Jose Bautista would love to finish his playing days with the Toronto Blue Jays

polo007 · Post #1 » by **polo007** » Sat Dec 5, 2015 4:03 pm

According to Danny Gallagher of the Canadian Baseball Network, Jay Alou (Jose Bautista’s agent) says Bautista would love to finish his playing days with the Toronto Blue Jays.

http://www.canadianbaseballnetwork.com/canadian-baseball-network-articles/2015/12/4/agent-bautista-wants-to-finish-his-career-as-a-blue-jay

His teammates love him.

Management loves him.

Fans love him.

So what does it take to have Jose Bautista signed to a new, multi-year contract by the Blue Jays?

“If the Blue Jays want Jose back, he’d be very happy to end his career there but if they don’t want him, he will become a free agent,’’ Bautista’s agent Jay Alou said late Friday afternoon from the Dominican Republic.

“He’d be very happy to stay in Toronto. We’ll see what happens. We’ll see if Toronto wants to keep him. Jose is a hard worker. He works harder than anyone on the team.’’

Alou, son of former major-leaguer Jay Alou and nephew of former Expos manager Felipe Alou, said there have been no contract talks so far this off-season. Of course, there is no hurry but at some point, Bautista and his agent might say that if there is no new contract in place by the end of spring training then the player might test the free-agent market following the 2016 season.

A little over a month ago on Nov. 3, the Blue Jays exercised the $14-million option the team had on Bautista for 2016. It’s agreed almost universally that Bautista signed a team-friendly contract the last time around: a five-year deal worth $65 million in 2011.

From 2012 through 2015, Bautista’s annual salary remained the same at $14-million, the same as his 2016 option. His salary in 2011 was only $8-million, according to many web sites.

Natural11 · Post #2 » by **Natural11** » Sat Dec 5, 2015 4:16 pm

Jose is a legend and should absolutely finish his career here. An extension before the season might help fans forget what a turd of an offseason this has been for the Jays.

Lateral Quicks · Post #3 » by **Lateral Quicks** » Sat Dec 5, 2015 5:23 pm

He'll be 36 after this season. Need to be careful about the term.

Wo1verine · Post #4 » by **Wo1verine** » Sat Dec 5, 2015 5:41 pm

I read that it will cost between $80M-$100M to lock Joeybats up for the rest of his career.

So yeah, that's not going to happen.

fmradioguy · Post #5 » by **fmradioguy** » Sat Dec 5, 2015 5:45 pm

Not for the money he'll likely be asking for. Shapiro doesn't believe in paying big money to players over the age of 35, or paying players an annual salary constituting 15% or more of team payroll (which on $140 million, is $21 million a season.) It's possible that Jose might take less, but it's his last chance at a big contract. He'll likely take what he can get.

fmradioguy · Post #6 » by **fmradioguy** » Sat Dec 5, 2015 5:45 pm

double post

tecumseh18 · Post #7 » by **tecumseh18** » Sat Dec 5, 2015 5:48 pm

Natural11 wrote:Jose is a legend and should absolutely finish his career here.

Is that what the Cards thought of Pujols?

Jose was the guy who consistently came through for us in the playoffs - especially in Game 6 - so I'd be reluctant to let him walk. But we have to sensible here.

Shimso · Post #8 » by **Shimso** » Sat Dec 5, 2015 7:16 pm

Logically it doesn't make sense to sign him to the massive contract he'd probably command, but it'd feel so weird seeing him play for another team.

North_of_Border · Post #9 » by **North_of_Border** » Sat Dec 5, 2015 7:38 pm

If Bautista stays in Toronto for the rest of his career, he will go down in history as one of the greats. Building his legacy here might be an incentive.... though he has been one of the most underpaid sluggers the game for quite a while. He might want to take the biggest offer at age 36.

either way, I dont think it will kill the team to lose Bautista. I just hope they dont lose him for nothing. Can you imagine what package he would get the Jays in a trade...... This might be very unpopulor, but I think the Jays should trade one of either Encarnacion or Bautista, unless they can lock up one of them now. Losing them both for just a draft pick will be hard to swollow.

