Troy Tulowitzki says he was ‘blindsided’ by trade to Blue Jays
All-Star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki says he was “blindsided” by the trade that sent him from the Colorado Rockies to the Toronto Blue Jays.
Tulowitzki and veteran reliever LaTroy Hawkinswere sent to Toronto for shortstop Jose Reyes and righthanded pitchers Miguel Castro, Jeff Hoffman and Jesus Tinoco on Monday.
“I felt like I got blindsided a bit. I thought I was in the loop, in the conversation,” Tulowitzki told The Denver Post. “So it definitely caught me by surprise. I was shocked, and it caught me off guard. I think maybe I was a little naive to think I would be so connected to the [trade] process.”
During the ninth inning of the Rockies' loss to the Chicago Cubs on Monday, Tulowitzki was pulled from the game as the trade was being finalized.
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“They told me they would keep [me] in the loop, and that if anything got serious, they would talk to me about it," Tulowitzki said. "So, to get pulled out of the game in the ninth inning and be told I was traded, I was shocked."
After the game, Tulowitzki said he had phone conversations with Rockies owner Dick Monfort and general manager Jeff Bridich.
Tulowitzki, a five-time All-Star, said he is looking forward to playing for a contender. Colorado (43-55) is at the bottom of the National League West, while Toronto, at 50-51, is six games out of the second Wild Card spot in the AL.
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“There is no reason to look back, I can only look forward," he said. "I get the chance to play for a contender, and maybe this will revive my career a little bit.”
Tulowitzki is batting .300 with 12 home runs and 53 RBIs in 87 games this season.
- Scooby Axson
