Corey Hart, David DeJesus and Jayson Werth aren't on the market anymore, so it's no surprise that the Blue Jays are getting lots of calls about Jose Bautista. There's a limited selection of impact outfielders and Bautista leads the major leagues in homers and ranks among the league leaders in walks, OPS and outfield assists. Here's the latest on the versatile 29-year-old:
- The Giants and many others are in on Bautista, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (Twitter link).
- Yesterday we heard that the Phillies were interested in Bautista, but the Blue Jays have since acquired Anthony Gose, a player the Jays coveted when he was in the Phillies organization.
Dave_Gershman
Just because the Jays got Anthony Gose, that doesn’t mean that the Phillies can’t still work out a deal with the Jays. I still see them as the favorite although I will say this, I think that the Rays would be a very good fit.
Sniderlover
Favorites? How so? They hardly have space for Bautista in the outfield when Victorino comes back since Ibanez is getting hot. Right now, he can play 3B until Utley returns but after he returns, somebody from the outfield would have to be benched. I guess it’s still possible Ibanez could still be the odd man out but I don’t see Philles as favorites.
I think Braves could be a good suitor especially with Phillies making a splash and acquiring Oswalt, I doubt Braves sit pat.
Other teams probably include: White Sox, Giants, Padres, Rays, Yankees are always involved, maybe the Cardinals?
Adil
the braves you would think would counter the oswalt move, and bautista is perfect, can replace chipper at 3rd next season
Sniderlover
Bautista can be a stopgap at 3B but he shouldn’t be a permanent option.
gigantes2425
hopefully more people start looking at bautista and forget about dunn. so the giants can scoop him up cheaper then what the nats are asking.
5953Braves
he would be a great fit for the braves… but they will prolly try to get raburn from tigers or someone a little less expensive…But Bautista would put them up big
scottblanks
Like he’s not going to the Braves.
GiantsWSchamps2010
Come on Giants!!! I think he would be a great pick up, not only could they use the home runs but the walks would help a lot too. It would be nice to have someone with some patients in the line up.
briantalletsmoustache
If you’re looking for patients, consider signing a doctor.
moonraker45
guess brian tallet isn’t totally useless.
14 Rocks
Frank Wren needs to get on the phone quick. The Braves can’t let the Phillies pick up Oswalt and not make a counter-move.
AtlantaBraves2210
What does it take for Braves to get him though? Medlen plus A-ball players? I truly have no idea
5953Braves
i would think something like minor, mike dunn, plus one or two low minor guys. maybe they will take jesse chavez as well
AtlantaBraves2210
How about Mcclouth, Kawakami, and Chavez for Bautista and Brandon Morrow haha with the Jays picking up entire Salary on KK and Mcclout
shockey12
Jays want prospects or young controllable players.
Joshua
I’m pretty sure that was a joke, Shockey.
TheodoreRoosevelt
The trades AA has made so far have brought back the likes of Yunel Escobar, Gose, D’Arnaud, Drabek.
The Jays want talent with a high ceiling, whether ML-ready or not. And the Escobar trade shows that he’s not afraid of dealing out some of the Jays’ own prospects if it produces a package that gets back what he wants.
In other words, a bunch of B and C prospects won’t get the job done. No way you can get Bautista without experiencing some pain.
Joshua
With the trade of Wallace, the Jays would probably want Freeman.
14 Rocks
I can’t really see the Braves trading Freeman since he is the only decent position prospect in the high minors. Now, they are loaded to the brim with pitching prospects from AAA on down through the system. I could see giving up something like Mike Minor, Robinson Lopez, and Mike Dunn.
Joshua
The Jays are loaded with pitching prospects too. While that would be a nice package, they’d probably want a three-way deal to get a bat.
Of course, I’m talking out of my ass. I have no idea what is going through AA’s head.
Alex
Drabek is the only as highly regarded as Minor though. Maybe they look at a high upside young arm like Delgado in his place, as he’s probably got a little more upside than Minor or Drabek. Definitely can’t see the Braves giving up Freeman, though I can see why he might be the Jays top pick out of the system.
Joshua
Right, but the Jays have 4 good, young, controllable starters in the bigs who are Minor level or better, plus Litsch, Rzep, Mills, Stewart, Drabek, McGuire (if they sign him), Alvarez and Jenkins. Pitching really isn’t their issue.
Joshua
Right, but the Jays have 4 good, young, controllable starters in the bigs who are Minor level or better, plus Litsch, Rzep, Mills, Stewart, Drabek, McGuire (if they sign him), Alvarez and Jenkins. Pitching really isn’t their issue.
Gigantes
Thomas Neal, Brandon Crawford and Travis Ishikawa for Bautista and Mark Rzepczynski. Rzepcynski comes out of the bullpen this year and enables the Giants to trade a starter like Sanchez in the off-season. Neal is a top 100 prospect, Crawford is a great defensive SS who’s not quite there with bat but has tons of potential and Ishikawa can thrive at 1B in Toronto and replace Overbay immediately.
Not sure how high the Jays are on Rzepcynski but even so i deserve credit for spelling his name right 3 times in this post
Joshua
I’m sure the Giants would be thrilled with that trade. The Jays, on the other hand, should hang up the phone right away. Neal is alright, but Crawford is terrible and Ishikawa is an Overbay clone.
