The Blue Jays announced today that they have released veteran shortstop Troy Tulowitzki. The Toronto organization will remain obligated to pay him the remaining $38MM in guaranteed money on his contract (including a buyout of a 2021 option).
Tulowitzki, 34, missed all of the 2018 season due to bone spurs in both heels. He had been sidelined for a long stretch of 2017 as well, all while enduring an offensive decline, making for quite an uncertain future for the former superstar.
Still, it’s surprising that the Jays ended up moving on in this fashion. With two more guaranteed seasons on his contract, Tulowitzki could have been given a shot to work back to health and perhaps build up some trade value. Evidently that was not seen as a workable solution by the organization, which is transitioning to what it hopes will be a new core.
Teams that wish to take a shot on a rebound can now employ Tulowitzki for the league minimum salary for the next two campaigns, with the Jays footing the remainder of the bill. He’ll surely be guided by the chance at playing time, among other considerations, though even with that appealing contract situation it remains to be seen whether any MLB clubs will consider Tulo a reasonable candidate for semi-regular time (and, if so, whether he’ll still be seen as a shortstop).
Wow.
Reminds me of the SI Cover that had Tulo, Ellsbury, R. Zimmerman, J. Upton, Braun and Buchholz on it saying the 2005 Draft class was the best ever. So much for that.
What a millennial. Go look at those numbers. Those guys had MVP’s, All Stars like c’mon revisionist history guy.
I don’t know what his age has to do with anything? He could be a 40 year old man judging by how he remembers something that happened 13 years ago on a magazine cover, something that today’s generation doesn’t read with the internet being a major component of life.
Exactly. I’m no Millennial. I promise.
Best draft ever might be much, but…
Tulo: 44.1 bWAR
Braun: 46.4 bWAR
Ellsbury: 31.1 bWAR
Zim: 38.0 bWAR
Jupton: 35.0 bWAR
Buch: 18.0 bWAR
That’s a phenomenally good return 13 years later.
I still believe Verlander’s MVP belongs to Ellsbury.
he’s wrong but I don’t think it’s because he may be millennial…because that assumption is dumb lol. But so is his critique on these players…
You’re no millennial but you are wrong.
Do you think it was one of the greatest draft classes in history?
One PED user. and no Hall of Famers. It was a pretty ordinary draft.
he’s commenting on how that commenter is acting like a millenial by only considering what’s happening now. looking at the careers that those guys he listed have posted, that’s a really really strong draft class. these are mvps and all stars that he’s brushing aside like they’re AAA players.
Haha and Elvis was at the gas station
Good for us
Is it a really strong draft? It’s a nice draft. Many good players, but no great ones. No Hall of Famers. McCutchen might get to a 50 WAR, but other than the PED user, no one else will.
At random go back inn intervals of 5? 2010 has a potential of 5 or 6 hall of farmers. That’s a great draft.
The 2000 Draft has two Hall of Famers, Molina and Utely. Then Adrien Gonzalez and Cliff Lee. Adam Wainwright.
The 1995 draft has three Hall of Famers, at least it should. Three 60 War players.
So just at random, 1995, 2000, 2005 and 2010. it might be the worse of the four..
Molina is no hall of famer
Still lost on what this has to do with being a millennial?? lol, but what do I know? I’m just young and happy to be alive, I guess I’m a little too millennial.
You all are those same old grumpy people that would use generational nicknames as meaningless insults when you were kids…so congrats.
I’d be shocked it Yadier Molina didn’t make the Hall of Fame.
But at least it’s a debatable. I don’t think the 2005 draft was a great class. The best I would say was “solid”.
It’s hard to say a draft is great when there are no 60 WAR players and no Hall of Famers. And the best player got busted for PED use.
That’s a phenomenally good return 13 years later.
Compared to what?
The 2004 Draft? The 2006 Draft? Don’t get me wrong, those are good players, but It’s a pretty standard draft. Five or six very good players. But what is rare is there are no hall of farmers.
Most drafts produce a hall of fame player, that one wont.
And Cutch!
1993
Alex Rodriguez, Billy Wagner, Chris Carpenter, Torii Hunter, Jason Varitek, Derrek Lee, Scott Rolen
1995
Kerry Wood, Roy Halladay, Todd Helton, Darin Erstad, Carlos Beltran, Sean Casey, Ryan Dempster, A.J. Burnett, Mike Lowell
Those to drafts are probably the best even 2005 draft was good if not better
Most of those players arn’t retired, so of course there are no HOFers yet. It would take decent end-of-the-career runs, but McCutchen, Zimmerman and even Braun, once PED usage is forgotten, could be HOFers. In 2011, no one believed Adrian Beltre would be a HOFer, but now he is a virtual lock. It is way too early to judge.
Braun’s MVP belongs to Kemp.
Look at the 2010 Draft.
Sale 43..1
Simmons 34.9
Machado 33.8
Harper 27.4
Yellich 26.2
That’s a pretty darn good draft.
Wow, some of them aren’t good 13 years later. Hot take here.
How many DL stints among those cover guys(not to mention Braun getting popped for PED’s)? I think it’s fair to call just about all of the guys underachievers.
