The Toronto Blue Jays have released five-time All-Star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, the club announced on Tuesday.
Injuries have been a major issue for Tulo during his time in a Blue Jays uniform since coming over from the Colorado Rockies back in 2015. He hasn’t played in the big leagues since 2017 after missing all of last season due to bone spurs in his ankle. In 2017, Tulowitzki hit .249 with seven home runs and 26 RBI’s in just 66 games.
ROSTER MOVE: We've released SS Troy Tulowitzki, making him a free agent.
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) December 11, 2018
Toronto Blue Jays Release Troy Tulowitzki
The 34-year-old is still owed $38 million for the remaining part of his ten-year, $157.8-million contract. It’s probably one of the most surprising moves fans will see at the 2018 winter meetings in Las Vegas, considering the type of player Tulowitzki has been in his career. He has a lifetime .290 average over 12 major league seasons, including 224 homers and 779 RBI’s. Tulo made five All-Star teams during his time in Colorado and also won two gold gloves at short.
When healthy, Tulowitzki is still a solid option for a club looking for a reliable glove at shortstop and a bat that has been very consistent for the majority of his career, despite the last few seasons with Toronto where he’s been on and off the disabled list. He has a career .974 fielding percentage, one of the highest among active shortstops in the majors.
Tulowitzki was a vital part of the Blue Jays historic playoff run in 2015, where they won the AL East and eventually lost to the World Series champion Kansas City Royals in the American League Championship Series. He hit .304 in that series with seven RBI’s and a homer.
Tulowitzki is slowly aging and doesn’t have many years left in his career, given the number of injuries he’s dealt with in the last few years. If healthy enough though, Tulo could still have a couple years left in the majors if another organization wants to give him an opportunity.
Toronto will take care of the remainder of his contract, owing him $20 million in 2019, $14 million in 2020, and a $4 million buyout in 2021.
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