The Blue Jays are engaged in active contract negotiations with Jose Bautista’s representatives, reports MLB Network’s Jon Morosi (on Twitter).
A return to Toronto would certainly make sense for Bautista and makes a fair amount of sense for the Blue Jays as well. The subtraction of Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion and Michael Saunders from Toronto’s lineup removed quite a bit of offense, and while newcomers Kendrys Morales and Steve Pearce will compensate for some of that loss, the Jays still have a pair of question marks in each of their outfield corners. Reports have recently indicated that Bautista is willing to consider one-year proposals coming off an injury-hampered season, though at last check the Jays had yet to offer anything greater than the $17.2MM qualifying offer to Bautista.
The Blue Jays will have to decide exactly how much they can count on Bautista as an everyday outfielder at the age of 36. Defensive metrics have soured on him rapidly in recent years, though he also battled foot and knee injuries in 2016, which certainly may have impacted his defense. Then again, as a 36-year-old that has spent the past eight seasons playing on artificial turf, Bautista may simply be more prone to injury than he was even into his mid-30s, when he averaged 154 games played from 2014-15. That, too, will have to be a factor as the Jays weigh a potential reunion. And while the Blue Jays don’t technically need to forfeit a draft pick by signing Bautista, doing so means that they won’t receive the comp pick they expected when making a qualifying offer, so the team is in essence surrendering a pick in the 30 to 35 range of next year’s draft.
All of those factors, along with Bautista’s deteriorated (but still quite strong) production at the plate in 2016, are part of the calculus being weighed by president Mark Shapiro, GM Ross Atkins and the rest of the Jays’ front office. Bautista slashed .234/.366/.452 with 22 home runs and 24 doubles last year — production that rated 17 percent above the league average (per OPS+) and 22 percent above average (per wRC+) when adjusting for park and league. And, from 2010-15, Bautista was unequivocally one of baseball’s most feared hitters, batting a Herculean .268/.390/.555 (156 OPS+) and averaging 45 homers per 162 games played.
A return to Toronto would give Bautista the opportunity to reestablish some stock in a familiar and hitter-friendly setting while taking aim at another deep postseason run with the team for which he cemented himself as a star. Outside of the Blue Jays, it’s been a fairly tepid market for Bautista this winter — a scenario that is applicable to any number of the remaining corner outfield/first base type of sluggers on the market. Demand simply hasn’t materialized in the way that one might’ve expected, even for top-tier names. The Rays were somewhat speculatively linked to Bautista earlier this winter, and the Mets were said to have some interest before re-signing Yoenis Cespedes, but it’s been largely quiet on the Bautista front since he turned down a the qualifying offer back in November.
1year probably so over or under$17.2MM?
They’ll probably give him the QO with no incentives.
Probably under. Not much demand out there for Joey Bats. 1 year, $8 million seems to be the go to rate for QO guys with no market. (Cruz, Desmond)
Take what you think he’s worth (best guess at WAR X 8 million) and subtract 10 million for “losing” the pick. He needs to be a lock for >3 wins to exceed 17.2 on a one year deal at this point. The way his defensive value is heading that’s a lot of pressure to keep up some crazy offensive production
Well I guess for the limited options available for OF’ers, this does make sense. Let’s hope it not for more than $10 mill per season, if in fact they do strike a deal
He wont sign until June if he was only get $10M.
Signing in June shall result in a pro-rated contract. Half a season means half of $10 million.
Bautista plays first and let Pearce be our Zobrist type player. This will be huge
That’s what I was thinking…move Bats to 1st. Better option that Smoak
Wow it would of been so much easier to not have resigned Smoke. With all these 1B/DH types you’d have to assume Smoke would of got nothing more than a $1M per year if an MLB contract at all.
They really should just DFA Smoke, he doesn’t deserve to be on this team and he’s not apart of our soon to be rebuild
I totally agree with DFA Smoak. Pitchers could throw him off speed 100% of the and he would strikeout everytime
I’ll disagree about DFAing smoak simply because he’s always near league average. Every second year in his career his been better than league average offensively and he walked at a decent clip last year. 4 million doesn’t get you much these days anyways
Smoak isn’t actually average though. Slightly below-average hitting coupled with below-average defense at first base makes you a bad player. That said, despite never having shown much of anything to the contrary, I kind of believe in Smoak (as a useful player, not a star) moving forward due to the discipline and power he’s shown, but he needs to drastically slice the strikeouts if he’s going to get there, but since the money’s committed, he should keep the roster spot, I agree
Agreed, maybe work him into the OF the odd game but smoak needs to go
Yes Jose at 1B especially if you paying him 15 million plus. Smoak you keep around for injury insurance and also to bat against right handers. A rabbit in the OF like Davis should be signed though Pompey should get a shot. You sign Jose for his hitting so do not wear him out in the OF. This would be a good public relations signing so may be OK to offer him 17..5 or 15 with 5 million worth of incentives.
