him for nothing more than a compensatory draft pick.

Perhaps just as likely as a news alert about a trade, though, is one announcing that the Rockies have reached a long-term contract extension. Recent reports suggest we shouldn’t be expecting that any day, but circumstantial evidence at this point suggests everyone, including the Rockies and maybe even Gonzalez and his agent, are waiting to see what the outfielder has left.

This merely complicates things further.

If he shows up to spring training looking like the absolute best version of himself (which is really good) that could mean anything from a dramatic increase in his trade value and Bridich’s phone ringing off the hook, to a sign that this team can really compete this year with him in the middle of their lineup.

If he shows up looking alright but not great, the likelihood increases that the Rockies will hold onto him at least until the trade deadline.

Once games begin, each day that passes gets us closer to one of three things: a contract extension, a trade, or Gonzalez becoming a free agent after 2017. Despite the recently opened pocket books, it is unlikely the Rockies could compete on the open market under scenario three, but it might just be the case that they are fine rolling the dice on that and living with the draft pick that would ostensibly replace the one they lost in the Desmond signing.

Also, as much as the opening of this article highlights what he has meant to this club, it may not be in the best interest of the long-term success of the Rockies to sign Gonzalez to the money he is worth. If Gonzalez is offered north of a 15 million dollar a year average contract, totally within the realm of possibility, it almost certainly won’t be in the Rockies interest to match that.

With Dahl, Tapia, and Jordan Patterson in the mix, along with Ian Desmond’s ability to play outfield, shelling out big bucks for the aging slugger doesn’t make a ton of sense.

On the other hand, if the team really starts to experience success, Gonzalez may be more open to staying for less. Though, Scott Boras may have something to say about that.

Carlos Gonzalez is arguably one of the Top 5 players in Rockies history, it seems difficult to imagine a way anyone could keep him out of the Top 10. But of the myriad of potential scenarios, most mean that we are likely looking at the last days, weeks, or months of his Colorado career.

There are no shortage of factors and potential outcomes. BSN Denver wouldn’t be surprised if he is traded before the season begins, or at the deadline, or any time in between. We also wouldn’t be floored if he locked up a long-term extension and ended his career where he made his name, a whole lot of money, and even more fans.

But there is also a distinct possibility that CarGo could play out the final year of his contract and produce well, propelling the Rockies into the postseason for the first time in eight years, becoming the only player to stake the claim of having suited up for both squads.

And just as easily. That could be the final chapter in his Rockies storybook.