Well, 2 of those guys were the face of their franchise for over a decade apiece. And 5/6 all signed 9 figure, multi year contracts. I wouldn’t consider them underachievers by any means
Underachievers ? Yeah, they’ve done so poorly yet organizations were forced to give those six nearly $900M over their careers.
Wow
Wow
Wow.
Wow
Wow
wow
wow!
Has x got him going to the Yankees yet?
Wow
Wow
@tribe he’s a big fan of his
Go yankees
I heard Xabial and Harry were actually the same person…
Wow.
Wow
Wow. -Owen Wilson
Wowwing your wow
Wow
h
Wow
Flutter.
Wow
Wow
W…..o…..w
WOW
Did anyone see this coming?
Not this quickly, I don’t think.
Yeah, he is always hurt unfortunately and the blue jays have better options. I didnt expect it during the meetings, but he wasnt going to get much interest from other teams.
who will sign him for league min? Just like giants signed Panda.
Idk. Maybe baltimore. Maybe the mets if they trade Rosario (im joking there). Maybe he wont play anymore. Guess we will see. Too bad though how his tenure with toronto ended. In all honesty though, it probably went better than when the rockies informed him that he was getting traded
no one
I think he might end up in San Diego
They have a glut of infielders and he’s not going to formally retire to get out of the amount of money he’s owed. He also hasn’t played in any game since May of 2017 and is in his mid 30’s with a history of major injuries including a hip injury.
I guess he didn’t want to go into camp as a backup infielder so they cut ties with him.
He apparently would not change positions either.
Yes, i did. Emphatically.
I can assure you that Xabial did, and he will gladly let you know by taking credit for it in the comment section.
BEST comment I’ve seen on here in a while!! So accurate, funny and true lol
coldbeer as well
Dude lives in your head
Can he play 2nd? Cardinals get in it.
Yea… You would think he could if he played SS. That’s a good idea.
Yes, please! Cardinals sign a guy who can barely walk and isn’t believed to be capable of rehabbing until January 2020 at the very earliest due to more surgeries in upcoming months.. A guy who was obviously released so that team could cash in on the insurance they have against critical/career-ending injuries. If the Jays’ medical staff and associated external doctors thought there was any chance of Tulo playing over the next couple of years, they would not be releasing him at this time.
We have a potential gold glove winning 2nd baseman.
They would have to keep him on the roster to collect insurance. He will be healthy enough to play, but at what quality, and Toronto didnt want deal with his SS only attitude. They ate the contract.
Why? The last time he was worth more than 2018 Kolten Wong was 2015. For all of his flaws, Kolten Wong gave 3.5 WAR last year in somewhat limited time. This is not an upgrade.
Tulo is a 44.3 war overall. Don’t say he wouldn’t be an upgrade if the a Cardinals could sign him at 5-7 million on a one year deal. His offseason is certainly an upgrade and even if they want to plug and play Tulo at 2nd, SS, and 3rd they could. That lineup would be solid. Carpenter, Tulo, Goldy, Ozuna, DeJong, Molina, Bader, Fowler.
He doesn’t want to switch positions
And a new post says he is willing to play 2nd base.
I did…he never wanted to play there and he wouldn’t have played anything but SS.
I’m guessing the Jay’s GM.
I am not totally shocked on this. I did think however they would bring him to spring to give him a last go at seeing if he could be healthy and play. However he was vocal he wanted to be a full time player and GM Ross Atkins put a lot of shade on how he felt that was not realistic. So I did expect that either now or later next year they would have to eat the balance of the deal.
Still I think overall its a little surprising.
But the Jays really want to give Lourdes playing time, with Bo Bichette on the cusp and Kevin Smith not much further behind, and Logan Warmoth & Jordan Groshans in the lower system.
It was a matter of time but this was a bolder move
Smith just completed Single-A.
Warmoth is turning 23 and struggled in Single-A.
Groshans is years away. Tulo would be gone before he shows up to the bigs.
Bichette is starting in AAA regardless of who’s on the team this year.
Only player blocked is Rowdy Tellez, by Morales and Smoak. With teams looking for a first baseman the Jays are nowhere to be found as a potential trade partner. Tulo wasn’t blocking anyone around the infield.
I was referring to their player depth.
Lourdes is the #1 player who will benefit from the playing time with Bo as the next in line. I would suspect he starts in AAA as well. You would think he will get the Vlad treatment and get called up in later April 2020. Hard to say though, if gets off to a good start in AAA, they could bring him up in 2019.
Smith finished the season in A ball and they have been pushing him quickly, so its not hard to see him starting in AA next season.
The other guys are a ways away and it has little to do with Tulo, point being its a position of depth for their future and they want to see what some of these guys can do now and in the next two seasons.
^I know where you were going. My point is there was no reason for the knee-jerk Tulo decision today. The place to address is first base and they haven’t done it. I suspect they won’t and that is a mistake. With the depth players you mentioned, moving Vlad to 1B is something they should strongly consider if 2021 can be Smith at 3B, Gurriel SS, Bichette 2B with Biggio in the OF. Tellez would either find his way elsewhere or hit well enough to DH.
At 2021 Tulo would have been bought out. I realize the depth guys won’t matter in 2019 but I’d want the Drury’s and Hernandez’s to get more at bats, and they won’t so long as Smoak and Morales remain. I would have been ok with Tulo sticking around too, given he has 2 more years rather than the 1 for Smoak and Morales.
