LAS VEGAS -- Farhan Zaidi has proven to be nimble when asked about rumors and potential trade options. But he did give a hint Tuesday night when asked if the Giants could take a look at Troy Tulowitzki, a Bay Area native who was released by the Toronto Blue Jays earlier in the day. "
"Good minimum-salaried players are worth a phone call. How about that?" Zaidi said, laughing.
Tulowitzki was released with $38 million remaining on his deal, but his next team would be on the hook for just the MLB minimum. The Giants made a similar move in 2017 when they scooped up Pablo Sandoval, with the Red Sox owing nearly every penny remaining on his deal.
However, this one is still a long shot for a number of reasons. Tulowitzki, 34, has played just 66 games the last two years and didn't play at all in 2018 because of injuries. If he's healthy, Tulo is likely to find a much better situation than San Francisco, where Brandon Crawford is locked in at shortstop and Evan Longoria at third.
But there's a chance Tulowitzki could move to second base, where the Giants might need right-handed help for Joe Panik. And, of course, Tulowitzki grew up in the Bay Area (Sunnyvale, to be exact) and is familiar with the NL West after so many years as a star with the Rockies.
Earlier Tuesday, The Chronicle's Susan Slusser reported that Tulowitzki would love to play in the Bay Area and would be willing to change positions. Slusser also tweeted that he would like to play for a winning team, making him seem like a better fit for the A’s than the current Giants.
But at the very least, Zaidi expects to make a phone call to find out if the five-time All-Star is interested in continuing his career in San Francisco.
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