Yankees Sign Troy Tulowitzki To 1 Year $555K

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Blue Jays release shortstop Troy Tulowitzki

The Toronto Blue Jays have released shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, making him a free agent, it was announced Tuesday.

Tulowitzki, 34, has two years and $38 million remaining on his contract -- $20 million for next year, $14 million for 2020 and a $4 million buyout of the 2021 team option -- but has been plagued by injuries in recent seasons.

He missed the entire 2018 season after having surgery to remove bone spurs from both heels in early April. Tulowitzki hasn't played in the majors since July 28, 2017, when he suffered ligament damage that required surgery after he stepped on another player's foot while running the bases.

Tulowitzki was taken by Colorado with the seventh overall pick in the 2005 amateur draft and became a five-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove Award winner. The Rockies agreed after the 2010 season to a $157.75 million, 10-year contract that added $132 million over seven seasons, then traded him in July 2015 to Toronto in a deal that brought shortstop Jose Reyes to Colorado.

Tulowitzki, who expects to be healthy in time for spring training, has missed at least 30 games in seven straight seasons and eight of the past nine.

For his career, he has a .290 average, 224 home runs and 779 RBIs.

[key2win]

Yankees bolster infield, agree with veteran SS Troy Tulowitzki

Free-agent veteran shortstop Troy Tulowitzki has agreed to a deal to join the New York Yankees, league sources tell ESPN.

The 34-year-old Tulowitzki, who missed all of 2018 after undergoing surgery on both heels, was released by the Toronto Blue Jays in December. They will pay the majority of his $20 million contract, with the Yankees responsible only for the league-minimum $555,000.

Tulowitzki long has expressed a desire to join the Yankees, whose longtime shortstop Derek Jeter was Tulowitzki's idol. Tulowitzki grew into a Jeter-caliber player, turning his slick fielding and powerful bat into five All-Star Game appearances with the Colorado Rockies.

His career turned upon a July 2015 trade to the Blue Jays. Injuries slowed him, and after playing just 66 games in 2017, recovering from bone spurs in his heels sidelined him all of last season. The interest in Tulowitzki was strong nevertheless, particularly after a December workout for teams in which scouts said he showed impressive mobility.

In his rookie season of 2007, Tulowitzki batted .291 with 24 homers and 99 RBIs to finish second in NL Rookie of the Year voting behind Milwaukee's Ryan Braun.

His best three seasons came from 2009 to 2011, when he finished among the top 10 in MVP voting each year and averaged 30 home runs and 97 RBIs. He also won his two Gold Gloves in 2010 and '11.