Atkins calls out Tulowitzki
Posted: Thu Dec 6, 2018 12:24 am
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Atkins later went on to say that if the season started tomorrow, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. would be the club's shortstop. There's still plenty of time for that to change, but the fact that Tulowitzki has two years and $38 million remaining on his contract only complicates things even more.
Tulowitzki has repeatedly stated -- as recently as early September -- that he has no intention of moving off shortstop. How strongly does he feel about that?
"I said I'm a shortstop," Tulowitzki added at the time. "If someone's better than me, I'll pack my bags and go home."
The Blue Jays might be prepared to call Tulowitzki's bluff, because at this point it's not immediately clear what role he will have on the 2019 roster. If he's not the starting shortstop, then what is he exactly? Would Tulowitzki be considered a part-time player? Would the club ask him to permanently change positions despite his public comments?
"First and foremost, he has to get healthy, and he is," Atkins said of Tulowitzki, who missed all of 2018 after having surgery to remove bone spurs in both of his feet. "He looks like he is healthy. He's recovering well. He has full range of motion. He has his strength. ... Our reports are very positive.
"It's just a matter of getting him into the Spring Training environment and once we see him at a higher calibre of play, with those expectations, it's just too hard to say. To call him a part-time player, the honest answer to that is, I don't know. We're not going to label him anything just yet, but I think it's unlikely that he plays an above-average shortstop for us for 140 games."
The Blue Jays are expected to start the year with Gurriel at short, Brandon Drury at third, Devon Travis at second and Justin Smoak at first. Top prospect Vladimir Guerrero Jr. should be promoted by the end of April, and where this leaves Tulowitzki -- and his seemingly untradeable contract -- is anyone's guess.
Black Watch wrote:https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/blue-jays-not-sure-of-troy-tulowitzkis-role/c-301510050Atkins later went on to say that if the season started tomorrow, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. would be the club's shortstop. There's still plenty of time for that to change, but the fact that Tulowitzki has two years and $38 million remaining on his contract only complicates things even more.
Tulowitzki has repeatedly stated -- as recently as early September -- that he has no intention of moving off shortstop. How strongly does he feel about that?
"I said I'm a shortstop," Tulowitzki added at the time. "If someone's better than me, I'll pack my bags and go home."
The Blue Jays might be prepared to call Tulowitzki's bluff, because at this point it's not immediately clear what role he will have on the 2019 roster. If he's not the starting shortstop, then what is he exactly? Would Tulowitzki be considered a part-time player? Would the club ask him to permanently change positions despite his public comments?
"First and foremost, he has to get healthy, and he is," Atkins said of Tulowitzki, who missed all of 2018 after having surgery to remove bone spurs in both of his feet. "He looks like he is healthy. He's recovering well. He has full range of motion. He has his strength. ... Our reports are very positive.
"It's just a matter of getting him into the Spring Training environment and once we see him at a higher calibre of play, with those expectations, it's just too hard to say. To call him a part-time player, the honest answer to that is, I don't know. We're not going to label him anything just yet, but I think it's unlikely that he plays an above-average shortstop for us for 140 games."
The Blue Jays are expected to start the year with Gurriel at short, Brandon Drury at third, Devon Travis at second and Justin Smoak at first. Top prospect Vladimir Guerrero Jr. should be promoted by the end of April, and where this leaves Tulowitzki -- and his seemingly untradeable contract -- is anyone's guess.
Atkins on some gangsta sheet, trying to coerce Tulo into retirement.
WuTang_OG wrote:I think Ross Atkins has to be one of the dumbest people in professional sports.
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Atkins: Blue Jays could 'absolutely' deal Stroman, Sanchez
Jason Wilson
With Major League Baseball's annual winter meetings fast approaching, the Toronto Blue Jays could be convinced to trade either of their star pitchers in Marcus Stroman or Aaron Sanchez.
While the Blue Jays are not actively shopping the pair, there is reported interest around the league.
"I think there's a lot of teams that would love to have either guy," Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins told Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun.
When asked if the team could be persuaded to deal either starter if the price is right, Atkins said, "Yes, absolutely."
Both Stroman and Sanchez saw their 2018 campaigns go sideways due to injury. They each dealt with blisters and Sanchez had an additional finger issue following a suitcase mishap that required surgery.
After back-to-back 200-inning seasons, Stroman was limited to 102 1/3 frames over 19 starts. He posted a 5.54 ERA (3.91 FIP) with a 1.48 WHIP and career-worst 3.2 BB/9.
dagger wrote:WuTang_OG wrote:I think Ross Atkins has to be one of the dumbest people in professional sports.
Why? Do you think Tulo has real trade value? You would be the only one on the planet.
WuTang_OG wrote:Talking about Tulo is just one of the very many things he does so poorly. His communication skills are atrocious.
Then he's saying Stroman and Sanchez could be dealt? You are a GM, you don't publicly make those statements.
He's a bafoon and an amateur GM, plain and simple.
WuTang_OG wrote:dagger wrote:WuTang_OG wrote:I think Ross Atkins has to be one of the dumbest people in professional sports.
Why? Do you think Tulo has real trade value? You would be the only one on the planet.
Talking about Tulo is just one of the very many things he does so poorly. His communication skills are atrocious.
Then he's saying Stroman and Sanchez could be dealt? You are a GM, you don't publicly make those statements.
He's a bafoon and an amateur GM, plain and simple.
Al_Oliver wrote:WuTang_OG wrote:dagger wrote:
Why? Do you think Tulo has real trade value? You would be the only one on the planet.