I@JDGOAT
If you think Pearce is anything but a 66 homer, 215 rbi guy over 10 years I think you better think again.
The guys nothing but a part timer and if u think you’re getting a Zobrist all around the diamond, 125 gamer, you’re kidding yourself.
No magic transformation just because he plays at SkyDome on the 2017 Jays.
He OPS’d .840 with a 129 OPS+ over the last 3 seasons…. he’ll be fine
Perhaps you shouldn’t talk about Pearce like that on a thread about Bautista, a very similar player in that he didn’t figure it out until later in his career. Sure, Bautista has more power, but let’s take a look at Pearce’s first 7 years vs Bautista’s first 6 years…
Pearce: .238/.318/.377
Bautista: .238/.329/.400
since then
Pearce: .267/.347/.493
Bautista: .264/.387/.542
difference
Pearce: .029/.029/.116
Bautista: .026/.058/.142
The sample size for Pearce is much smaller. In 10 years , Pearce has only played in 100 games Once and has never had 400 AB in a season.
Plate Appearances:
Jose Bautista – 1856 (from 2014-2016)
Steve Pearce – 1857 (for his entire Career)
Just because Pearce will put his hand up to play second or third does not make him any more than an emergency option at those positions. I’m excited about the bat but don’t confuse his defence with Zobrist who can be average all over the field (a bigger compliment than is sounds like)
If the Jay’s sign him to a one yr deal they could flip him at the trade deadline if the Jay’s are out of it. That could net more than just the comp pick
I agree, we’ve taken a step back this year. I’m okay with adding assets now to flip at the deadline, might as well start this rebuild
Also, a Bautista with a chip on his shoulder on a one year deal will be good. I expect him to have a great year after only having an alright one last year.
He seems like he’s always got a chip on his shoulder, so I don’t know how much more can be squeezed out of him.
“surrendering a pick in the 30 to 35 range of next year’s draft.”
Not necessarily. Could potentially be much lower.
Huh? No it couldn’t be…
You’re correct rois1026. It has to be in that range. Dude doesn’t have a clue what he’s talking about.
You must be one of those uneducated fans who thinks that teams that sign a QO free agent give up their pick to his old team. That’s not true. The team signing a QO free agent simply loses their pick. The old team gets a sandwich pick between the 1st and 2nd round, regardless of which team signs him.
No need to be insulting. Nobody on this comment thread is a professional working for a front office (at least I would hope not….), so we all are here to discuss and learn. I know that I’ve personally learned a ton just from this comment section. Just correct and move on.
1/17 or 2/30, me thinks.
2/30 with an opt out…
This would make the most sense but I think you need him to rebound in the outfield and not just be another 1B.
seems like most figure a rebuild is coming cause one player left. you don’t rebuild with morales tulo and Martin on the roster. this team is not in rebuild mode yet. sure a horrible season and 2018 may be different but the reason the Jays didn’t sign Edwin was edwins agent is a moron.
And Edwin might be awful at the end of that contract. They played it safe and I can respect that.
It’s very satisfying seeing bats having a hard time signing anywhere. He ego was huge going into last season thinking he would score a record deal when in reality he should have accepted the QA given his weak ’16 output.
Karma if you ask me. Maybe if he played the game the right way he’d be in a better position.
I think weak is a relative term here. Maybe weak for his standards, but his on base percentage with 20+ homers is pretty solid.
He wanted more money per season than anyone who ever played the game. His season was weak in regards to his asking price.
Like I said, relative.
“Play the game the right way”. How do you play it the wrong way?
Panda. That’s how. lol
Showmanship had never been widely accepted in baseball. He’s basically the PitBull of the sport. Mr Flashy look what I can do. Nobody in this sport or out in that field cares for it.
You’ve heard of Babe Ruth, right?
getting into a fist fight on the field with a Texas Ranger… when’s the last time that worked out for someone?
I find it hilarious that Texas fans keep bragging about fist fights, when they should really be worrying about the actual game.
But I suppose they need something to brag about, considering their team keeps choking in the playoffs and can never get it done! LOL
Ask Robin Ventura lol
very true! lol
“Play the game the right way” – Like Bautista is the only player in baseball history to celebrate hitting a clutch home run in the playoffs.
By right way I’m guessing you mean the white way.
Nope as in not being a scumbag. Thus the reason he got decked.
