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TAMPA – Troy Tulowitzki was contacted by teams other than the Yankees when the Blue Jays released him in December, but these other teams lost their time contacting the veteran stunt post.
"There were certainly a lot of interested teams, but the Yankees were at the top of the list," said Tulowitzki Wednesday at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
After losing Didi Gregorius at least until June and probably longer due to a Tommy John operation on his right elbow, the Yankees were in dire need and were not ready to spend what Manny Machado was looking for.
They could have signed with Freddy Galvis or Adeiny Hechavarria, each offering versatility that Tulowitzki did not have, but they chose Tulowitzki after doing rigorous training in his native California. Galvis signed a two-year contract with the Blue Jays and Hechavarria signed a championship contract with the Mets.
The Yankees signed a one – year contract with Tulowitzki for a minimum of $ 555,000 in the major leagues. The Blue Jays are paying $ 19.445 million to Tulowitzki for $ 20 million this year. The Blue Jays will be looking for $ 14 million next year and will have to spend $ 4 million in 2021.
Tulowitzki, long – time fan of Derek Jeter, who will be number 12 after number 2 with Colorado and Toronto, had plenty of time to study the Yankees last year when he missed all season due to a heel surgery to remove the bone. spurs.
"I know it's a very good ball club. I did not play last year and I watched, and they played well in baseball, "said the 34-year-old, who has not played in a league game since July 28, 2017 .
Tulowitzki realized that Gregorius would be back after being injured in the ALDS against the Red Sox last year. But until then, the 12-year veteran Tulowitzki insisted that he would not wonder when Gregorius will resurface and resume the short-stop position.
"I do not worry about that. I will do everything I can to help the team win, "said Tulowitzki, .290 forward with .856 OPS.
He is a five-time star, but has not played more than 143 games since 2011.
"Didi is a great player who has come a long way since I played against him in Arizona," Tulowitzki said.
With regard to heel surgeries, Tulowitzki stated that the procedures followed by the Mets Yoenis Cespedes fighter were similar, and that he did not have the same layer of sugar as the road that Céspedes had in front of him.
"It's not easy to come back," Tulowitzki said.
Even if the financial commitment is small, the Yankees feel that Tulowitzki is strong enough to help.
"We hired a player in good health, that's why we brought him here. We did our due diligence and we knew that it was coming in a very good place, "said Aaron Boone. "The question now for him will be the ability to bounce back and withstand the rigors of a regular, but he really seems to be moving on the pitch and where his swing is."
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