Bautista reunion with Blue Jays still makes sense: Griffin
Jays continue to chase trade options and there’s no new offer, but Jose Bautista might soon see one-year deal as the way to go.
As a new year approaches, there have been Twitter reports of Blue Jays free-agent Jose Bautista in “active contract discussions” to return to Toronto for at least one more kick at the World Series can.
The reality is that the possibility of the slugging right fielder returning on a short-term deal after having tested the free-agent market is, according to one Jays source, one of many alternatives, with trades being the priority. The bottom line is, there’s nothing active with no ongoing discussions.
While Bautista’s agent, Jay Alou, apologized in explaining that he was unable to comment on any dealings with the Jays, the belief is that there has been no concrete offer made to Bautista by general manager Ross Atkins since the qualifying offer of $17.2 million for one season, rejected by the player in November.
The sides did meet face-to-face at the winter meetings in early December, with the understanding that the Jays have other trade avenues to explore involving outfielders Jay Bruce and Curtis Granderson of the Mets, Brett Gardner of the Yankees and more before a Bautista alternative can be considered. Nothing has changed there.
Bautista understands the situation. Alou understands it. Atkins understands it and has kept lines of communication open. If there is ever going to be an agreement, it would be for one year and about the same dollar figure that was there to begin with. The market has not been kind to a handful of free-agent sluggers — Bautista, Mark Trumbo, Pedro Alvarez, Chris Carter and even Edwin Encarnacion.
Returning to Toronto as a prodigal son may seem like a humiliating failure for Bautista if it happens. Ahead of his first crack at free agency, he was looking for at least four years and $100 million when he confidently reported to training camp last spring. But if the 36-year-old finds that his best option is to return for one more season and then try it again, he can rationalize the short-term decision and make it sing.
He can explain that:
1. He wants to be with a contender, and he has been a big factor in the Jays reaching the post-season for two straight years.
2. There are few power options expected to come out as free agents in 2017, and under the new collective agreement there would be no compensation required for a team that wants to sign him, because the Jays can’t make another qualifying offer.
3. He was twice injured this year and a healthy, productive 2017 would help him secure one last big contract that, if three years long, would be more lucrative than anything he has on the table now.
Bautista has not fallen off a cliff. His offensive numbers in 116 games in 2016 were better than people give him credit for. No, he was not able to throw like the old Bautista. It’s been a year and a half since hurting his shoulder in a pique of anger against the Orioles, but he is still good enough to play a corner outfield role.
In 2016, Bautista posted an on-base plus slugging mark of .817 with 22 homers, 69 RBIs and 87 walks. He has averaged more than 35 home runs since his breakout year in 2009. The Jays, who put aside $15 million per season for the next four years when they believed they were in the running for centre fielder Dexter Fowler, would benefit in 2017 if Bautista played with a chip on his shoulder, trying to prove something to the rest of baseball. And he needs to show National League teams he can still play the outfield.
The free-agent issue for Bautista at this stage is that nobody wants to give him a long-term deal, and nobody wants to surrender a draft pick as compensation if it’s for one or two years. The Rays were deemed interested in Bautista to be their designated hitter, but they might prefer to wait until time of the June draft, after which they would no longer lose a pick by signing him.
Bautista can’t wait.
The Jays can’t lose both Encarnacion and Bautista without an adequate replacement and still be considered an elite offensive team. One of manager John Gibbons’ calling cards was the relentless nature of his batting order. Take away those two bats plus free-agent Michael Saunders and you are left with several good hitters, but the word “relentless” does not apply.
At this point, if Atkins is unable to trade for a younger corner outfielder with offensive upside, Bautista remains the Jays’ best option and they are Bautista’s best option.
With Kevin Pillar, Steve Pearce, Melvin Upton Jr., Ezequiel Carrera and Dalton Pompey, the Jays have the worst five-man outfield in the American League. The repatriation of Bautista may happen in 2017, but for now discussions are not active.
