Yankees Troy Tulowitzki wants to play with the best

According to multiple outlets, the Yankees have yet to make Manny Machado a formal offer. However, that hasn’t stopped the recently signed Troy Tulowitzki from sounding bullish about the idea of playing with the four-time All-Star.

Despite missing all of last season due to ankle and foot injuries, Troy Tulowitzki is one confident man. Perhaps some of that has to do with Yankees general manager, Brian Cashman, stating that if the season started today, Tulo would be the club’s starting shortstop.

However, we’re still a little more than a month away from pitchers and catchers reporting to Tampa, and the possibility of Manny Machado signing with the Yanks does remain (we think).

Despite both Ken Davidoff of the New York Post and Bob Nightengale of USA Today, stating that the Bombers have yet to extend Machado a contract offer, Tulowitzki, the five-time All-Star, two-time Gold Glove winner and two-time Silver Slugger, recently welcomed the opportunity to suit up alongside Machado.

"“I signed up to be a Yankee because I wanted to play with the best players, so if Manny is one of those guys, then I think that would be awesome,” Tulowitzki said. “It would make the team that much stronger. But those are questions that Brian can answer better than me.”More from Yankees NewsCC Sabathia defends Yankees’ massive Aaron Judge contractScott Boras closed Yankees-Carlos Rodón deal from Fenway Park, put cherry on topOrioles are bailing out Yankees and AL East by botching free agencyGuy who caught Aaron Judge record HR ball cost himself tons of money in auctionDid Yankees fans bully Hal Steinbrenner into signing Aaron Judge, Carlos Rodón?"

Tulowitzki, who is third all-time in fielding percentage by a shortstop, only behind the likes of Jose Iglesias and Omar Vizquel, knows he has a lot to prove in a potentially short amount of time. Everyday shortstop Didi Gregorius is expected back as early as June, and this before Machado’s signing, which would further create a logjam with incumbent third baseman Miguel Andujar.

Regardless, Tulo told Bryan Hoch of MLB.com, he remains confident in his ability to produce at a high level, all the while playing his customary position of shortstop.

"“There’s some extra motivation, with what I’ve been through,” Tulowitzki said on Monday. “I think a lot of people have written me off and said at times that I was done. I think all this has really made me stronger, made me appreciate the game more than ever. I’ve put in a lot of work to put myself into a position to have this opportunity. There’s a chip on my shoulder.”"

Though it’s been two seasons since he played the majority of a full campaign (131 games) — when healthy, Tulo is a game-changer on both sides of the ball. Whether or not he can still be that at the age of 34, remains to be seen.

However, for the time being, Tulowitzki is saying all the right things because he honestly wanted to be a Yankee. Having a few more guys on the roster that value the pinstripes the way Tulo does wouldn’t be such a bad thing — especially if it turns out that the production equals the passion.