Tulowitzki: It 'would be awesome' if Yankees signed Machado

Troy Tulowitzki will start at shortstop for the New York Yankees on Opening Day in 2019, and he'd like be standing to the left of Manny Machado.

Immediately after word of Tulowitzki's deal with the Yankees surfaced, ESPN's Jeff Passan reported that the signing doesn't end the team's pursuit of Machado. Tulowitzki endorsed the notion of sharing an infield with Machado when asked about it on Monday.

"I signed up to be a Yankee because I want to play with the best players," Tulowitzki said, according to Brendan Kuty of NJ.com. "So if Manny's one of those guys, I think that would be awesome ... so whatever happens happens and I'll be ready to play."

The Yankees created an infield logjam when they signed Tulowitzki. The depth chart will become even more clogged if the team inks Machado too, who reportedly ranks the Yankees as his first choice.

Both players are natural shortstops and want to stay at the position, but while Tulowitzki has never played anywhere else as a professional, Machado has been an elite defensive third baseman for the majority of his big-league career and can play both spots with ease.

If he joins the Yankees, Machado would be forced to play the hot corner for at least 2019 due to the presence of Tulowitzki and Didi Gregorius, once the latter is healthy. Putting Machado at third would also displace 2018 Rookie of the Year runner-up Miguel Andujar, who could then be traded or, given his defensive struggles at third, potentially moved to first base.

General manager Brian Cashman also stated this week that Gregorius will get his shortstop job back after returning from Tommy John surgery, even if Tulowitzki or Machado (or both) are on the team. Although Tulowitzki hasn't thought about where he'd like to play once that happens, the 34-year-old knows he's standing in for Gregorius right now.

"Obviously, I want Didi to be back on the field," Tulowitzki said. "He's a heck of a player. I respect him."

The Yankees reportedly gave Tulowitzki - who hasn't appeared in a game since July 2017 - full no-trade protection as part of his league-minimum deal.