Lateral Quicks · Post #10 » by **Lateral Quicks** » Sat Dec 5, 2015 8:26 pm

North_of_Border wrote:If Bautista stays in Toronto for the rest of his career, he will go down in history as one of the greats. Building his legacy here might be an incentive.... though he has been one of the most underpaid sluggers the game for quite a while. He might want to take the biggest offer at age 36.

either way, I dont think it will kill the team to lose Bautista. I just hope they dont lose him for nothing. Can you imagine what package he would get the Jays in a trade...... This might be very unpopulor, but I think the Jays should trade one of either Encarnacion or Bautista, unless they can lock up one of them now. Losing them both for just a draft pick will be hard to swollow.

We're unlikely to get more than a single really good prospect for Jose, as it would be a 3-month rental. Then again, seeing what we gave up for Price, maybe we could squeeze in a little more.

I think it's a lock that both EE and Bautista are traded if the Jays aren't in the hunt come the trade deadline.

North_of_Border · Post #11 » by **North_of_Border** » Sat Dec 5, 2015 8:31 pm

Lateral Quicks wrote:
North_of_Border wrote:If Bautista stays in Toronto for the rest of his career, he will go down in history as one of the greats. Building his legacy here might be an incentive.... though he has been one of the most underpaid sluggers the game for quite a while. He might want to take the biggest offer at age 36.

either way, I dont think it will kill the team to lose Bautista. I just hope they dont lose him for nothing. Can you imagine what package he would get the Jays in a trade...... This might be very unpopulor, but I think the Jays should trade one of either Encarnacion or Bautista, unless they can lock up one of them now. Losing them both for just a draft pick will be hard to swollow.

We're unlikely to get more than a single really good prospect for Jose, as it would be a 3-month rental. Then again, seeing what we gave up for Price, maybe we could squeeze in a little more.

I think it's a lock that both EE and Bautista are traded if the Jays aren't in the hunt come the trade deadline.

- Detroit got a great package for Price. a rental. Almost made up for what they gave Tampa for him.

- For Cespedes, Detroit got a big time SP prospect from NYM.

- KC gave up the Reds a package comparable to what Toronto gave for Price... maybe better

Lateral Quicks · Post #12 » by **Lateral Quicks** » Sat Dec 5, 2015 8:52 pm

North_of_Border wrote:
Lateral Quicks wrote:
North_of_Border wrote:If Bautista stays in Toronto for the rest of his career, he will go down in history as one of the greats. Building his legacy here might be an incentive.... though he has been one of the most underpaid sluggers the game for quite a while. He might want to take the biggest offer at age 36.

either way, I dont think it will kill the team to lose Bautista. I just hope they dont lose him for nothing. Can you imagine what package he would get the Jays in a trade...... This might be very unpopulor, but I think the Jays should trade one of either Encarnacion or Bautista, unless they can lock up one of them now. Losing them both for just a draft pick will be hard to swollow.

We're unlikely to get more than a single really good prospect for Jose, as it would be a 3-month rental. Then again, seeing what we gave up for Price, maybe we could squeeze in a little more.

I think it's a lock that both EE and Bautista are traded if the Jays aren't in the hunt come the trade deadline.

- Detroit got a great package for Price. a rental. Almost made up for what they gave Tampa for him.

- For Cespedes, Detroit got a big time SP prospect from NYM.

- KC gave up the Reds a package comparable to what Toronto gave for Price... maybe better

The value of an elite hitter seems to be less than an elite pitcher. Cespedes had years of control left.

I think the best we could hope for is one top shelf AA/AAA pitching prospect, and given our needs that would be just dandy.

