The Detroit Tigers need a shortstop and one just arrived in the free agent market, smack dab in the middle of the Winter Meetings.
As Jose Iglesias is a free agent, the Detroit Tigers are without a shortstop. Fans are used to seeing one of the best in the game, and the newly released Troy Tulowitzki could be a fantastic replacement.
In an unexpected move, the Toronto Blue Jays announced that they released the four-time All-Star. They shared the news on Twitter.
ROSTER MOVE: We've released SS Troy Tulowitzki, making him a free agent.
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) December 11, 2018
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Tulo has a contract with the Blue Jays through 2021 with a $4 million buyout in 2022. The team owes him a guaranteed $20 million in 2019 and $14 million in 2020. They will also have to pay that $4 million buy-out. If Tulo signs with a team like the Tigers, the Blue Jays pay that amount less whatever the Tigers offer to pay – which could be the league minimum of $555,000.
It seems like a no-brainer for the Tigers (or any team in need of a shortstop) to sign Tulo as soon as possible. But, he did miss all of 2018 due to having surgery on both heels to remove bone spurs according to Rotoworld. Tulo’s return to baseball for the 2019 season is still an unknown. But, Rotoworld also posted that he was “performing all baseball activities” on July 20, 2018.
Even with the uncertainty, signing Tulowitzki to a low-cost contract for one or two years couldn’t hurt. His troubles began when he was traded to the Blue Jays. When he played for the Rockies, he was one of the better shortstops in the MLB.
During his time in Colorado, he hit a career slash of .299/.371/.513 in 10 seasons. With the Blue Jays, he hit .250/.313/.414 in three seasons. In 2019, Tulo will be 34 years old, which may not fit with the Tigers plans. But, his price is so low that his age may not be a factor.
There have been questions about Tulo playing so many games on unforgiving turf. It isn’t uncommon for ballplayers to have knee or ankle issues because of the artificial surface. But, the talented shortstop also had injuries that kept him off the field in Denver – where the grass is real.
He is an injury-prone player, but he still could be worth the Detroit Tigers taking gamble on him. What have they got to lose? More games? They lost 98 in 2018 and aren’t predicted to do much better in 2019.