The New York Yankees will need a temporary replacement at shortstop with Didi Gregorius set to miss the start of the 2019 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, and Troy Tulowitzki may be an option for them if the five-time All-Star is healthy.
Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe reports that the Yankees are monitoring the Tulowitzki situation. One AL executive told Cafardo that teams are still waiting to see how well Tulowitzki gets around after heel issues kept him out for the entire 2018 season.
“We’d have to see him work out,” the executive said. “I haven’t heard of any plans like that so far but for teams to feel comfortable that he can play any infield position, we’d have to see how he moves.”
The Toronto Blue Jays released Tulowitzki this offseason with $38 million remaining on his contract, so he will likely be looking to sign a minimum contract with his next team. The shortstop’s agent said the Blue Jays were treating him with class by releasing him so he could pursue other opportunities, which seems to indicate Tulowitzki is healthy enough to play.
The Yankees are reportedly looking to make some major moves on the left side of their infield, but Tulowitzki would make a solid, inexpensive plan B if he can prove his injuries are behind him. The 34-year-old appeared in just 66 games in 2017 because of an ankle injury, batting .249 with a .678 OPS.