Don’t follow the Jays i’m guessing. He was hit by Bush then thrown at on the relay by Odor on the double play attempt hence his slide. This all happened the last game the two teams played that year after the year of the batflip, which was the biggest moment for the Jays since 1993. You tell me he doesn’t play the game the right way but the Rangers as a team can be that cowardly and play the game the right way? 95% percent of the people who comment on the flip and punch just watched the clips and not the whole game.
If Odor had thrown at Bautista, he would have hit Bautista. Odor made the throw to first just like EVERY SINGLE SS or 2B has over our entire lifetimes. That’s part of the reason why runners slide. Bautista’s slide wasn’t defensive in nature. And if you think Odor’s throw was intentional, perhaps you should look at how Beltre threw the ball to him… Odor caught the ball 1 foot off the ground and made a decent attempt to throw to first. Bautista didn’t start his slide until he was 3 feet from the base, meaning he had ZERO intent on making a clean, legal slide. Also, Bush didn’t intentionally hit Bautista. Jeff Bannister isn’t a punk, and it’s a punk move to wait until the last at bat of the last game to send a message. If the Rangers had wanted to hit him, they would have done it the first at bat of the first game.
Are you seriously that ignorant to say bush didn’t mean to hit Bautista. That just shows how bush league either Matt Bush, Jeff Banister, the Texas Rangers, or all of the above are. Hitting a guy in there last at bat of the year. I suppose that’s how you play the game the right way.
Hey maybe you are right, his throw that essentially ended the Rangers three game playoff experience this year kind of shows he has no idea where it is going.
Being cocky makes you a scumbag? That might just be the single most idiotic thing I have seen in 2016. It is entirely possible that you take baseball, and the etiquette surrounding it, far too seriously for someone who doesn’t even play the game.
Just curious: How much of a factor will the loss of the comp pick be in the $$$ negotiations?
The loss of pick IMO is a huge factor, especially when there are other FA options available without draft pick compensation. For a team like the Jays that are looking to restock their farm system, having 3 picks in the top 35 helps a fair bit. That’s why it’s hard to see the Jays giving that up for just a year of JB.
However, Joey Bats is by far the highest upside higher left on the market. Their window is closing rather fast,
Everyone seems to think that it’s worth $8-$10 M, but when your not putting a team together to compete you have to assume attendance will fall drastically from the 3M pt, which of course will cost you more in lost revenue.
The only time I have ever enjoyed watching Joey Bats play is when he swung his jaw into the fist of Odor.
Wow was that supposed to be funny? Rather moronic!
The only time I’ve ever enjoyed watching Odor play is when he can’t throw a ball properly in the playoffs and choke, like the rest of the Texas Rangers do every year!
Keep enjoying that punch, us Jays fans continue to enjoy beating Texas in meaningful games in the playoffs!
Winning games in the playoffs doesn’t mean much when you lose in the next round…
I’d still rather see my team make it to the next round then being embarrassed two straight years by the same team. It’s no wonder why Texas has never won anything.
I remember when I posted my first comment!
Jays would be fools to give him any more than 6 or 7 million. He breaking down, the rest of MLB sees it. And he’s a cancer. Wouldn’t take him on the Yankees for free.
Says the team that just gave 90M to a wife beater… lol
86M, and go read the police report. Still doesn’t change the fact that Bautista is a POS and unwelcome on the Yanks.
How is he a POS. He doesn’t like slapping buts and chatting at first base. He does a lot of charity work in Toronto but a lot more in the Dominican where it is needed more than here. I wish more players played baseball with a football mentality. He can’t stand losing good for him i say.
I think every fan base other than Jays fans think Bautista is a POS. I obviously don’t know him personally so I can’t say one way or the other, but that is definitely the impression I get from a vast majority of non-Toronto baseball fans.
He’s a me first show boat scumbag with no sense of right and wrong between the lines
@Brixton
I’d we looked into the closets of most pro athletes, and held them accountable as human beings, you might not be able to field half the teams in both leagues.
The Yankees signed him because of his athletic accomplishments aside from off the field issues.
Have you ever got a second chance at anything?
Women beater! Men who beat women or sexually assault them should be castrated not get payed 86 million dollars because they throw hard
Chapman did neither of those things.
Yeah ok lol, sorry he choked his girl friend, punched through the window of his car and fired 8 shots in his garage with a handgun. I call any of that women abuse. I read the whole story, sounds like a classic case of a rich guy getting away with something.
Funny how teams like the yankees and cowboys seem to be the teams commonly giving “second chances”
To women beaters.
You call punching through a car window “women abuse”? Are cars women now?