Damn, who won they trade Rockies or Blue Jays??
Rockies still have Tinoco and Hoffman, but at this point it looks like a lose-lose deal.
That and they only had to offset Jose Reyes to get Tulo off the books while they still have those 2 guys in their system. Rockies if anything win the deal even though it was poor for both sides in the long term.
Jays got to 2 ALCS with Tulo. Rockies have done what??
Red Sox won the World Series with Drew Pomeranz on their roster. Doesn’t mean Pomeranz is good.
He hit .205/.239 in the 2015 postseason and .229/.270 in the 2016 postseason. I’d say the Rockies making it to the wild card in 2017 and the NLDS (topping the Cubs) in 2018 with Arenado balance that out.
A little different, tulo gave us clutch defence for those playoff runs with a so so bat, Pomeranz was in the bullpen at one point last year
2 ALCS and ZERO pennants.
Those banner ceremonies must’ve been off the chain
Who’s your team and how’d they do those years??
Tulo’s numbers as a blue jay are so bad though. Even in the last 2 months of the year he got traded there. They really got nothing good from him offensively since acquiring him. A negative fWAR
Drew Pomeranz did have an excellent 2017 and was a major contributor that year, so while the point is taken, I just think a better example is needed.
At least they got all those fun TULO chants at Rogers Center!
Rockies by default, because they got out of Tulo’s deal. But their return was definitely disappointing.
Rockies had to take back $75 mil of Jose Reyes’ contract in addition to the dissappinting return…
Well, I guess that solves that problem…
I suppose this means he’s going to the Braves now
Not a shocker, I doubt he ever plays a MLB game again.
JaysFan
What was his injuries again? Please refresh my memory, lol
Thanks
Yet another reason for not signing Manny Machado to a super long term contract.
Exactly. When he signed that deal everyone was talking about this kid like they’re currently talking about Machado. It doesn’t take much for the mighty to fall. Signing anyone to a contract over 5 years is taking a huge risk.
Things are getting serious there. That’s a lot of money to eat
how much of that money is coming from rockies?
Let’s get an oof going in the chat
oof
Here’s to the delusional fans that said “Future Hall of Famer” lol.
RIP Tulo
Tulo was the best shortstop in Major League Baseball for 4 years. He was on a clear path to the Hall. If he just stayed healthy and played above replacement level he’d be on the ballot.
He was defensively gifted for sure but his bat was heavily carried by Coors Field. Great player? Sure. HoFer? Nah.
Harold Baines disagrees with you.
Best trade the Rockies ever made?
No sh**
Nope, that would be Matt Holliday for Carlos Gonzalez and Huston Street.
Maybe so. They would be choking on Tulowitzki, though(had they kept him). And they might not have given Story a shot with Tulo blocking him. This worked out perfectly for CO.
With Tulo being hurt so much, I don’t think Story really would have been blocked.
They took on Jose Reyes’ full salary so it’s not an absolute slam dunk. Does look better from their side though
They took on Reyes who sucked for the Rockies and then they released him. Tulo was at least productive defensively for the two years the Jays made the ALCS in 2015-2016. Reyes was an absolute sunk cost from day one and got released.
None of the Rockies prospects going back in the deal did anything of value, Castro got waived by the Rockies and claimed by the Orioles and Hoffman looks like a bust.
I guess what you are missing is that Tulo was a sunk cost, too. He was just a much more expensive sunk cost. He put up a 93OPS+ for the Jays, missed a zillion games and was released while still owed a ton of money. Hard to do any worse than that.
Tulo again played while the Jays were competitive in 2015-2016. Going from Tulo to say Ryan Goins or Jose Reyes doesn’t make them go to the playoffs in 2016 and doesn’t make them a division champion in 2015.
what you’re missing is that it’s not as big of a sunk cost if he’s injured. insurance will give you a bunch of it back.. jays still owe him money but he’s still injured and until he becomes healthy enough to play, the insurance company will continue footing a large part of the bill.
reyes on the other hand was a sunk cost since the team actually had to pay him. so the difference now is whether the two minor leaguers the rockies still have is better than what the jays got out of tulo for those 2 runs. his hitting wasnt great but there was one year (2016 i think) where after the first 2 months he hit close to 300 the rest of the regular season.
But do they get the insurance money if they release him like this as opposed to letting him sit on the DL? Not sure that’s a given, unless they arranged it in advance. Apparently the Mets are still negotiating with the insurance company over David Wright’s contract.
He has to be on the dl, and roster, or its just the team’s decision, and the insurance doesn’t pay for the team’s decision, as in this case.
Right, I was replying to “insurance will give you a bunch of it back.. jays still owe him money but he’s still injured and until he becomes healthy enough to play, the insurance company will continue footing a large part of the bill.”
Insurance is not giving them anything unless some sort of settlement was reached,and that seems unlikely since it seems that he CAN play, just not well. In Wright’s case, he has retired.
Digging deeper on this, Tulo wouldve blocked Story.
That CarGo/Street trade was good in a vacuum, but clearing Tulo and all his stuff ended up very well for COL
You can’t block someone while on the DL.
