MINNEAPOLIS — Troy Tulowitzki grew up idolizing Derek Jeter in Northern California. He wouldn’t mind succeeding him in the Bronx.
Tulowitzki, the Rockies shortstop who will be Jeter’s National League counterpart in Tuesday’s All-Star Game at Target Field — he also wears uniform No. 2 in Jeter’s honor — hinted Monday he would be open to leaving the struggling franchise that drafted and developed him. He also didn’t hide his enthusiasm over the idea of replacing Jeter, who of course intends to retire following this season, with the Yankees.
When The Post mentioned the Yankees would have a shortstop opening in 2015, Tulowitzki responded, “No doubt, I think everybody knows that. Everybody wants that perfect story, whoever it may be. Whether it’s me or somebody else who took over for Derek, no doubt, it makes for a great story.
“But right now it’s just talk until it gets closer to happening in the offseason. I think I’m not going to comment on that further. I think it’s one of those things (where) right now, I’m just about the second half of the season.”
Tulowitzki, 29, is enjoying a spectacular season in which he has 21 home runs and a .345/.435/.613 slash line. The Rockies have him signed through 2020 with a team option for 2021, with roughly $125 million left to be paid through that juncture.
CBSSports.com reported last week that Tulowitzki met recently with Rockies brass and gave a “subtle blessing” to trade him, as Colorado is on pace for a fourth straight losing season. Tulowitzki didn’t dispute that report when asked about it Monday, during the NL player availabilities.
“The organization is going to do what the organization wants to do,” Tulowitzki said. “If they decide to move in a different direction, then so be it. All I do every day is try to come to the field to get better.
“They know how important winning is to me. If they feel like, ‘Hey, we need to get younger,’ and they feel like they can get some prospects from me, then that’s what it is. But I’m not demanding a trade.”
To date, the Rockies have expressed zero interest in actually trading Tulowitzki. If they made him available, there surely would be multiple suitors, and while the Yankees could take on the financial responsibilities associated with Tulowitzki’s contract, they might struggle to put together the best trade package given that their farm system is improving but not elite.
Dellin Betances is making his first All-Star appearance and flew on a private jet with Jeter from Baltimore to Minneapolis.
“This is definitely special, I’m honored to be here. To be here with future Hall of Famers is amazing,’’ said the big right-hander. “Jetes just told me to try to soak up as much as I could of the experience. This will definitely help me to become a better pitcher, picking the brains of some of these pitchers. To be here for Jeter’s last All-Star Game, a guy I grew up watching, is an honor for me.’’
As for the jet experience, Betances smiled and said, “It was pretty good. I guess Jetes travels that way.’’
Betances’ agent Jim Murray said Betances has come a long way from the 195-pound kid who pitched at Grand Street High School. The family is here to support him at Target Field. “His entire family, 13 people, packed into a Chevy Yukon and drove here from New York,’’ Murray said. “His two brothers, their wives, nephews, everyone, drove 22 hours to Minnesota. They’ve supported him all along and wanted to be here for the All-Star Game.’’
What does David Price see in his future? He could be traded soon.
“I see pitching in my future,” the Rays ace left-hander said. “I don’t have a Magic 8 Ball and I’m not going to a palm reader or anything like that. I know wherever I am the mound is going to be 60 feet, six inches away, whether it’s the Trop or anyone else.”
If traded, he said, “I could be anywhere, basically. I don’t feel like I have a problem fitting in anywhere. I know quite a few guys in the big leagues.”
If he got traded to New York, “I’d guess I’d have to learn to handle everything.”
He said he gets texts from fellow major leaguers all the time, saying, “What have you heard?
“We’ve had quite a few guys in this organization in the middle of trade rumors through the years, and I learned from them,” Price said. “I can’t let it affect me. I don’t want anybody to think if we don’t win today, this guy is going to get traded.”