Rockies All-Star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki is having an unbelievable year individually, but it's the lack of team success that could drive him out of Colorado as soon as the July 31 trade deadline or the 2015 season.
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The Rockies enter Friday at 39-53 and are 12 games behind the National League West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers and 11 games out of a Wild-Card spot as the team's futility could lead to Tulowitzki being shipped out of town.
The Rockies have been adamant they won't move him at the deadline, but it is likely that in 2015 he could call a new team his home.
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Tulowitzki has been in the league since 2006, but the Rockies have only made the postseason twice in that time, including a World Series appearance in 2007, and the shortstop discussed the possibility of the team dealing him at the end of the season.
"If that time comes, it'll be in the offseason and it'll be us sitting down and talking about the future here with the Rockies and what direction they're headed," Tulowitzki told MLB.com. "Definitely, I love playing here, I love the fans and the idea of staying in one uniform my whole career. But at the same time, winning is the No. 1 priority with me."
Tulowitzki leads the entire MLB with a .350 batting average, a .441 on-base percentage, a 1.057 OPS and 70 runs scored. The All-Star also paces the NL with a .606 slugging percentage and is second with 20 homers and fourth with 183 total bases.
Despite a great individual season, Tulowitzki knows the Rockies are headed for their fourth straight losing season and changes may be made.
"If they feel they can get more youthful and have players and give me a chance to win sooner rather than later, that's something that needs to be discussed," the soon-to-be four-time All-Star said. "I have to sit down with my family as well as the organization and lay it all out there on the line and see what's best for both of us."
The Rockies open up a three-game set with the Minnesota Twins in the last series before the All-Star break this weekend and the games between now and the July 31 trade deadline could affect the shape of some of Tulowitzki's teammates while he mulls his future with the franchise.
"No doubt, these are important games to get us headed in the right direction before that break, to give us some hope, for guys to realize we can hold onto this thing," Tulowitzki told MLB.com "You never know. Since I've been around, the times when we've made our run have been in the second half."
Tulowitzki, 29, is a lifetime .299 hitter in his nine-year career with 175 homers and 601 RBI.
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