Let’s reverse this
The jays have made a lot of questionable trades the last few years when they went for it and they ended up eating two contracts now
Daham
Nice handle
Oh snap
Boom!
Man, if he wasn’t Glass Joe he could’ve been an all time great. And now his attitude is burning bridges. Interested to see who would make a play for him. He’s certainly cheap now.
Frazier and Florial for Tulo– go get em, Cashman!
Huh?
Oh, the OTHER meaning of release!
They couldn’t get any kind of return for him? Just eating the salary and letting him walk for nothing?
Would you give up anything for him?
One of the biggest elite falls. Just couldn’t stay healthy.
this has cubs all over it – sign for league min ( since they are cash strapped) and they get the “veteran leader” role filled – might even play a game or two while Russell is out
He can’t walk let alone play baseball. Are you joking?
I’d rather have a diff guy to be a veteran leader.
Baez is the SS thru April. Tulo probably thinks he is better. Will probably reinjure himself in spring training. Pass.
Right. Anyone who holds out hope that Tulo could even function as a bench piece at this point is truly delusional. He’s been perpetually injured for the past 4+ years, and there’s no reason to believe that’s gonna change.
Not to mention he just said he is a shortstop and is not willing to play other positions. Maddon isn’t gonna go for that. Hard pass
He said he was a shortstop there and that he would quit if there was someone better to play the position than him. I guess the Blue Jays decided that for him
Told you suckers. Go ahead and downvote again. Get that TRASH Tulo attitutde the hell away from the clubhouse. You want to take your ball and go home?!?!? See ya!!!
Plus, a buyout means they probably saved some cash.
This isn’t the NBA.
Rookie comment. Try one more time junior.
I’m not going to get anything out of bantering with you, but in case anyone else doesn’t know what buying out an option means, it’s money the Jays owed Tulo regardless. It was just a question of whether they would choose to pay *more* to have him an extra year, which they were never going to do.
Ok, I’ll help. This isn’t the NBA.
They came to a settlement to let him try to reinvigorate his career elsewhere. If they owed him 38 they probably paid him 33 flat out and cut their losses. And, saved a bit in the process.
No, they released him which means they will pay him the remaining guaranteed portion of his contract ($20M for ’19, and $14 M for ’20) as well as the $4M buyout of the ’21 season (instead of paying him $15M to actually play that season).
Wrong. They are obligated to pay him the full amount. But that means they control his future. In order for him to regain some control over his future he likely had to accept a buyout which would be an agreed upon amount (settlement) less than the full amount.
Not sure how to explain this any better than I just did. You clearly have little or no understanding about how contract guarantees and option years work on MLB contracts.
The Jays could pay him the full amount and tell him to go home and shove it for 2 years only taking up a fake roster spot replaced by 60 day dl stints meaning he doesn’take a roster spot. Or, they could pay him 90%, say, of what he’s owed and he can try to find another job. Do you have no idea about buyouts and settlements really??
I dont usually comment on these sort of things, but facts are your friend coldbeer. You have a few right statements, and some wrong statements, can you figure out which is which?
Here’s a right statement. I’m right and you’re you.
You tried, BobbyJohn.
Some folks refuse to be helped.
I’m sure the kid knows what release means. He’s just that sad of a troll that he’ll latch onto anything for attention. Like a child who just doesn’t wants any attention because it’s the only thing that vindicates him. Sad.
Might be a good name for my Tigers to take a gamble on.
Stop.
As a wise actor named Owen Wilson would say “wow”
Wow
he’s released- that is like a free no risk bench piece
Honestly for the better. Jays rebuilding and he’s taking up roster space. Plus they have Gurriel Jr.
So I guess you can say the Rockies won the trade, even though Hoffman and the other two prospects didn’t pan out, but because they got out of Tulo’s contract.
A’s looking for a 2nd baseman to finish grooming Franklin Barreto…
pretty sure the A’s are looking for someone who’s not made out of paper mache
Could def see this. Aging star for cheap is their MO.
Wow. I have to wonder if the Jays shopped him at all and found zero interest… I’d imagine they at least gave it a shot before just releasing him.
Strictly speculating here… Would the Yankees take a minimum salary flyer on him, hoping to get 50 games out of him before Didi gets healthy?
Stop with this nonsense. What’s wrong with you people. Now everyone wants this garbage bag. Give it a rest.
Truly did not say I want him (and I’m not a Yankee fan) – strictly speculation. Minimum wage, even for the “new breed of Yankees,” is absolutely zero to a team.
He is a me first dumpster fire with 2 broken wheels.
But other than that, mostly okay… Rumor has it that his left pinky has NEVER felt stronger… (laughing)
Just once I would like to see the Giants swallow their pride and drop someone on a terrible contract. Looking at you, Longoria.
Longoria just had a 2 win season. It’s not like he hasn’t played since May 2017 and refuses to play a backup infield spot.
How broken is he? Wouldnt mind seeing back up 3rd and short for the cards if he ever gets healthy
He must not be insured ?
It’s the only way this makes sense why would the Jays pay 38 mil when he is gonna spend rest of eternity on the DL
no, you wouldn’t release him then, you would just keep him on the roster like the rangers did with fielder. releasing him keeps you on the hook for the remainder of the contract
I could see an AL team taking a chance for a DH? maybe…
Move away from the Jays’ turf could help him. Still sad to see
You are blaming the turf??? Rookie move bruh!!!
