The White Sox and Tigers have inquired on Jose Bautista, as have the Braves and the Giants, according to Yahoo's Jeff Passan (via Twitter). The White Sox are pursuing sluggers including Adam Dunn and Prince Fielder, so their interest comes as no surprise. The Tigers could be eyeing Bautista (who can play third base) partly because of Brandon Inge's fractured hand.
Buster Olney reported today that the Blue Jays are demanding elite young players for Bautista, who leads the major leagues with 26 home runs. The right fielder-third baseman has just less than $1MM remaining on his contract this year, though he'll get a substantial raise through arbitration in 2011, his last season before hitting free agency.
I see the Tigers getting him..
I hope the Tigers get him…I want him as far away from the Sox as possible
HA!
Be afraid…
Rofl
mr bautista is still awaiting his 50 game suspension
Yes because taking steroids suddenly turns you into Mark McGwire.Post less.
Does anyone else see the humor in a guy named Tony talking about Mr. Bautista and steroids?
because tweaking your swing suddenly turns you into ryan howard
Aren’t you the same person that said that before? I wish that MLBTR would give you a 50 day suspension for posting moronic comments like that.
I don’t know how I feel about José Bautista. He could be interesting, I guess.
I wouldnt worry about it. It’d be fun to give him a try but what “elite” prospects does Detroit have, especially in the upper-minors? I’ll be a homer and say Jacob Turner but beyond that I’m not sure. Its not like Detroit would give up Turner.Besides, Sizemore was just called up and once Leyland gets tired of Kelly I’m sure Larish will get a shot. he is doing alright in Toledo.
i see the jays packaging 2 players to get a bigger prospect. gregg/downs + batista could net an elite prospect.
Package of Buck + Bautista to Detroit??? I don’t know if the Tigers have enough depth in their system for a trade like this.
It’s foolish to think Bautista is going to bring in serious prospects. The Blue Jays can demand all they want elite level prospects but if they want to make a move they’re going to have to settle. Bautista is a prime candidate to suffer in Comerica anyways.
The only reason the Jays are asking for elite prospects is because they are in no hurry to move Bautista on. There are no Halladay thumbscrews on this one.
He’ll be affordable next year, is supposedly excellent in the clubhouse, and can fill that massive void the Jays have at 3B when Snider returns.
I fully understand why they’re asking for elite level guys… There is 3 buyers for every seller on this market. There is no doubt that ordinary values are out the window. However, if the Blue Jays in the end really want to move Bautista, they’ll have to settle. There is no one forcing them to make the deal. If the Blue Jays don’t like the return on Bautista they don’t have to move him. I didn’t say other organizations will send guys over and break AA’s thumbs or anything…
Sorry man, but your thoughts are way too jumbled.
I hope not, 26hr at Rogers Center= 10 at Comerica. I’d really wish Detroit would just blow it all up, if you aren’t named Verlander, Jackson, Cabrera, Valverde or Sherzer. Trade Bonderman away for a low level prospect and try and resign him in the off season, he’s been with Detroit a long time and will probably get more from them then any other team. I’m not the biggest Inge fan, but the 3b market is god awful next year and a guy who plays above average defense who will hit 250 isn’t as easy to find as it sounds. Bench Magglio, and please for the love of god don’t trade for Bautista
I read somewhere today that 17 of his HR’s have been 400+ foot shots. He’s doesn’t just squeak them over the wall.
As a Jays fan I hope they keep him unless they can get a legit prospect with serious upside.
You forgot Brennan Boesch’s name on that list of untouchables
//I’d really wish Detroit would just blow it all up//
Good idea!!! Everyone knows the Tigers’ season is over!!!!
“mr bautista is still awaiting his 50 game suspension”
His body does not support this at all, its not like his head ballooned like Arod or Bonds did
IMO i think this is where ball is at right now, guys will hit 35-45 ayear and the odd freak will blast more
his beard does look performance enhanced.
Jose Bautista is the kind of hitter the White Sox don’t need. I like the decent OBP, but the power isn’t sustainable.
It would be sustainable in the band box we call US Cellular Field
It’s annoying when people who don’t watch the Jays and don’t know anything about Jose go and make unfounded comments like his power isn’t sustainable just because he’s not a household name..Jose led the majors in home runs the last month and a half of LAST season and carried that over gothic season..and if you watched his home runs, his swings, you’d know he isn’t a Chris shelton fluke
Jose squares up a ball as good as any hitter this year..he’s hit more home runs that are gone in under a second this season than I’ve seen in a lifetime of watching baseball..he’s got the pop to hit it out of any park and the swing to continue to be a MAJOR power threat..by saying he’s going to stay number one, but he should be considered a 30+ HR guy no doubt about it
You know who else hits the ball real hard but doesn’t have a full-time job right now? Mike Jacobs. You know who else has a ton of power but can’t hit home runs? Jeff Francouer.
