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Toronto Blue Jays: Troy Tulowitzki’s market heating up

By Hayden Godfrey

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 16: Troy Tulowitzki #2 of the Toronto Blue Jays hits a two run home run in the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on September 16, 2016 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 16: Troy Tulowitzki #2 of the Toronto Blue Jays hits a two run home run in the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on September 16, 2016 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /
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The recently released Troy Tulowitzki is apparently garnering quite a bit of interest as he enters the free agent market this winter.

As Gregor Chilsolm of MLB.com so eloquently put it, Troy Tulowitzki‘s name has been mentioned more over the past couple days than it has over the past calendar year. And why wouldn’t it? A team could sign Tulowitzki for the league minimum and have a shot at inserting a player who could, if all goes according to plan, have a bat that produces a wRC+ of close to 100.

It appears as though teams are starting to take note of this. Recently, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle suggested that the Oakland Athletics, in dire need of a serviceable second baseman, could pick up Tulo at a “mere $600,000”.

It was also recently revealed that the Cubs, one of the quieter teams this offseason, are interested in pursuing Tulowitzki, per Jon Heyman of Fancred and MLB Network. He also adds that the Cubs do intend on sending a scout to a workout that he’ll be having at an undisclosed date.

In the newest addition to the line of Tulo rumours, the Pittsburgh Pirates, also considered a potential suitor for free agent Freddy Galvis, are engaged with Tulowitzki, report Adam Berry of MLB.com and Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic. Slusser mentioned in an earlier report that there are potentially six teams who have interest in his services.

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With the practically non-existent implicated salary, who wouldn’t want a potential offensive sparkplug somewhere in the lineup? The Cubs and Pirates, both of whom seem to be in the hunt already, and the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Angels, San Diego Padres, Arizona Diamondbacks, and the Seattle Mariners could all fit for him, should they desire.

Though he didn’t play in 2018, Tulowitzki, now 34, slashed a decent .249/.300/.378 with seven home runs and 26 RBI in 66 games for the Blue Jays in 2017. He also scored 16 runs and added 10 doubles and 17 walks to his season’s totals, making him worth 0.1 WAR overall. A native of Santa Clara, California, Tulowitzki is currently 14th among active position players in WAR (44.1), fourth in defensive WAR (16.9), 24th in on-base percentage (.360), and 21st in slugging percentage (.494).

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It remains to be seen just where Tulowitzki will land, but if recent reports are any indication, his next workout, whenever that should be, will be vital to him landing a spot on another major league roster. With a few years still remaining on his contract (which the Blue Jays will be responsible for paying), it’ll be fascinating to see if he can once again crack a major league roster and make an impact at the highest level, as he once did with such prowess and dominance.

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