It doesn’t look like Troy Tulowitzki will be in the Blue Jays‘ lineup on Opening Day, as manager John Gibbons told reporters (including Sportsnet.ca’s Arden Zwelling) today. “I don’t expect he’ll be ready. But he’s moving in the right direction,” Gibbons said, referring to Tulowitzki’s rehab from a severe ankle injury suffered last July. Toronto made a point of acquiring infield depth this winter given the lengthy injury histories of both Tulowitzki and Devon Travis this winter, and thus Yangervis Solarte or Aledmys Diaz are now the top shortstop candidates with Tulowitzki likely to miss at least some time at the start of the season.
Here’s some more from around the AL East…
- The Orioles are “intrigued” by Neil Walker and some in the organization see him as a potential bargain signing, MASNsports.com’s Roch Kubatko writes. Walker has been linked to teams like the Royals, Yankees, Mets, Brewers, Angels, and Pirates over the course of the winter, though with many of those teams addressing their second base needs in other ways, Walker is still looking for a new home as we enter March. The O’s have Jonathan Schoop locked in at the keystone, of course, though Walker could be an intriguing add as a third baseman. Tim Beckham is currently slated to get the bulk of action at the hot corner, though Beckham is unproven as an everyday player and the Orioles might prefer using him in a super-utility role. If Walker was signed, the two players could form a third base platoon, as the switch-hitting Walker has struggled against left-handed pitching during his career.
- Walker is just one of the names that could still be considerations for the Orioles given the vast number of notable players still available in free agency. Kubatko notes that the O’s have had some internal discussions about Mark Reynolds simply “because, well, he’s out there,” despite Baltimore’s current depth at first base and designated hitter.
- Newly-signed Yankees first baseman Adam Lind was one of the many veterans caught up in the offseason free agent freeze, as he tells NJ.com’s Randy Miller that his only two offers of the entire winter (both minor league offers) came within the last week. A big asking price didn’t seem to be an issue (“I was just looking for a J-O-B,” Lind said) but the veteran was clearly frustrated at the lack of interest given his strong .303/.362/.512 slash line over 301 plate appearances with the Nationals last season. “I talked to my wife about it. I told her, ‘What’s the point of doing well?’ What if I hit .280 this year? I probably won’t even get a big-league invite next year,” Lind said. “You think you’re a good player and then to have no one value you….it’s tough.”
I remember when Tulowitski got cut from the football team our freshman year at Long Beach and became the drum major. He didn’t pick up baseball until his sophomore year. Amazing what he has become.
Weird story to make up.
Am I missing a joke here?
Now now… if you really went to school with Tulo, prove it by telling us is social security #
Wow this specific thread gets dumber with every reply. Guess I’ll add on- “hey Troy! The jerk store called and said they’re running out of you!”
What’s the difference, you’re their best seller!
I slept with your mother
*wife
Why does it have to be made up? Someone went to high school with him… they don’t just have schools made for future famous people. They were real people at one point. My girlfriend went to high school with someone who is related to Tulo.
Because Tulo “picked up baseball” before his sophmore year of college? (Long Beach is where he went to college, not HS).
Instead of going on about nothing, you could have just looked that up to realize it was made up…
That’s like the most obscure connection to Tulo of all time.
My cousin’s teacher saw Tulo’s mailman at Taco Bell one time.
He might well be a liar, especially since Tulo was a great baseball player in high school, but he never said he went to high school at Long Beach. The words “high school” or “college” aren’t even mentioned in his post. Reading comprehension bro.
What school, what year, and yes, we will need his SSN for verification purposes.
You also spelled his name wrong it’s Tulowitzki
They must have been bestie’s
I bet that anecdote makes you the coolest guy getting drunk at the bar on $1 busch light night
Finally, someone won this ridiculous thread
Theres not as much value for 1 dimensional 1b/dh players. Well not this year at least.
Not much value cause so many are available.
Lind played some leftfield last year. Not necessarily well, but…
Not a great 1B either. Good pickup by the Yanks as a guard against Bird’s fragile nature. Lind was great in a reserve role against RHP.
I’ve come around to Lind breaking camp with the team,vs Austin who’s probably gonna be a AAAA player. Lind also gives them another LH power bat and can DH on days vs righties when one of the moonshot men need a day off.
If the O’s are going to sign a position player it should be Mike Moustakas
Or maybe Carlos Gonzalez, but they have so many OF’ers, they really don’t need another!!!
