Rockies trade rumors: Carlos Gonzalez expressing interest in trade?

UPDATE: Gonzalez spoke with Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post, denying that he wants out of Denver:

“Asked on Thursday if he was frustrated with the Rockies and wants out, Gonzalez replied: ‘Nothing is true because, obviously, I haven’t talked to anybody and haven’t said that to anybody. Not my wife or my kids or my mom.’

‘Whenever I get home, I’m frustrated because maybe I didn’t do well, or we didn’t win the game, but I never complain about it … or say I want to go somewhere else.’”

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SAN DIEGO -- Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez has “expressed an interest” in being traded elsewhere before the trade deadline, according to a report from Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports. Gonzalez has been the subject of trade rumors for more than a year, especially in the wake of the Rockies trading co-star Troy Tulowitzki to the Blue Jays at last year’s deadline.

Rockies general manager Jeff Bridich told me Thursday afternoon that there had been “zero meetings” between Gonzalez and the team’s front office regarding a potential trade, denying that any formal sit-down had taken place. Bridich added that “even if there was a meeting, it would be kept private and in-house.”

While the sides have not formally discussed the possibility of a trade, it appears, according to Heyman, that Gonzalez would welcome a move.

Bridich told me the Rockies have “never had a great desire” to trade Gonzalez, and that the team was being “patient as it pertains to the trade deadline” on August 1. He added that Gonzalez remains a valuable part of the organization, but declined to comment on if he believed the veteran outfielder wanted out of Denver.

Gonzalez will draw interest from many teams looking for outfield bats, headlining a strong market that also includes the likes of Jay Bruce, Josh Reddick and Ryan Braun. Gonzalez may speak publicly about his future on Monday, when he meets the national media as part of All-Star Media Day in San Diego.