Less than 24 hours after Jose Bautista was willing to talk, Blue Jays’ general manager Ross Atkins didn’t have much to say when pressed to react to the star slugger’s Monday comments about what it would take for the club to lock him up long-term. Bautista’s contract expires at the conclusion of the 2016 season and the 35-year old slugger would represent one of the best free agent options on the market if he makes it there. “I think I’ve proved myself, and the question has been asked – what will it take – and I’ve given them an answer”, Bautista told the media yesterday. Bautista, 35, is playing in his last season of a club-friendly, five-year/$65 million contract.
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“The reality for me is I’m really more focused on this year”, Dombrowski said. Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista stretches his arms during the first official spring training baseball workout in Dunedin, Fla., Monday Feb. 22, 2016. Even if he doesn’t, barring a career-threatening injury, there’s enough of a track record from the last six years for Bautista to do very well in free agency. Encarnacion has 151 home runs over the last four seasons and is two years younger than Bautista. Not that Atkins was talking numbers, or really anything of import, beyond expressing his general admiration for the guy. “But now that I look back at it, I’m a firm believer that things do happen for a reason, and I’m definitely happy to be here and I can’t wait to start the year”.
“There’s a lot of trade rumors, there’s a lot of trade discussion”, Atkins said. Players in the clubhouse understand Bautista’s importance is more than just when he steps into the batter’s box.
Then, specific to the art of negotiating, Atkins offered this: “To me it doesn’t need to be public and it won’t be…from our end”.
“I’ve said that over and over; I would love for Jose to be here”, said Atkins. So a deal of more than five years bleeds into his 40s.
“Now batting for the Yankees, the right fielder, number 19, Jose Bautista”. “I woke up itching and I’m just looking around and I’m like, “Are you serious right now?” The fact is, he has given Blue Jays fans his best years at an incredibly good rate.
“I’m not going to sit here and bargain for a couple of dollars”, he said, adding later, “They either meet it or it is what it is”.
So given the deal we just say Jason Heyward get, shouldn’t Bautista expect more than 5-150M?
“In Votto’s case, I think he sincerely appreciates that the Reds gave him the big contract”, said an executive from another National League team.
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“I’m not complaining and I’m not whining about it. I know what I signed and I never complained about it once”.