Ry the Stunner actually it is considered abuse. I work in that field and that is a no doubter.
I don’t care what you work for. Unless the woman is on the other side of that window, simply punching a car window is not “women abuse”, neither is firing bullets in an empty garage where said woman is not located. It may be considered “assault” (which is the invoking the fear of violence), but it is not considered abuse.
If he had choked his gf, the police probs wouldn’t have just left, unless you think they are totally incapable of their jobs. I’ll go ahead and trust the people who deal with this type of thing on a far more regular basis and were actually present at the scene.
You work in the field of “women abuse”? What exactly does that mean
ChesterArthur, I have my PhD in social work and specialize in the field of intimate partner violence, so get your head out of your ass and read what I wrote the first time and not try to be cute about a serious issue not only in sports but in the world we live in.
RyTheStunner, glad to see your ignorance in sports doesn’t just stop there and trickles into your views of the real world. Sigh…
Actually I can think of a few laws he admitted to breaking that night and the police just left. Firing 8 shots with a gun, including one that went out a window into a field is called unlawful discharge of a firearm, reckless endangerment. Firing it in close proximity to a young child who was in the house is called risk of injury to a minor. Any non famous not rich man is arrested on the spot. Glad to know you trust the situation
Loser crybaby
Well played Brixton.
He had a good year last year offensively. And how is he a clubhouse cancer?
I know. It amazes me that people think Bautista’s coming off a bad year at the plate, because of the batting average. His defense is bad at this point, but if he had hit .300/.366/.452 last year, instead of .238/.366/.452, I imagine people would be much more receptive to bringing him aboard, despite that being an insignificant difference. I’d rather have him than any other bat-first guy remaining at this point by far, particularly if I were in the AL
62 points on a batting average is anything but insignificant. Even if the amount of times on base is the same, a batted ball is far more advantageous than a walk.
a 117 ops with bad defense and baserunning isn’t really a good season, that’s why he put up a below average 1.7 fWAR.
All things being equal, I’d rather have the higher average, but I’m not sure it’s big enough of a deal to make him worth less than the QO or anything
Ik. I was responding to the idea that he’s “broken down,” likely as a hitter. A 130 wRc+ would make him a more than passable DH, and I wouldn’t consider that to be an unrealistic outcome with slightly better health. Carlos Santana just put together a 3.7 win season with a similar profile (albeit average baserunning). I would still expect 2.5-3 fWar from Bautista next year personally
Can you explain why he’s a “cancer” in the clubhouse?: What facts do you have to support this?
Yes you would.
Right – and the Yankees were the fools that kept piling on money to A-Rod, who is one of the biggest POS in baseball history.
I’d point out that signing JB doesn’t lose you a 31-35 draft pick. That pick only comes if he signs with another team which is looking less likely. You can’t lose what you don’t have. He could sit out until June and sign and Toronto would get nothing.
This has to be the dumbest thing I have ever read. Why, if you are Toronto, with leverage and everything agree to pay this scumbag anything more than the QO you offered him?
He’s not getting even that in the market, he should get a Desmond like deal, and if it works great, but if Toronto pays more than 17.2 million for him, for one year, then Shapiro should be fired.
Shapiro should be fired because he’s incompetent. This team is going downhill fast under Shapkins and that’s just the way they want it. They don’t want to win with AA’s team because it’ll be AA’s championship. They’d rather break it down and rebuild it. As for Bautista, say what you want about his attitude but he still produces at an above average rate and the Jays haven’t replaced even half of the lost production yet so they need him as much as he needs a team.
Hersch, don’t mourn the fat kid. He got his “dream job” in LaLa land, after getting his on the job training screwing things up for his successor in TO. He established his “ninja” reputation acquiring his targets who turned out to be not all that great (Escobar, Rasmus, Lawrie, Reyes, Johnson, Dickey). His wins, few and far between as they were, were Donaldson and Estrada.
“Shapiro should be fired”. His worst move is slightly overpaying a bench bat or trading a trash fielder for a trash reliever. God I hate how Toronto fans complain about everything
What was all this talk about getting younger and more balance in the lineup? They’ve done nothing to address their offseason goal.
Are we suppose to go watch games this year? These past two years were awesome, I can’t handle going back to sub 500 ball
As are getting him we need something haha
I say trade Smoak and get a couple of 50/50 ticket vendors and a single A mascot in return.
Unfortunately even with Bautista they will be fighting with NY for 3rd place.
Just curious who your #2 is. You can’t possibly think the O’s are ahead of the Jays even they things sit right now. The Yanks are still rebuilding and will be lucky to be .500 themselves.
Bautista is washed up….. Go with youth movement….
