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Troy Tulowitzki Needs to Move to Maximize his Full Potential

By Josh Sippie

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Troy Tulowitzki has always been darn near the top, if not right at the top, of the list of the best shortstops in Major League Baseball. Although injuries have often hampered his seasons, he is a masterful athlete that has just about zero weaknesses to speak of. 

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But the problem with Troy Tulowitzki isn’t a problem in his skill or his ability as a player, it’s where he plays.

The Colorado Rockies have had Troy Tulowitzki for all of his professional baseball career. He’s now in his tenth year as a professional and for all intents and purposes, he has nothing to show for it. The Rockies haven’t been able to find consistency in a fairly tough division and despite strong starts and upstart streaks, they can never mount any serious post-season threat.

While I’m a huge advocate for player loyalty and staying with one team through thick and thin (Craig Biggio!), this is one situation that I see a little bit differently.

Troy Tulowitzki is thirty years old and there comes a time when a player has to realize that he if he wants a ring, he needs to jump ship and find a new home. That doesn’t take away from who he is, as Tulowitzki will always be a Rockies guy. Lance Berkman did the same thing after a career with Houston, he had to get out of town to win a ring, but he’s still remembered as an Astro first and foremost.

While Troy Tulowitzki was quick to dismiss his upcoming meeting with his agent as a ‘standard check-up’ it’s not exactly in a players best interest to come out and blatantly state that it’s time to be traded. However, when asked what his future holds, Tulo said “I really don’t have a clue — honestly” (as reported by the Denver Post). It’s a very politically correct answer from the star short stop, who went on to add “I just know that I don’t want all of this hanging over my head every day I come to the ballpark. This game is hard enough as it is.”

A trade of Tulowitkzi could work well for a multitude of reasons. First of all, Tulo needs to find a new home where he can search for better health. he has been injury-ridden in Colorado and something as simple as a change in altitude or even just a change of scenery could work wonders to finding him some consistent health.

Secondly, and most obviously, it would bolster a playoff bound team at a premium position and give a 30-year old, perennial all-star shortstop the chance at a title.

Don’t worry, the Rockies would benefit some as well. They would get a load of talent in return for parting with their prized shortstop. As of right now, the Rockies need to start building from the bottom to become contenders and Tulowitzki is at the age where he probably wouldn’t be around by the time they get there. So why not part ways and let both sides reap the benefits?

Not only that, but trading Tulo would free up massive amounts of salary to be spent in whatever way they like.

Troy Tulowitki is a rare talent. In the past six years, he’s only hit under .300 once. 30 HRs and 100 RBIs, the base stats for a great power hitter, are the norm when he can stay healthy. He has above average speed as well and as a two-time gold glover, not much has to be said about his defense.

The benefits are there for both sides to make this deal happen. Any team that has remotely considered the need for a shortstop would be head over heels for Troy Tulowitzki. I still think that when the St. Louis Cardinals were in need of a shortstop, they should have bit the bullet and offloaded Shelby Miller in a package deal for Tulo instead of bargain shopping for Jhonny Peralta. St. Louis has ways of revitalizing a career and Troy Tulowitzki would have fit in instantly.

But alas, that ship has sailed. There are still going to be plenty of suitors gearing up to prepare deals for this rare talent, it’s just a matter of whether or not Tulo decides he wants a shot at a ring.

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