Troy Tulowitzki was drafted by the Rockies in 2005. They were the only major league team he had played for until this season. Then, on July 28, Tulowitzki was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays along with veteran relief pitcher LaTroy Hawkins.
The move allowed Tulowitzki to play in the postseason for the first time since 2009 and make it to a league championship series for the first time since 2007. However, everything wasn’t rainbows and butterflies after joining one of baseball’s best lineups. The adjustment period was one that, understandably, wasn’t easy. He had to learn new teammates and a different front office.
Tulowitzki also experienced the business side of the game, that stars aren’t immune to being traded. That left him with a sense of being skeptical going forward.
“You know what, and this is just being completely honest, it’s tough for me now to trust anybody in this game after what happened,” Tulowitzki told National Post. “I’m sure these guys (in the Toronto front office) are great here. But at the same time, with what happened, it’s really tough.”
He also talked about how, despite being welcomed with open arms in the clubhouse, it’s tough to feel at home when you switch teams during a season.
“I mean, these guys are great and I’m getting to know them,” he said. “But at the same time, when you don’t spend the whole year with the team, it’s hard to feel settled.”
Tulowitzki’s current contract runs through 2021 with the Blue Jays holding a team option for that final year at $15 million. Assuming the team options for Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion are picked up for next season, Toronto will again possess one of the game’s best offenses with likely American League MVP Josh Donaldson also in the heart of the batting order. With adequate pitching, another trip to the postseason for Tulowitzki and company certainly seems reasonable.
The 31-year-old will also have a full year with his new team, which wasn’t the case in 2015 and should make for a better 2016. And, a more comfortable and at ease Tulowitzki bodes well for the Blue Jays.
H/T Sporting News