TheAck
except, you didn’t spell it right even once.
moonraker45
hahahahahaahahhahaha well done sir.
moonraker45
hahahahahaahahhahaha well done sir.
ButWhatDoesMineSay
except for that last time. the dreaded z! two for three (.667) ain’t bad though, cooperstown worthy if you’re talking batting averages.
EDIT: whoops, and the second time. i’ve embarrassed myself…
S8P7W
Close. It’s Rzepczynski. You got it right once.
TheAck
oh sorry – you did get it right once. carry on!
grant77
I doubt Freeman or Teheran are available, so I’d guess the Jays are targeting two of Delgado, Vizcaino and Minor or maybe one of them and a couple of other guys like Schaefer, Dunn etc.
14 Rocks
You won’t get two of Delgado/Vizcaino/Minor. You may get ONE of them plus some others but not two.
Ken Gilbert
I find it highly unlikely a team like the Braves would part with either Freeman or Teheran for Bautista. Given Bautista’s track record in the past, signs don’t point to many more 30+ HR seasons. A career .241 hitter that’s averaged about 15 HR per season doesn’t warrant either of those specs. I know it’s a down market this year for power hitters and I know that Bautista is still controllable but I doubt GM’s would put all their eggs in one basket based off of one sensational half season (though stranger things have happened).
Roll Fizzlebeef
Like it or not, he’s someone people are going to want to roll the dice on. Given a chance to play full time and reworking his swing to make contact on the lower half of the ball have paid immediate dividends and there have to be some GM’s out there who think it will continue to pay off, Anthopolous included. It also helps that he can play many positions competently and has proven to have a sterling work ethic.
The price is high because the potential reward is also very high. There will be at least one team willing to pay come Saturday.
Alex
You’re still not going to land a surefire top 25 prospect like Freeman, and especially not a top 10 guy like Teheran, for a year and 2 months of Bautista.
Roll Fizzlebeef
Never say never until never comes. Whether or not the time comes where he is traded, it’s going to be very interesting to watch everything fall into place.
Roll Fizzlebeef
Never say never until never comes. Whether or not the time comes where he is traded, it’s going to be very interesting to watch everything fall into place.
14 Rocks
You are right. Julio Teheran is untouchable. He is the son of a Braves scout and signed for the Braves for less money that other teams were offering. I also don’t think they trade Freeman primarily because they may need him before the end of this season. Glaus is hobbling around at 1st and suddenly can’t hit while Freddie is raking at AAA.
Of course I never thought the Braves would trade Escobar for table scraps either so what do I know.
Alex
You’re still not going to land a surefire top 25 prospect like Freeman, and especially not a top 10 guy like Teheran, for a year and 2 months of Bautista.
Roll Fizzlebeef
Like it or not, he’s someone people are going to want to roll the dice on. Given a chance to play full time and reworking his swing to make contact on the lower half of the ball have paid immediate dividends and there have to be some GM’s out there who think it will continue to pay off, Anthopolous included. It also helps that he can play many positions competently and has proven to have a sterling work ethic.
The price is high because the potential reward is also very high. There will be at least one team willing to pay come Saturday.
Ken Gilbert
I find it highly unlikely a team like the Braves would part with either Freeman or Teheran for Bautista. Given Bautista’s track record in the past, signs don’t point to many more 30+ HR seasons. A career .241 hitter that’s averaged about 15 HR per season doesn’t warrant either of those specs. I know it’s a down market this year for power hitters and I know that Bautista is still controllable but I doubt GM’s would put all their eggs in one basket based off of one sensational half season (though stranger things have happened).
Ken Gilbert
I just find it unlikely the Braves will pay that price that Bautista is warranting as of late. I’d leave it up to a GM like Sabean to move some nice blue chip pieces for Bautista. If Garko got a piece like Barnes, I wouldn’t be shocked if Bautista warranted pieces like Wheeler, Neale or others. I like your point though, well said.
Ken Gilbert
I just find it unlikely the Braves will pay that price that Bautista is warranting as of late. I’d leave it up to a GM like Sabean to move some nice blue chip pieces for Bautista. If Garko got a piece like Barnes, I wouldn’t be shocked if Bautista warranted pieces like Wheeler, Neale or others. I like your point though, well said.
moonraker45
I`d be surprised if bautista moved. Realistically going in to next year without a contract, he isn`t suddenly going to suck. He`ll continue to swing for the fences and display power. The jays can move him then, probably for more then they`d get for him now, less time with the new club, but less of a wonder if he`s good or not.
moonraker45
I`d be surprised if bautista moved. Realistically going in to next year without a contract, he isn`t suddenly going to suck. He`ll continue to swing for the fences and display power. The jays can move him then, probably for more then they`d get for him now, less time with the new club, but less of a wonder if he`s good or not.
hager22
i wonder if the phillies really wanted bautista, that they didnt subsitute another player for gose, and then sent gose to toronto+ for bautista….
phillies1996
jays would want more…..
hager22
Was it discussed even?
SalvadorM
what’s the jays need, for Bautista?