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Troy Tulowitzki has always had a close relationship with Colorado Rockies general manager Jeff Bridich and owner Dick Monfort - or so he thought.

The five-time All-Star spoke candidly about the blockbuster deal that went down early Tuesday morning, and admitted he was surprised by the news he'd been dealt to the Toronto Blue Jays.

"I felt like I got blindsided a bit. I thought I was in the loop, in the conversation," Tulowitzki told Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post. "So it definitely caught me by surprise."

Tulowitzki demonstrated his commitment to the struggling Rockies early this season, stating he wouldn't demand to be traded and was in it for the long haul. Bridich said it wasn't easy to pull the trigger on the deal.

"It's less than ideal for certain; it's not something anyone wants to do. ... These decisions are difficult for everyone. There is some sadness, it's not lost on us the impact, the type of player Troy Tulowitzki is."

Tulowitzki also demonstrated his sadness about leaving the team that drafted him seventh overall in the 2005 draft.

"I want to thank all the Rockies fans for their support," he said. "I will always remember the Tu-lo chant every time I came to the ballpark. It put a smile on my face every time."

Tulowitzki is scheduled to make his Toronto debut on Wednesday against the Philadelphia Phillies.