How about signing Gonzalez and cutting Rasmus?! I know they won’t but personally that’s what I’d prefer.
Because Cargo is a below average player outside of Coors Field, and because he can’t play defense anymore, I say no thank you.
Moist alas is WAY too much money!!
It took me a while. It really did. But “moist alas” may be the most awesome misspelling of Moustakas humanly possible.
And I’m part Greek! Yikes—auto correct just killed me!
We barely have 3. Trumbo plays a rough RF. Hays will probably start the year in AAA. That leaves rasmus, Gentry, Jones, Mancini and Santander. Gentry can easily not make this roster since rasmus covers all 3 spots.
Tulo has been nothing but a curse for the Jays.
Yeah in 15 he sucked, he wasn’t consistent at all compared to Reyes. If Tulo didn’t get a hit at all in 15 he still provided more value than Reyes who couldn’t complete a throw to 1st.
Tulo is hurt again? Imagine my shock
Perhaps re read. It’s still recovery from last years injury.
I know the Giving up Syndergaard for Dickey was bad, but the Tulo trade was easily AA’s worst move. It’s one of the worst contracts in the game and even if Hoffman amounts to nothing, it hurt the franchise both short term and long term. Hopefully Solarte or Diaz can take this opportunity and run with it.
Yeah, I’m reasonably sure Colorado isn’t feeling much “seller’s remorse” on that trade…
Yeah, Tulo’s career is turning into one of those “what might have been” which is a bummer because when he was healthy he was such an extraordinary player. However, as a Padres fan I can tell you the Jays don’t want Solarte anywhere near shortstop. He’s a bad defender everywhere but he’s also incredibly slow and that’s a much worse combo at short than it would be at second and third. The bat is nice for a utility infielder but his defense is a real liability.
Tulo needs to play 3rd or 1st. Period.
Diaz will end up in the minors and Solarte is a good piece, albeit belongs no where near shortstop. Ryan Goins at short would be a defensive move. Oh wait he’s gone.
Sorry to be so much of a downer, but by the trade deadline, this team’s holes and poor signing moves will be obvious. No playoff games in 2018.
The professional scouting and executive decisions at the major league level are very poor, much worse than AA. Time to fire Atkins. #scoutseyes
Tulo refuses to play 3rd or 1st. And Defence isnt his issue (and his bat wouldnt carry at the corner). Also you realize that in addition to Solarte and Diaz they went and got a younger Goins in Ngope right? They just don’t HAVE to have a black hole in the lineup now.
All moving Tulo off of SS would accomplish is destroying the last of his value.
The problem, as it had always been for Tulo, is that he can never stay on the field. He actually ranks as the 20th most valuable SS in baseball over the last 2 years despite playing at least 50 fewer games than basically anyone else.
Tulo is still an above average defensive SS, and despite the fact that he’s no longer the MVP caliber bat he once was, he’s also still an above average hitter for the position. If you move him you eliminate his defensive contributions, put his bat at a position where it would rank well below average, and displace a better hitter.
Tulo will be a starting SS until he’s a bench player or he retires, whichever comes first.
Agree almost totally.
Well, considering Colorado had to pay $40 million for Jose Reyes just to go away, and had the Jays kept him, they probably wouldn’t have made the postseason in 2015 and would of had to have done the same by just cutting Reyes.
So I don’t think it was AA’s worst move.
Agreed. Tulo Trade inspired the rest of the team and organization and nation and got rid of a player [Reyes] in severe decline and questionable behavoir.
Good move AA.
If this regime[Shapiro, Atkins, Gibby] put him at 3rd or 1st where his age and fragility says he should be, Tulo would probably begin to produce more at the plate and stay on the field more than in the past few Toronto years.
That pretty ludicrous.
1. The Blue Jays got a terrific defensive SS with an above average bat, at a time when they desperately needed help in the infield.
2. They got rid of Jose Reyes who was costing the team wins with his bat and his defense – both of which cratered. They also lucked into not having him on their roster when he became an embarrassment and a PR liability.
3. The Jays may still be paying the often injured Tulo now that he is a shell of his former self, but the Rockies eventually released Reyes and just ate the remaining $40M on his contract. Toronto may not be getting much for their money from Tulo, but the Rockies got SFA from Reyes except a PR nightmare.