Jays continue to chase trade options and there’s no new offer, but Jose Bautista might soon see one-year deal as the way to go.
As a new year approaches, there have been Twitter reports of Blue Jays free-agent Jose Bautista in “active contract discussions” to return to Toronto for at least one more kick at the World Series can.
The reality is that the possibility of the slugging right fielder returning on a short-term deal after having tested the free-agent market is, according to one Jays source, one of many alternatives, with trades being the priority. The bottom line is, there’s nothing active with no ongoing discussions.
While Bautista’s agent, Jay Alou, apologized in explaining that he was unable to comment on any dealings with the Jays, the belief is that there has been no concrete offer made to Bautista by general manager Ross Atkins since the qualifying offer of $17.2 million for one season, rejected by the player in November.
The sides did meet face-to-face at the winter meetings in early December, with the understanding that the Jays have other trade avenues to explore involving outfielders Jay Bruce and Curtis Granderson of the Mets, Brett Gardner of the Yankees and more before a Bautista alternative can be considered. Nothing has changed there.
Bautista understands the situation. Alou understands it. Atkins understands it and has kept lines of communication open. If there is ever going to be an agreement, it would be for one year and about the same dollar figure that was there to begin with. The market has not been kind to a handful of free-agent sluggers — Bautista, Mark Trumbo, Pedro Alvarez, Chris Carter and even Edwin Encarnacion.
Returning to Toronto as a prodigal son may seem like a humiliating failure for Bautista if it happens. Ahead of his first crack at free agency, he was looking for at least four years and $100 million when he confidently reported to training camp last spring. But if the 36-year-old finds that his best option is to return for one more season and then try it again, he can rationalize the short-term decision and make it sing.
He can explain that:
1. He wants to be with a contender, and he has been a big factor in the Jays reaching the post-season for two straight years.
2. There are few power options expected to come out as free agents in 2017, and under the new collective agreement there would be no compensation required for a team that wants to sign him, because the Jays can’t make another qualifying offer.
3. He was twice injured this year and a healthy, productive 2017 would help him secure one last big contract that, if three years long, would be more lucrative than anything he has on the table now.
Bautista has not fallen off a cliff. His offensive numbers in 116 games in 2016 were better than people give him credit for. No, he was not able to throw like the old Bautista. It’s been a year and a half since hurting his shoulder in a pique of anger against the Orioles, but he is still good enough to play a corner outfield role.
In 2016, Bautista posted an on-base plus slugging mark of .817 with 22 homers, 69 RBIs and 87 walks. He has averaged more than 35 home runs since his breakout year in 2009. The Jays, who put aside $15 million per season for the next four years when they believed they were in the running for centre fielder Dexter Fowler, would benefit in 2017 if Bautista played with a chip on his shoulder, trying to prove something to the rest of baseball. And he needs to show National League teams he can still play the outfield.
The free-agent issue for Bautista at this stage is that nobody wants to give him a long-term deal, and nobody wants to surrender a draft pick as compensation if it’s for one or two years. The Rays were deemed interested in Bautista to be their designated hitter, but they might prefer to wait until time of the June draft, after which they would no longer lose a pick by signing him.
Bautista can’t wait.
The Jays can’t lose both Encarnacion and Bautista without an adequate replacement and still be considered an elite offensive team. One of manager John Gibbons’ calling cards was the relentless nature of his batting order. Take away those two bats plus free-agent Michael Saunders and you are left with several good hitters, but the word “relentless” does not apply.
At this point, if Atkins is unable to trade for a younger corner outfielder with offensive upside, Bautista remains the Jays’ best option and they are Bautista’s best option.
With Kevin Pillar, Steve Pearce, Melvin Upton Jr., Ezequiel Carrera and Dalton Pompey, the Jays have the worst five-man outfield in the American League. The repatriation of Bautista may happen in 2017, but for now discussions are not active.
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