Troy Tulowitzki dons the number 2 on his back to pay homage to his childhood idol in Yankees captain Derek Jeter, and now that the Bronx Bombers shortstop is retiring, many have wondered if it paved the way for the Colorado Rockies star to fill his shoes at the shortstop position in New York.
Tulowitzki admitted that it is nice to have people think that he could try and fill the void that Jeter's absence will leave in Yankees fans hearts come season's end.
"I take it as an honor for someone to think of myself as someone that possibly could replace him," Tulowitzki said Tuesday, according to ESPN.
Tulowitzki added that it doesn't exactly mean he wants to leave Colorado, but after four straight seasons with the Rocky Mountain baseball club on the outside looking in on the playoffs and nagging injuries that have plagued him, Tulowitzki knows that anything is possible.
"I'd love to stay here my whole career," Tulowitzki said via ESPN. "But I know if you lose, other teams may be calling or things might happen."
Tulowitzki, 29, has seven years remaining on a $157.5 million deal that runs through the 2020 season, and if Colorado keeps finishing seasons with a 74-88 record as it did last year, the team may weigh the option of trying to move the star.
The Yankees are the type of team that is willing to take on a big contract for a quality player, but Tulowitzki said he isn't thinking about leaving the team and that the rumors will lose steam if the team plays better in the 2014 campaign.
"I know that right now I'm wearing a Rockies uniform and my job is to prepare and try to have the best season that I can and we can as a team," Tulowitzki said per ESPN. "I think if we play good baseball those rumors will go away. But I know if we don't, they won't go away."
Tulowitzki's career-high for games was reached in his rookie season when he played in 155 games in 2007 and slugged 24 homers en route to a World Series appearance, but the team has only made the playoffs one time since then.
The shortstop has dealt with a broken wrist, groin injury and broken ribs over the last few seasons but is excited to come into spring training healthy, and his team is also excited to have him come into the season with full health.
"He's in a much different place than he was a year ago, mentally, physically," Rockies manager Walt Weiss told ESPN. "I'm really excited for him this year," Weiss said. "I think he's one of the best players in all the game and I think you'll see that this year."
Tulowitzki played in just 126 games last season as the Rockies went on to finish in last place in the National League West for the second consecutive year. Tulo hit .312 with 25 homers and 82 RBIs.
Tulowitzki may one day take his idols place in New York, but for now he'll focus on staying healthy and leading the Rockies back to the postseason.
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