So step one when evaluating Tulo’s contract – subtract $40M from it because that’s how much money the trade saved the franchise. Without the trade the Jays are the ones eating that Reyes contract instead of the Rockies.
I’d take back the Dickey trade in a heartbeat, but there’s no way I’d take back that Reyes trade.
Umm no. Jose Reyes was by far the worst SS in the game, literally couldn’t throw to 1st. He had a domestic violence case against him.
Tulo was decent down the stretch and gave them a decent glove at SS
Is his contract awful? Yes but the Rockies paid Reyes 22 mil last season.
Jays window is closed so the money Tulo is commanding now it’s that big of a deal.
Yea, being a big leaguer is tough… just like being a single parent with a kid who has a developmental disability. I get it.
imagine being both
One of the problems for this years free agent class is that so many teams like the ChiSox, Tigers, Royals, A’s, Rays, Braves, Reds, Marlins, Phillies, Pirates, etc… are either rebuilding or retooling at the same time. That’s at least 10 teams that aren’t interested in signing high priced free agents or veterans.
You can all but add the Rangers to that list as well.
I don’t think the Reds or the Rays are actually rebuilding/retooling, but it doesn’t really matter to your real point since neither team generally signs high-priced free agents anyway.
Funny the Pirates being still “linked” to Walker at some point over the winter. The Pirates and Walker’s agent both have said that no contact was made between the two nor any expected to be made.
Tulo is a borderline Hall of Fame candidate but he won’t make it, mainly due to injuries. You can call him soft, but I never doubt an athlete when they say they are hurt. They have pride, they want to be out there. And when he’s been healthy, he’s been a HoF’er. Three times in the top 10 MVP voting. Six times he’s hit 24 or more homers (when homer used to mean something – not like the juiced balls they have today, when almost everyone hits 20). .290/.361/.495 with solid defense at the shortstop position. But those damn injuries…
He really was a franchise player and even when he was struggling at the plate in 2016 with the Jays, I never felt concerned when a ball was hit to short – he largely maintained that defensive ability. But agreed, any discussion about him later will inevitably be tainted by these progressive injuries. It’s a shame because he’s still a good guy, great mentor, and was one of the best not all that long ago.
Tulo is not even close to being a HOF! The only way he’s getting in is to buy a ticket!
“Tulo is a borderline Hall of Fame candidate” now that’s one of the funnier posts ever!
Tulowitzki had HoF talent and he’s better than a couple dozen guys already enshrined, but he’s just not going to put up the counting stats to get even a second ballot. I mean, Kenny Lofton, who should be in, couldn’t even get above 3 % on the ballot. The MLB Hall of Fame is the most exclusive Hall there is but they make mistakes – less now, but still – but there’s a ton of guys who might have been Hall of Famers if they could have stayed healthy. Hell, there’s more guys like that than there are actual Hall of Famers.
I know health is a big factor, but Tulo’s put up better numbers than Jeter and is miles better defensively. And no ones going to keep Jeter out of the hall
Jeter had 3400 hits and Tulo isn’t even going to finish with 2000. Counting stats matter for the Hall. I mean, Grady Sizemore was a HoF talent but couldn’t stay healthy.. We can argue all we want about Jeter’s defense, but his offense is putting him in the Hall no questions asked.
I know I understand that. It’s just the guy said it’s hilarious that he would’ve been a borderline hall of famer when his career stats line up similarly. Tulo has a 118 ops plus while jeter had a 115. Had he stayed healthy, he probably would’ve been.
So once his carrer is over he will hit around .290 with 300 homers as a shortstop as you say it’s ridiculous to consider him a borderline hall of famer? I’d say that’s exactly what makes for a borderline Famer. Have you seen some of the shortstops in the Hall?
The problem is you can’t compare him to the past ss that got in mainly due to defense or knowing people on vet committee. Tulo has about as much chance as nomar. His great just wasn’t long enough
My thinking is that with all the strikeouts, and not many balls in play teams have found that they can bring up players earilier that can hit and not worry a so much about defense. This means the marginal veteran is not needed as much.
For the Orioles, Reynolds might be a good 1B/DH depth signing, especially if CD is injured. Not sure how good Trumbo would be at 1B. Or Santander.
Personally looking forward to what Santander brings to the plate, probably as dh. Switch hitter with supposedly a swing that reminds people of VMart.
