NEW YORK — The best shortstop in Rockies history is Troy Tulowitzki. Or is he?

Trevor Story is on the verge of stealing that title. He might already wear the crown.

So now is the time for the Rockies to start working on locking up Story to a long-term deal. I imagine that’s already a part of the club’s blueprint. Here’s what owner Dick Monfort said on the day of the Rockies’ home opener:

“Next year, I know that we’re going to have a payroll that is really going to be taxing on us, but I think we’ll figure a way around it, but the next year it backs off a little bit. But we want to have a good team, and we’d rather have Trevor Story than go out and get somebody on the free-agency market.”

I found the last part of Monfort’s statement to be telling.

Over the past 14 months, the Rockies already have locked up three keystone players to long-term deals: Outfielder Charlie Blackmon (six years, $108 million); third baseman Nolan Arenado (eight years, $260 million); and starting pitching German Marquez (five years, $43 million).

The Rockies have a total payroll of $148.7 million this season, a franchise record that ranks 12th in the majors, according to Spotrac. But there will be a new, more lucrative TV contract after 2020, and fans continue to flock to Coors Field, where the average crowd of 33,183 ranks ninth in baseball. So I think a Story deal can get done.

The Rockies were proactive with Marquez. Story, who’s scheduled to become a free agent after the 2021 season, must be next on the list. They shouldn’t wait until he’s on the verge of leaving.

At age 26, he’s an all-star on the verge of becoming a superstar. He should have won a Gold Glove last year. I think he’ll win one this year.

It seems like a long time ago and in a galaxy far, far away that Tulowitzki signed a seven-year, $134.5 million contract extension that was supposed to keep him in Colorado through 2020. He was only 26 when he signed that deal. He made plays from shortstop that brought gasps from the crowd and the “Tulo chant” became part of the LoDo soundtrack.

But then the injuries mounted, Tulo hinted that he wanted out of Denver, his relationship with some within the organization soured and he was traded to Toronto on July 28, 2015.

Story, a better all-around athlete than Tulo and not as prone to injury, would be a better investment. Consider this comparison:

After his first 459 games, Story has hit .272 with 103 home runs, 109 doubles, 15 triples, 305 RBIs, 53 stolen bases, an .869 OPS and a 14.1 WAR.

After his first 459 games, Tulowitzki hit .283 with 66 home runs, 94 doubles, 16 triples, 256 RBIs, and .826 OPS and a 14.2 WAR.

Tulo became a five-time all-star wearing Rockies purple, won two Gold Gloves and should have been National League rookie of the year in 2007. He helped lead the Rockies to their only World Series that year and then back to the playoffs in 2009. He helped Colorado break a streak of six consecutive losing seasons.

Story, perhaps overshadowed by the heroics of third baseman Nolan Arenado, has also helped transform the franchise. With Story manning shortstop, the Rockies went to the playoffs in 2017-18, the first back-to-back postseason appearances in franchise history.

Story is a special player who’s only going to get better. To repeat Monfort’s words: “We’d rather have Trevor Story than go out and get somebody on the free-agency market.”