Steve Pearce - USA Today Sports
Steve Pearce - USA Today Sports

Cubs reportedly interested in former 5-time All-Star


by - Senior Editor -

There is a new name in the infielder market this offseason with former All-Star Troy Tulowitzki being released by the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday.

The Chicago Cubs appear to have interest in the five-time All-Star according to MLB insider Jon Heyman.

"Cubs are one of the teams that has at least been in contact with Tulo, and they will send a scout to a workout," he posted. "There are others though, so they aren’t necessarily the favorite. His agent told @susanslusser there are 6 teams and they will narrow field soon."

Since he was released by the Blue Jays with two years left on a $38 million contract, the 34-year old is free to sign for any team he likes for the league minimum of $545,000. He has been injured a ton in recent years as he missed the entire 2018 season removing bone spurs from both heels in April. He has missed at least 30 games in seven straight seasons.

In 2017 in 66 games, he batted .249 with seven homers and 26 RBIs.

According to Tulo's agent, he is open to moving around in the infield despite preferring to play shortstop. This would be a very low-risk move by the Cubs as they could see how he performs in Spring Training and possibly get some starts while Addison Russell serves his suspension in 2019. It could be a match made in heaven because the veteran probably wants to go to a contending team like the Cubs to try to win a World Series and the North Siders could hope that the veteran regains a semblance of his former All-Star self.

More than likely, he probably won't get back to his old self but could possibly become a veteran presence in the clubhouse and a reliable contributor if healthy. At the league minimum rate, it's worth a shot.

For his career, he has batted .290 with 224 homers and 770 RBIs.

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