EastBayBoy · Post #13 » by **EastBayBoy** » Sat Dec 5, 2015 9:04 pm

Lateral Quicks wrote:
North_of_Border wrote:
Lateral Quicks wrote:
We're unlikely to get more than a single really good prospect for Jose, as it would be a 3-month rental. Then again, seeing what we gave up for Price, maybe we could squeeze in a little more.

I think it's a lock that both EE and Bautista are traded if the Jays aren't in the hunt come the trade deadline.

- Detroit got a great package for Price. a rental. Almost made up for what they gave Tampa for him.

- For Cespedes, Detroit got a big time SP prospect from NYM.

- KC gave up the Reds a package comparable to what Toronto gave for Price... maybe better

The value of an elite hitter seems to be less than an elite pitcher. Cespedes had years of control left.

I think the best we could hope for is one top shelf AA/AAA pitching prospect, and given our needs that would be just dandy.

Cespedes was a rental for the Mets, he is a FA now.

Skin Blues · Post #14 » by **Skin Blues** » Sun Dec 6, 2015 9:21 pm

Lateral Quicks wrote:
North_of_Border wrote:
Lateral Quicks wrote:
We're unlikely to get more than a single really good prospect for Jose, as it would be a 3-month rental. Then again, seeing what we gave up for Price, maybe we could squeeze in a little more.

I think it's a lock that both EE and Bautista are traded if the Jays aren't in the hunt come the trade deadline.

- Detroit got a great package for Price. a rental. Almost made up for what they gave Tampa for him.

- For Cespedes, Detroit got a big time SP prospect from NYM.

- KC gave up the Reds a package comparable to what Toronto gave for Price... maybe better

The value of an elite hitter seems to be less than an elite pitcher. Cespedes had years of control left.

I think the best we could hope for is one top shelf AA/AAA pitching prospect, and given our needs that would be just dandy.

Cespedes was a 2 month rental. Best decision is likely to go for broke this season and if we are unlikely to make playoffs by end of July, ask Jose to waive his no-trade.

BramptonYute · Post #15 » by **BramptonYute** » Sun Dec 6, 2015 9:29 pm

I like how his agent suggests that if Jose isnt back after next season its gonna be because the Jays didnt want him to be. Haha, he's a pretty good agent.

Post #16 » by **Schad** » Sun Dec 6, 2015 9:48 pm

I'd imagine that Jose would waive his NTC if he was being traded to a contender. For one thing, it'd extinguish his arb eligibility, and thus make it far easier for him to get that last payday.

Wo1verine · Post #17 » by **Wo1verine** » Sun Dec 6, 2015 10:05 pm

It would be disappointing to see JoeyBats not finish his career here because of ' budget issues' ... Trading him for a prospect while better than nothing is underwhelming in my opinion.

I mean, him leaving would only open up another hole anyways, right?

primopastalove2 · Post #18 » by **primopastalove2** » Mon Dec 7, 2015 1:51 am

Lol he is going to the place that gives him the most, this isn't basketball, paycuts don't exist (unless you'r signing a 9 figure contract)

SharoneWright · Post #19 » by **SharoneWright** » Mon Dec 7, 2015 7:55 am

I would love to get some top prospects.

That's the right move, people.

Not only did we sell the (awesome) farm for 2 months of Price, Lowe, Revere, Pennington, and Tulo's contract... We sold the (awesome, controllable) farm for 2 months of Jose. No use keeping aging high-dollar FA's around when your window is closing faster than a Noah Syndergaard fastball.

Scott Hall · Post #20 » by **Scott Hall** » Mon Dec 7, 2015 11:43 am

I have a feeling he'll be like Big Papi and be productive till hes 40...

Sad thing is most people enjoy playing money ball then contending. He's one of the best Blue Jays ever
and I hope he retires here but it'd be sad to see him waste his career with loser ownership like Rogers.
He deserves to go to a franchise that actually cares about winning and knows what the hell its doing.