Adrian Gonzalez leaves Dodgers-Australia exhibition game with lower-back tightness

While you were sleeping, the Dodgers were playing the Australian national team in an exhibition game. Yep, just a harmless exhibition game:

Adrian Gonzalez came out of the game with tightness in his lower back.

— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) March 20, 2014

Adrian Gonzalez said his back felt tight before game even started. Of opening day, he said, “I’ll be good. I’ll be alright.”

— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) March 20, 2014

Backs can get tight for any reason. But if, as I suspect, a lot of players hate the idea of flying halfway around the world to play baseball games like this, Gonzalez should do his fellow union members a solid and talk up how much sitting on airplane for 15 hours played into the back tightness. It may not be the truth, but your friends will thank you so much for saying it, Adrian.

At least six teams are interested in free agent shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, according to a recent report from Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. Known suitors include the Cubs, who will reportedly be in attendance during one of the shortstop’s offseason workouts as they decide whether or not to press forward with a deal.

The Blue Jays released Tulowitzki on Tuesday as general manager Ross Atkins admitted he couldn’t rely on the 34-year-old to bounce back from season-ending bone spur removal surgery and be the kind of consistent presence the club needed going forward. Toronto is expected to absorb the remaining $38 million on Tulowitzki’s contract, which includes the $20 million he’s due in 2019, another $14 million in 2020 and a $4 million buyout in 2021.

The veteran slugger will be available to any interested team at a minimum $600,000, an undeniably attractive bargain if he recovers in advance of the 2019 season. He last appeared in the majors in 2017 and slashed .249/.300/.378 with 17 extra-base hits and a .678 OPS through 260 PA. Per Slusser, Tulowitzki appears to be angling for a job with the Athletics — even going so far as to say he’d be willing to switch positions in order to play for a winning team — though they have yet to reach out about a potential deal this winter.