I don’t care how far he hits the ball to be honest with you. Most likely, Bautista isn’t going to hit home runs at this rate in the future (I’ve listed the reasons why in my previous posts, you don’t become Albert Pujols in the span of a couple of months). He is one of the streakiest players in baseball this year. He’s had two months where he’s barely managed .200. He hit almost half of home runs in May.
This power that Bautista has found also isn’t new. Hit Tracker has Bautista’s home runs this year at an average true distance of 403 feet. His average distance last year was 395. In 2008, the average true distance was 400 feet. He’s not getting anymore powerful, this isn’t a new found ability. He’s the same guy he was last year and the year before that. He’s just getting better pitches to hit.
How far do you want him to hit? 450?
i wouldnt call it streaky when it carries over from last seaosn to this season, He’s now put up almost a full calendar season of legit power and coincidentally that’s the same time he became a full time player for the first time in his career..and this isn’t the same Jose of 2 years ago either, last year he spent a LONG time working out kinks in his swing and since the day that “clicked” he’s been baseballs #1 HR leader..the power is legit, along with solid OBP, multiple + defense positions and a positive clubhouse presence..this IS a guy you want on your ball club
If I’m the Tigers maybe. But for anybody else, you’d be overpaying for a guy who is massively overachieving.
OPS by month:
March/April: .741
May: 1.188
June: .693
July: .947
Personally, I’m reserving my judgment about Bautista until the season is over, but based on those numbers, I’d say he’s been streaky this year.
OPS by month:
March/April: .741
May: 1.188
June: .693
July: .947
Personally, I’m reserving my judgment about Bautista until the season is over, but based on those numbers, I’d say he’s been streaky this year.
What’s “gothic season”?
I’m wondering the same thing.
What’s “gothic season”?
Just out of curiosity, what is the length of time a guy needs to hit home runs to be a power threat? 2 seasons? 3? Bautista has done it for 1 season (if you count back to last year). I am not saying JB is legit, just that I am just curious how long it takes. He is a legitimate trade chip now for five reasons:1) He is hitting for power now…contenders who want power want it now2) He plays solid 3B and above average RF3) He is versatile, can play all the outfield positions, 3B, and 1B4) He might actually be the real deal, the next big thing. Somebody might be willing to take a shot on that considering the low price tag. 5) He has a great personality, a personality that is very well liked in the club house. Don’t underestimate the value of chemistry in a pennant run.
6) He is a very disciplined hitter, doesn`t chase pitches and gets on base often.
7) ONE HELL OF AN ARM!!
8) His bat speed is incredible
9) Most of his HR are legit homeruns
10) Just to make it more clear: Most of his homeruns are legit homeruns.
Jon, based on the five points you made, he sounds like a very desirable addition for the White Sox. The Sox are hungry for power and could definitely use him in right field to keep Quentin out of harms way as DH. Ozzie is all about versatility and loves to move guys around the field and lineup. Kenny Williams is known for going after players that he sees a big upside for and has had success in the past. Finally, chemistry is a huge element in any acquisition for the Sox as they seem to have a good group that all pull on the same rope. So, this idea sounds like a real good fit for the Sox. Now, what will the Jays want in return?
I would have to think AA would want Mitchell. Not sure if White Sox would trade him…
I could see it, there is an abundance of suitable out fielders in the sox system, mitchell, danks, restovich, in the bigs- pierre, carlos, rios, lilibridge….I dont know if AA would want to take a chance on mitchell with the broken ankle, although he is recovering very well. I would easily part ways with either jordan danks or jared mitchell and one more good prospect and another fringe guy for bautista, …AND YES THE SOX WOULD PART WITH HIM…Kenny has proven time in and time out he will trade his #1 prospect for a big leaguer, look at the peavy deal, the swisher deal, the rowand deal(this shows him willing to take a chance), the tony pena deal(traded the sox farms #1 1st base prospect for a middle reliever and the dback got a great prospect..
The only the Tigers are going to get Bautista is if they don’t have to give up there entire farm system to get him. As a Tigers fan, I would love to see the Tigers get him. If some how Dombroski can find a way to get the deal done, it would be amazing, but what would be more amazing is if they could sign him to a long term deal.
I agree up to the long-term deal part. the last few extensions DD has handed out have all backfired. This guy needs to prove he can play in Detroit, and with team control through next year I wouldn’t think any team acquiring Bautista would rush to lock him up.
Cabrera’s extension has yet to backfire though! Woo! o/
good point. thats the one extension that worked.
I’ve thought about it a little. Not interested in Bautista. He’s like the Inge of ’06 without the defense.