Oggydoggy, what youth? Nobody is ready and Pompey isn’t going to cut it.
I hate to say this, but big names really are not wanting to play on artificial turfs. The league is starting to build new parks with real or “realistic” grass that is less damaging to the body thank of artificial turf. I feel bad for the Blue Jays because they are one of my favorites outside of the Pirates. Some of the greatest players like Clemons and Hendersons played there. Plus it is last of the Canadian teams in MLB. I hope they build a new stadium without turf or take the turf out of that stadium.
Jose Bautista would be a good fit as a DH if he resigns as a Blue Jay again. Save his knees and legs by allowing him to hit the ball. Without knees or legs, he will continue to decline. It is a shame because his first years (with Pittsburgh) where not so good. Moving him to DH may give him 3-4 more years before hanging up the cleats.
Clemons? Pinball played for the Argos lol
I agree tho. The turf mixed with the Canadian dollar, taxes and crappy weather makes it a hard sell.
Although when management inked Gurriel a Cuban. I thought was was a sign of a player wanting to join a winner. The same thing Henderson and Winfield figured when they came. Winning overcomes those obstacles.
There is already a plan to put new turf / grass in the dome. They are working with the University of Guelph to get real grass.
I have not paid much attention with the news of the Blue Jays. What is the progress of that? It would be really good for that organization and the players involved. Toronto (in my eyes) is a prized organization and needs some “technology” to advance their stadium to be player friendly.
You would think that with these modern day technologies that have been developed, could be used into sports. Like providing heat and moisten surfaces to proved grass to grow in “frozen” terrains. It would probably cost a bit of money to put that bit of technology into sports, but it also takes money to develop “StatCast” and other computerized analysis. If baseball can do this, then they should be able to advance technology with “fielding” improvements to teams like Twins and Blue Jays.
Yeah but they have been talking real turf for over 5 years and last I heard from Shatkins it wasn’t a viable option that they were taking seriously (The Guelph project) BMO has some heat under their grass, and places like Arizona have a mobile field to wheel out and catch sun, but it just seems like we will need a new home park built to include something for real grass.
No one wants you in the u.s.a! Just sign with the Jays for a one year deal! He will not get signed for over $17.2 million, you greedy BUM!
“greedy bum”. Says the Angels fan who has the greediest bum in Pujols!
Greedy? A player who has put up those numbers in the last 6 yrs, you and I would do the same. Everyone always wants more $$$. You talkin greedy then you better mention Pujols.
Hopefully a 2yr plus an option, 2/$35M plus $17.5-$20M option for 3rd yr. You can ‘t argue about his numbers. We need his RBI’s and OBP in the lineup hitting 2nd or 3rd.
I apologize if this seems like a silly question. Jose has 10/5 rights. Is that affected at all since he became a free agent? Or, if he signs with the Jays, does he retain those 10/5 rights? Thanks.
That’s a good question. I hope someone answers you who knows. I bet he stays 10 and 5 because there won’t be any other teams he’s played for despite technically hitting free agency.
I would take Bautista back on a 1-year deal. He’s a better option than anything left on the free agent market for a corner outfielder. The Jays would also not have to trade assets to fill that hole. I hear all this talk about how the Blue Jays want the draft pick, but the Jays likely wouldn’t get that pick because the only teams that would sign him would have their picks protected. There isn’t a big market for Bautista. So, the draft pick is basically a moot point
They actually get the pick regardless. It’s the other team that doesn’t lose a pick if they are protected but the jays receive one either way.
You’re clueless
Is that supposed to be at me? If so how? The jays get a sandwich pick between the first and second round either way same as any other QO free agent. The protected pick only prevents them sacrificing their own pick in the first round.
Give him a year and 17 mill or 2/30 or in that range and be done with it. The jays could use him and if he is moved to 1b/DH a little to lessen his load he should be healthier. Bautista at 75% is still a dangerous player and I would sure like to see the other team try and get him out 4 times per game as opposed to Pompey or Carrera. Plus he’s good protection for Donaldson and Tulo and won’t need a massive contract.
It isn’t the money or term, I think he is probably the best option in the FA, my concern his him returning to leadoff again.
It’s so great that this dirt bags market is crap. Show boat pos deserves this lol
I don’t think I’ve ever shook my head at more comments in a single “discussion” before.
I wonder if Jose is this year’s Nelson Cruz/Ian Desmond. Those signings seemed so obvious in hindsight. I think he ultimately ends up in Toronto, but if another team lands him on a 1-2yr deal, I don’t think they will regret it. Sure, he’s a lightning rod, but there are some teams that could use a jolt of electricity.