Infield is dirt
Must be referring to doing warmup in the outfield. Since he’s a shortstop.
Where do these puds come from?
Too low.
Well, despite injuries, he still played solid defense and has a decent bat when healthy in 2017. I’m guessing pretty much every fan for every team would love him signed at the league minimum just in case he can contribute. I, of course, wouldn’t mind him playing SS for the Cubs, but would he even make it to the field?
Also, I’m working under the assumption that once a player is released and still owed money under a prior contract, he cannot sign a new contract for more than the league minimum? Is this correct?
he is still paid his existing contract by the team that releases. the new team only plays the league minimum to add him to their roster
He will be paid by Blue Jays his full salary any MLB team can sign him and only have to pay him league min. Just like when Boston released Panda and Giants signed him for 2 0r 3 years for league min.
His baseball days are over. Why is this such a hard concept to grasp for you people?
Bone spurs / surgery to remove them necessitate retirement?
Done. D.o.n.e. done!!
Okay. I bet you a cold beer that he plays again.
Mrs. Tukowitzki, I know it’s hard having him gone so often, but you should really talk about this with Troy.
Done! Lol
Cheers!
Answer the question.
38 mil? bruhhh lmao
Brewers could always use another middle infielder, apparently. Take him for the league minimum?
not a bad idea. Invite to spring maybe.
I’ve been a Brewers fan my whole life and have also enjoyed watching Tulo since he came into the league. I wouldn’t mind this move, as long as he’s okay with being a backup IF.
The Brewers really only need him for a month or anyways cause then we can bring up Huira to play second. Which I have thought about this couldn’t the Brewers just split the season of second between Dubon and Huira then they still gain an extra year of control on both
Sh*t
If only his former long time manager was running a team that needed a veteran SS to play in front of an unproven rookie…
At least let him compete in Spring Training. This is nonsense. At least him go down with a fight. You’re paying him anyway.
May as well release Morales too.
Another bonehead decision by the hipster front office. By keeping him, and he gets hurt, insurance would cover part of the salary. Best case scenario he performs well. Releasing him shoukd have happened next year, not now.
why let him compete in Spring Training when the team is rebuilding, and wants to give playing time to their young infield prospects? Blocking them is nonsense?
He’s not blocking them when you “should” be dealing Smoak and getting rid of Morales to give Tellez at bats. Tulo, with two years left, DHs. Plus, Bichette is going to be in AAA regardless. Infield would be Vlad (Drury covers first two weeks), Gurriel, Travis and Tellez with Tulo at DH. Martin also an infield option. Urena plays in AAA to work on his bat.
Gurriel has already had a short history of injuries. No Diaz. Why couldn’t Tulo be given a Spring Training? Tulo knows it’s a business and he could either suck it up or retire.
Based on the fact that he has not played a game in almost two seasons, he is well over 30 and is demanding to play the most demanding position on the field, this doesn’t seem outrageous. The Jays don’t need to get in a showdown to see who flinches first re: Troy’s threats, because chances are he stinks next spring. A rebuilding team chalked full of young players does not need that kind of negative attention surrounding them. Especially with the circus that is sure to follow Vlad Jr.
^What showdown? Tulo is under contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. Giving him a Spring Training would have hurt nobody.
As for the Vlad circus, more reason to keep Tulo around. Tulo is painted as a selfish player. Watching him play over the years he’s a polished, discipline professional.
So DH him and release Morales. If Tulo balked, he could have retired. Either way the Jays would have saved money compared to the $38 million guaranteed plus player option buyout for 2021. Boneheaded move by a clearly incompetent front office.
Most shocking move of the Meetings so far. Tulo being dumped. Somebody will pay him MLB minimum and give him a shot.
wow
Pirates or Brewers make sense. Shouldn’t be too expensive, can offer playing time at SS, but have in-house options if he can’t play.
pretty sure he can only sign a contract for league minimum since he is being bought out the few years
I think you have something there and MLB channel says he is working out now
Hell, Mike Rizzo give him a call. DC needs a 2B. and it’s only league minimum. what’s the downside?
losing a roster spot?
The downside is your short sided view.
To any team looking to scoop up Tulo. Expect nothing and you won’t be disappointed.
I guess Tulo isn’t as good anymore as he thought he was.
Shocking! Maybe a minor league deal for an AL team to be a full time DH. Why not the Jays are on the hook for the money. If he can’t stay healthy if all he does is hit then he’s truly done.
I’m a Tigers fan and I say no thank you. Miggy should have the DH spot locked down already.
Tulo to the SF or Oakland on a 1yr 1-2 mil deal…
Jesus. He is going to retire in about 14 months. His playing days are finished!!
He can go anywhere on a 2-year $38 million deal where his new team only pays the league minimum.
As a Jays fan I’m glad. You pay him this up coming season, the next after that, and then he’s off your books. Jays have too much young talent to waste time on Tulo.
Jays also have to pay his buy out .
Interesting. Did the Jay’s not have insurance on his contract?
Were they penny wise and pound foolish? Of course he would have taken up a roster spot until the season started.
Man, 19 million for the next 2 years for a ghost…..
