Now Batting, Number Two, Troy Tulowitzki?

Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Let the speculation begin! When Yankee Captain Derek Jeter announced on Facebook he was hanging it up after the 2014 season, speculation on who would replace the Yankee legend sprung up like wild fire. Could A-Rod upon his reinstatement return to his glory years and reclaim the position he once dominated? Will Hanley Ramirez, who will be one of 2015’s most sought after free agents, don pinstripes? Perhaps Jose Reyes will return to New York and crush Mets’ fans hearts. Acclaimed sports writer Tom Verducci offered a different twist.

Last Thursday in a Sirius XM Mad Dog Sports radio interview, Verducci said without pause that Troy Tulowitzki will be the shortstop for the New York Yankees next season. For those that don’t know Tom Verducci, he has been writing for Sports Illustrated for more than two decades and wrote Joe Torre‘s biography The Yankee Years. You could say he knows his stuff!

A Tulowitzki-to-the-Yankees is 100-percent speculation right now but it makes a lot of sense. Tulowitzki was the 7th overall pick in the 2005 draft by the Colorado Rockies. A year later he was in the big leagues. Wearing number 2 in honor of his idol Derek Jeter, he has done nothing but put up elite numbers at the shortstop position since: he owns a .295 career batting average, scoring 543 runs with 155 HRs and 552 RBI while getting on base at a .367 clip. Tulo is also seemingly on the trade block every season with his name amid Cardinals’ trade rumors this past offseason.

A Yankees-Tulowitzki union would be beneficial for both parties. Tulowitzki has had a problem throughout his entire career staying healthy. An American League home where he could DH on occasion could help keep him healthy all year. He is due $118 million through 2020 with a club option for 2021. There are not many teams that can take on that salary. For the Rockies, it may be time to rebuild. Since their Wild Card run in 2009 they are a combined 294-354. Todd Helton, the face of the Rockies for years, has retired so why not revamp the franchise with new faces? Do the Yankees have the young guns in what many feel to be a depleted farm system to grab one of the leagues’ best shortstops?

The Yankees will be hearing trade rumors all throughout 2014 as Jeter makes his last run at a championship. Whoever they decide on will have some pretty big shoes to fill. Tulo grew up idolizing Jeter. Why not take a chance on his biggest fan?

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