I like Walker but the Orioles can’t keep picking up couple million dollar depth pieces. Take Pedro Alvarez money, Danny Valencia money, Colby Rasmus money and supposed Walker money and instead use towards Cobb, Lynn or both! That is all the team needs (not just wants). I’m ok with the Rasmus signing but they really need another veteran starter.
Alvarez, Valencia, and Rasmus all signed minor league deals. Something tells me that you’re not going to be able to sign Cobb or Lynn(or both!) with the savings from 3 minor league deals.
Adam Lind had an option with the Nats. He rejected it, expecting to get a better offer on the open market. I don’t blame him, but I don’t feel sorry for him either.
Lind you are not a good player, avg at best. Take what you can get as owners are realizing mega deals hurt more then they help an organization. The 4 teams MLB is investigating should be suing the MLB right back. No one deserves this kinda money to play a sport. The issues are the big spending teams over paying and wasting millions not the small market teams
But that’s kind of the point. An average player really shouldn’t have trouble finding a team if he isn’t demanding too much money; even a below average player should get picked up.
The problem is really more about timing, a guy like Lind or Walker doesn’t expect to be still looking for a team in March because that just doesn’t typically happen. But because so many top names lingered for so long there weren’t many teams ready to turn to 2nd and 3rd tier options.
It’s just a weird offseason, probably one that won’t be replicated again anytime soon.
Well the other problem for Lind is that he has basically been a bat-only player his entire career while also having a massive – I mean just absolutely brutal – platoon split.
It’s tough to justify using a roster spot on a player who will likely cost you runs at any defensive position AND is unplayable against lefties.
I’m a little surprised that no teams like The Marlins, or White Sox didn’t pick him up. With The Marlins, he could’ve platooned with some of their inexperienced outfielders, and could platoon with The White Sox with Davidson at DH. Both could’ve flipped him at the deadline for minor leaguers that could make an impact in the future.
I don’t understand how Neil Walker is without a job at this point. You can make an argument for those fringe 1B/DH types, but walker has always been a solid everyday second baseman.
He spent extended time on the DL the last two years and apparently looking for multi years. Teams just do not want to guarantee money to him considering his recent injury issues. Common sense, really.
When you can only hit RH pitching, and you only play 1 position, which happens to be the least valuable position on the field, you’ve really limited your market. The 25 man roster limit does a guy like Lind no favors either.
It would be optimistic to say that Lind can play any position given that he put up UZR/150 marks of -14.1 and -16.3 the last two years at 1B.
Send him to Robidi island
Tulo was a great player when healthy. The past 6 years he’s not played a full season.
Re-signing Gibboons was AA’s worst move: gibboons showed his incompetence during his first tour. For AA to have brought him back showed AA’s…
at the time, several people suggested it had been a ‘tell’ of the Peter Principle at work. Letting Thor go would have been fine, if Dickey had pitched like a Cy Young winner, instead of fluff and fill.,
That move was then seen to be another maybe ‘tell’ of Peter at work, under that administration.
But, few understand the reasoning behind taking on Tulo’s contract, who has turned into a 20m$ cheerrleader, standing in the dugout, looking at the real men play ball.
It doesn’t matter what position Tulo wants to play, he needs to play 3rd or 1st. He has lost a step at shortstop. The issue though isn’t his defence at shortstop, it is the wear and tear of the shortstop position on his body. That is why he can’t play there anymore. When he get’s injured it is because his body is wearing down and is in a weakened state from playing the shortstop position. He is a very fragile player and must be moved from the shortstop position.
As far as any other players than can play there.at short, Diaz will likely be sent to the minors unless he can close the issues the the pitchers discovered in his 2nd year in the majors in his swing. Besides the Cards had him at 2nd because he couldn’t play short.
Solarte is not a SS and never will be, a backup aat best and will cost the Jays a lot if he is the fulltime SS.
That leaves NGoepe, a elite glove who could play a good short, but can’t hit his weight. Kinda like Goins. #scoutseyes
Is there a way to mute people on here?
I must be getting old because I can’t stand the rude and offensive comments towards a player that is attempting to go to battle for us and is struggling to stay on the field. Is this how people feel about our soldiers or police officers that are injured in battle. They can’t do the job any more so take them behind the barn and put us out of our misery. That’s not right. Oh! and also, get off my LAWN!
Not sure this comparison…….is comparing things….that are at all similar. BUT. Yeah, a lotta negativity toward Tulo that seems unnecessary.