Maybe he wasn’t insurable.
Padres need a stopgap shortstop and we dont shy away from players with an injury history. A minors or a 1m pact for 1 season should get it done.
feels like this has the makings of a preller reclamation project indeed. not personally for it, but i can totally see this happening.
I still think he had the potential to be solid (not great player), but not for that price or from the 38 mil left from what I’m assuming is a short span. Although like many players struggling to make it back or have consistency in the big leagues, the shift aka good defensive positioning not necessarily good pitching or more so indirectly getting outs as I’ve argued, will probably hurt him, He seems like most declining veterans though and I wouldn’t if offer him more than 8-10 mil for perhaps a 1 year contract.
Guess that solves who will be playing SS for the Orioles this season.
weird question, if he signs with a new team and plays in a state with lower taxes in the us, where is his tax burden, is it in Toronto still who paying on the contract or is it where he is playing and residing?
Interesting. I’d like to know this too.
Who cares?
Apparently two commenters care. Also, if you’ve ever read anything on MLBTR (besides headlines), this is a topic of interest in general.
Well, I don’t know for sure, but, I do know that when a player plays in another state, he must pay income tax for that state. Taxes are paid where the games are played (that’s kinda catchy haha). So by that logic, I would imagine that he would be paying taxes on the new place.
interesting, so it isn’t only the team but the division that makes the tax difference, like central divisions in both leagues probably have a lower tax burden regardless of the team
You pay taxes in the states you physically play all of your games. Meaning pro athletes have to file many tax returns every year. One for every city they play games in.
Wow, he comes out substantially ahead with this move if he signs in the US, especially Florida or Texas. I wonder if the government in Ontario/Canada thought about offering some incentive not to do this.
If Tulo has any hope of playing again, get on it Rizzo.
If Tulo can’t play again, I’m sorry to see such a fate for such a talented guy.
Future pirate
I understand but I dont understand
He should have at least been given a DH spot and release Morales.
He may have rebuilt enough value to trade for a lotto pick. Now hes a FA at league minimum and we eat the 38 million
On the other hand
Hallelujah
Morales at least provides value with his bat. I’m not confident Tulo can even play again, much less provide value.
We don’t need value from Morales bat next year, in fact we need the opposite. We dont want to win much next year unless it’s a miracle season.
As a whole Tulos upside was/is superior to Morales if both are healthy and producing.
I would have assumed seeing both are sunk costs they would go with the one who could possibly bring back something, anything, as opposed to nothing
Need Morales gone to allow Tellez some at bats at the big league level. Smoak too. He should be discussed with Colorado and Tampa at this very moment and isn’t.
That may have been the plan and when Tulo said “if I’m not the SS I might as well go home” they said, well ok.
In the past, Tulo said he was a shortstop only and that he would quit if there was someone better to play the position.
I hear that was reiterated in the recent Jays-Tulo Vegas conversations. He didn’t want a lesser role or to take one for the team. Selfish attitude if you ask me.
I am guessing he was still bitter over the broken promises to him made by the Rockies before he was traded and now the Jays were asking something of him he didn’t want to do.
I applaud the Jays Mgmt for letting him go rather than being a negative influence on the team.
Folks, Atkins will be gone next. You watch. Book it.
This comment was excellent until the last sentence.
Right?? Where did the Atkins line come from? Lol
Because he has a disdain for the jays front office.
Turnerg, you make it personal and it is not.
I have a disdain for the performance of the front office compared to other front offices {Gillick, AA, Dombrowski, Cashman, Stearns].
Having said that, I am genuinely hearing Atkins job is on the bubble. Finally someone in the Blue Jays/Rogers Mgmt sees the litany of stupid MLB level decisions. {I won’t list them again here like I have ad naseum in the past.]
Sorry, don’t understand at all. Well, I get it, but out of all the bad contract for contract swap, one has to think they would take Tulo in exchange. Yanks with Ellsbury, Marlins with Chen, the entire Giants roster, I mean come on?
And it’s not like the Jays needed that Roster spot on December 11th, 2018 right? If it were May 15th and he was still injured or affecting the roster, I would understand.
I’m rarely so perplexed, but I’m stumped on this one.
It is confusing.
not if he can’t play, that is all that makes sense. Tulo will not play in 2019
Homer Bailey has been awful. You meant to tell me they couldn’t even swing for that? I mean there are probably 6-8 plausible scenarios for a guy (Tulo) that was once an amazing player. $38M isn’t a terrible amount (in the world of bad contracts)..
Bailey is awful but capable of walking on to a field, Tulo can’t play, as in, he physically cannot play.
Bad contract swaps are sometimes a creative way to turn your dead money into something useful, but you’re still giving a roster spot to the new guy you acquire. Probably the Jays just feel like the guys in their system are more deserving of Tulo’s spot than, say, Ellsbury or Bailey.
Tulo was always injury prone. I thought it was high risk when he went to the Jays and my memory has him injured every year he played there. Am I mistaken? Neil Young sang it best “it’s better to burn out than to fade away…” he did both! HA
Wow
Padres stick him at short and hope he doesn’t get injured before Tatis gets called up.
Hopefully Billy Eppler is taking some notes. Release Pujols!!!
