TAMPA, Fla. – Among the mantras of Ross Atkins, this one ranks near the top: Emotion has no place in roster decisions.



You may love a player’s character. You may admire his track record. You may respect him as a clubhouse role model.



But you follow the facts. And if the facts tell you that player’s done, you take the ruthless route.



Which is what the Blue Jays general manager did with Troy Tulowitzki last Dec. 11. Atkins gave Tulowitzki his release with $38 million owing on his contract. He did so a week after telling reporters that Tulo, arguably the best shortstop of the 2006-2015 decade, was finished as an everyday player at that position.



So when Tulowitzki stepped to the plate for the first time as a New York Yankee on Monday and lofted the second pitch from old friend Marcus Stroman down the right-field line and into the bleachers, a surge of revenge carried him around the bases.



Atkins was in the...