Troy Tulowitzki’s wish to play for the New York Yankees may finally come true.
Tulo and the Yankees have agreed on a deal that will pay the shortstop the league minimum, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The deal is pending a physical.
Tulowitzki, 34, was released by the Toronto Blue Jays last month, who still have to pay him the $38 million he is owed the next two seasons. That means the Yankees are getting him for cheap, which is a risk they’re figuring is worth taking.
The Yankees already have Didi Gregorius as their long-term shortstop, but he is recovering from Tommy John surgery and may not return until some point late in the season. Tulowitzki is a good option to have to bridge that gap.
Passan says that the signing of Tulowitzki would not preclude the Yankees from signing Manny Machado.
This brings everything full circle for Tulo and GM Brian Cashman. You may recall that nine years ago, Cashman said he preferred Tulowitzki to Derek Jeter. Tulo idolized Jeter, wore No. 2 because of Jeter, and always wanted to play for the Yankees.
Tulowitzki missed the entire 2018 season after undergoing surgery on his heels. He batted .249 with a .678 OPS in 66 games in 2017.