That’s an Arte decision.
If they remove the shift, Pujols is a different player. As are many players.
If he can prove he is healthy before spring training he will end up with a lot of interest. It’s a very big if given his history but any team looking for a middle infielder or possibly 3rd should be interested in taking a shot on him. What do you lose in giving him a shot it’s only league min and if he becomes even just above replacement level he would still be valuable at the price.
Yankees if they are attempting that 3 team trade or the Mariners who could use the experience that tulo bring to mentor the younger group
The Mets will pick him up
Wow?
Welcome to the Nationals
Any comment that suggests that Tulo should join “your” team is foolish mularkey!!! Stop already! He’s finished!!!!!
he very well could be finished but at league minimum someone in need of a middle infielder may take that shot.
Former MVP caliber short stop under 35, essentially cost and risk free, and can be released if he doesn’t look good in Spring Training? Tulo’s camp is going to field a lot of calls of teams asking about his medical condition. If he’s ready to pass physicals, I guarantee he will be signed to at least a MiLB contract with invite.
Wow is right. The only way I can see this making sense from the Blue Jays’ point of view is Tulo’s condition is much worse than people realize. The Blue Jays clearly view Tulo as completely worthless and unable to even compete in Spring Training.
That’s not it. Atkins running his mouth about Tulo in recent comments led to a confrontation This is the result of that..
perfect buy low for the pirates. I duno if he’ll be good again but unless they got big plans seems like an obvious guy you pick up and if it doesn’t work not a huge hit.. you gave it and him a chance.
I fully agree that, as a Pirate fan, I want him in black & gold. There’s very little risk for the Bucs. The problem is that he can pretty much pick the team he wants to play for given that he’ll only be making $550,000. At least 10 teams will probably be after him with so little risk and so much upside. I hope the Bucs win the sweepstakes, but I’m not sure I like their chances. They are one of the only teams that could essentially hand him a starting SS job, though…
Go get him Giants.
Would not be surprised to see him in a Yankee uniform. If healthy, he could be a bridge until Didi is back from injury. Tulowitzki is a huge Yankee fan and his idol growing up was Jeter.
Makes sense. Make Jays fans suffer as Tulo helps the Yankees get back to the playoffs filling in for Didi. Definition of boneheaded move. And oh yeah, AA is back with a playoff contender in Atlanta with a good, young team, and stocked farm system to trade for pieces to make a deep run. You can’t win the World Series if you don’t make the playoffs… and a good farm system is really only good if the players you develop get you there, i.e. current Yankees core.
Ok, kudos to AA for walking into the Atlanta job with a farm already stocked and ready to compete?
Sorry, but what does that have anything to do with Tulo getting released? Maybe because he was the one that traded for him, gutted the farm in Toronto and left with an aging team with a short window for contention?
Paul, Jays fans want to fantasize that AA was the greatest GM that ever lived. He may not even be in the Jays Top 3.
Pat Gillick and AA are the only GMs to ever build playoff teams in Toronto. You can’t win the World Series (like Gillick did twice in Toronto) if you don’t make the playoffs. What metric do you measure a GM on, WAR? My point is that Shapkins should be running a farm system somewhere, not a major league team. This was yet another boneheaded move. They could have released Morales and had Tulo DH.
If there’s any Jeter angle to be played, why not pitch Tulo-to-the-Marlins?
I don’t think Tulowitzki has enough left to contribute anywhere, but Miami makes about as much sense as a place to rebuild value if he’s serious about playing in 2019.
Well… He said I’m a short stop until they get rid of me. . .
Rockies could possibly try to run him out at 1B. He was popular with the fans. Could also be a stop-gap DH for the Mariners. But anyone suggesting he can play SS for any team on a regular basis is stretching it. He has recurring issues that wont be going away…IF he can get on the field. I’d basically want him in the batters box and closing my eyes when he batted hoping he didnt go down in a heap
Here we go Troy is a perfect fit for the Brewers second base job hit her done!!!!
Looks like addition by subtraction. He will get a veteran minimum salary and an invite to spring training from another team and probably go through extended spring training. Oakland, Pittsburgh or Tampa Bay probably will take a flyer on him.
And $38 million guaranteed from Toronto…
Cheap 1B project?
The Yankees will sign him
Go Yankees!
Shame, hard to do much if ones feet are always hurting. Still surprising they couldn’t find a spot in the front office, something so he could still stay in the game. I’m sure the 38 million will help soften the being cut.
Just wow, I don’t like this move one bit
Orioles should sign him.
Tulo: ‘I’ll pack my bags and go home’ if I can’t play SS in 2019
Wow…….Guess he packs his bags ..then again the Pads could add him to their all-star player recovery plans that are under way.
Another of those Colorado players who play like superman there and like Lois Lane out of Colorado.
I think the Mariner’s should try to pick him up at league minimum. This could allow Crawford to start the season in AAA Tacoma. Many believe he needs a bit more time in AAA to refine his swing. Tulo would get the opportunity to play SS and try to regain part of his game. Also, if he was able to do so, Dipoto could get someone of value for him at the deadline. If it’s a disaster, just let him go. The M’s aren’t going anywhere next season anyway. No lose situation for them.