Talking about Tulo is just one of the very many things he does so poorly. His communication skills are atrocious.
Then he's saying Stroman and Sanchez could be dealt? You are a GM, you don't publicly make those statements.
He's a bafoon and an amateur GM, plain and simple.
You calling him amateur while misspelling buffoon is kinda hilarious...
Schad wrote:WuTang_OG wrote:Talking about Tulo is just one of the very many things he does so poorly. His communication skills are atrocious.
Then he's saying Stroman and Sanchez could be dealt? You are a GM, you don't publicly make those statements.
He's a bafoon and an amateur GM, plain and simple.
It isn't terribly uncommon for GMs to make public statements of that nature. The premiere free agent SP just went off the board, the premiere SP trade candidate has been moved, and we're a rebuilding team; this isn't a bad time to advertise the availability of a couple starters, especially given that the scuttlebutt has been that teams believe us reluctant to move them.
On Tulo, it's just reality. He isn't an everyday shortstop anymore, and he isn't in our long-term plans. If he has any interest in playing semi-regularly, whether with us or elsewhere, he needs to be open to moving around the infield, something he has rejected previously. Otherwise, his career is effectively over; it might be effectively over already.
WuTang_OG wrote:Al_Oliver wrote:WuTang_OG wrote:
Talking about Tulo is just one of the very many things he does so poorly. His communication skills are atrocious.
Then he's saying Stroman and Sanchez could be dealt? You are a GM, you don't publicly make those statements.
He's a bafoon and an amateur GM, plain and simple.
You calling him amateur while misspelling buffoon is kinda hilarious...
What does a word I mispelled have to do with the incompetence of a GM?
Nice try.
WuTang_OG wrote:Schad wrote:WuTang_OG wrote:Talking about Tulo is just one of the very many things he does so poorly. His communication skills are atrocious.
Then he's saying Stroman and Sanchez could be dealt? You are a GM, you don't publicly make those statements.
He's a bafoon and an amateur GM, plain and simple.
It isn't terribly uncommon for GMs to make public statements of that nature. The premiere free agent SP just went off the board, the premiere SP trade candidate has been moved, and we're a rebuilding team; this isn't a bad time to advertise the availability of a couple starters, especially given that the scuttlebutt has been that teams believe us reluctant to move them.
On Tulo, it's just reality. He isn't an everyday shortstop anymore, and he isn't in our long-term plans. If he has any interest in playing semi-regularly, whether with us or elsewhere, he needs to be open to moving around the infield, something he has rejected previously. Otherwise, his career is effectively over; it might be effectively over already.
I just don't agree with doing it publicly, especially for guys who still seem to have a future here. These arent end of career guys who we know for sure won't be jays for long. Stroman and Sanchez are still considered young talented guys in this league and will more than likely be jays come april. Just doesn't make sense to me to announce things like that in public.
dagger wrote:WuTang_OG wrote:Schad wrote:
It isn't terribly uncommon for GMs to make public statements of that nature. The premiere free agent SP just went off the board, the premiere SP trade candidate has been moved, and we're a rebuilding team; this isn't a bad time to advertise the availability of a couple starters, especially given that the scuttlebutt has been that teams believe us reluctant to move them.
On Tulo, it's just reality. He isn't an everyday shortstop anymore, and he isn't in our long-term plans. If he has any interest in playing semi-regularly, whether with us or elsewhere, he needs to be open to moving around the infield, something he has rejected previously. Otherwise, his career is effectively over; it might be effectively over already.
I just don't agree with doing it publicly, especially for guys who still seem to have a future here. These arent end of career guys who we know for sure won't be jays for long. Stroman and Sanchez are still considered young talented guys in this league and will more than likely be jays come april. Just doesn't make sense to me to announce things like that in public.
I see no problem with being open about the availability of certain players. It's not like there wouldn't be rumours if trade talks are under way. A bidding war is always the best way to at least get a sense of the market. Playing coy with Donaldson last winter didn't exactly work. Now Atkins appears to be doing exactly what our timeline requires, and we're bitching?
Al_Oliver wrote:WuTang_OG wrote:Al_Oliver wrote:
You calling him amateur while misspelling buffoon is kinda hilarious...
What does a word I mispelled have to do with the incompetence of a GM?
Nice try.
Your commentary is amateurish? And you also misspelled, "misspelled..."
WuTang_OG wrote:Schad wrote:WuTang_OG wrote:Talking about Tulo is just one of the very many things he does so poorly. His communication skills are atrocious.
Then he's saying Stroman and Sanchez could be dealt? You are a GM, you don't publicly make those statements.
He's a bafoon and an amateur GM, plain and simple.
It isn't terribly uncommon for GMs to make public statements of that nature. The premiere free agent SP just went off the board, the premiere SP trade candidate has been moved, and we're a rebuilding team; this isn't a bad time to advertise the availability of a couple starters, especially given that the scuttlebutt has been that teams believe us reluctant to move them.
On Tulo, it's just reality. He isn't an everyday shortstop anymore, and he isn't in our long-term plans. If he has any interest in playing semi-regularly, whether with us or elsewhere, he needs to be open to moving around the infield, something he has rejected previously. Otherwise, his career is effectively over; it might be effectively over already.
I just don't agree with doing it publicly, especially for guys who still seem to have a future here. These arent end of career guys who we know for sure won't be jays for long. Stroman and Sanchez are still considered young talented guys in this league and will more than likely be jays come april. Just doesn't make sense to me to announce things like that in public.