Bet the guy can still hit for some power. If he can field at SS he might be valuable. Could platoon him against left handers, whom he averaged .919 OPS against in his career and 28 homeruns per 649 PA
MY FAVOURITE PLAYER!!
Yep, he’ll probably have his career best two seasons now playing for the league minimum while the Jays pay $38mn to watch him. I don’t get it with Shapiro and Atkins… they’ve gotten NOTHING of value for EE, Happ, Donaldson, Tulo, etc. Pearce went on to be World Series MVP with Boston. These guys supposedly know how to run a farm system, so empower them to do that only, and hire a real GM like AA or the guy in Milwaukee.
“Career best 2 years”. Is that a joke?
For those guys they’ve gotten their top pitching prospect Nate Pearson, Billy McKinney, Brandon Drury, Julian Merryweather and Santiago Espinal
#factshurtthenarrative
Who? These guys are your core?
Wait, why did bone spurs keep him from playing all year? Trump had no problem playing college baseball with bone spurs.
This would just make too much sense for Neal Huntington to pick him up, to actually happen lol. Pirates are one of the only teams that can basically guarantee him a starting SS role. Plus, he’s played for Hurdle before. Rather at least give him a shot than any of the internal options. And if it doesn’t work out, doesn’t work out
Tulo’s agents are telling Bay Area media he’s willing to change positions and play for the league min to play for the A’s, damn he’ll be signed by tomorrow….
Here’s the link
https://twitter.com/susanslusser/status/1072620436389793792
So much for the story that Atkins asked him to change positions and Tulo said “I’ll pack my bags.” Seems like a convenient excuse. Yanks need a SS to hold the line until Didi gets back in 2020.
Comments above splitting hairs. Here’s what happened: Atkins asked Tulo to consider changing positions and according to my sources, Tulo basically threw a temper tantrum. We heard about the “I’ll pack my bags” comment several days ago. I guess that wasn’t a threat but a promise. As a professional move Atkins proposed releasing him and that’s what happened.
“Might” be a great add for the Cubs as a replacement for Russell during his suspension.
I knew Tulo wouldn’t start the season with the Jays, I didn’t figure on the Jays eating close to 50 mil though when you factor in the 2 yrs salary and the 3rd yr buy out.
Tulo will be fine and he will be snapped up real quick because any team only has to put out the league minimum salary and the jays are on the hook for the rest. Not much of a gamble and he stays healthy. I’d like to see him go to Boston and Yankee;s not because I like either team but I hate what Shapiro and Atkins are doing.
Atkins saying they aren’t shopping players is garbage, Martin, Morales, and likely Pillar should keep their suitcases handy and Stroman won’t be there long.
The team will be stripped by the time someone wakes up and fires these two clowns..
Been saying similar about the Jays mgmt performance for years, getting easy to see now huh?
Fire them both. The rationale of keeping certain guys and looking to deal others is baffling.
Why didn’t they release Morales and let Tulo DH?
First from the way Atkins talked about Tulo I don’t think he liked him and was trying to embarrass him into quitting. That stun will cost the club 50 mil all total. 38 million for the two seasons plus the 14 million for the rd yr buy out
As for Morales I don’t think Morales or Martin will be with the club by the end of spring training and maybe Pillar as well. Shapiro and Atkins have systematically got rid of every starting player AA had brought in,
I would be surprised if Stroman and Sanchez will still be with the team come summer trade deadlines.
John Gibbons saw what was happening and although he still had a year left on his contract he wanted no part of what was happening, only he had to much class to criticize.
Jays will be bad for at least 10 yrs, It will take that long for Rogers and Bell to walk up and fire Shapiro and Atkins and reverse the damage they have done.
his miuth got him released. he can go to the braves and play along side donaldson.
Tulo and David Wright were superstars who had their careers cut short by injuries. Sad to see because they were both great men.
Love seeing the scum corporation Rogers eating LOTS of cash, plus that spend will affect the Blue Jays because they and Rogers both suck. Yay again!
How about the Sox giving him a shot at backing up at 2nd, SS, and 3rd. Pedroia has seemingly died unfortunately…..
If he can still field….
Almost as much cash pissed away as panda bear
I hate Yankees and Boston but I would love to see Tulo go to either club and play uninjured and rub Atkins nose in it.
League minimum? Cleveland ought to sign him and move him to 2B or 3B.
Heard he’s offering MLB a chance to just let him play in the all star game
How is this surprising? The Blue Jays are in a rebuild & they currently have Lourdes Gurriel at short. Bo Bichette is coming. Tulo takes away playing time from those guys. Tulo had to go. He has no trade value. The only option was to release him
Who says Tulo had to start everyday? He’s being paid the next two years, use him. He was not about to block anyone this year. Morales was the guy to cut loose, and Tulo DH’s, backs up Gurriel and sits on the bench. No blocking.
When you do a rebuild you need a foundation to build on. Shapiro and Atkins has systematically dealt off that foundation the veteran players who give you that foundation.
You won’t see Bichette or Gurerro intil at least some time in May. They will be held back that long so the Jays can milk another year of control out of their deals.
The Tigers should be right there for the major league minimum. By the moves they are making they don’t care about 2019 and if he gets hurt….(as he surely will) so what.
They are looking for a shortstop….end of story.
Well, at least he could still become President.