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5 potential free-agent landing spots for Jose Bautista

By Joshua Sadlock

Aug 31, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista (19) high fives teammates after hitting a home run in the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 31, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista (19) high fives teammates after hitting a home run in the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports /
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After nearly a decade in Toronto, could Jose Bautista be on his way out of town?

After kicking around four organizations for the first five years of his major-league career, Jose Bautista established himself as a star with the Toronto Blue Jays. After nine years with the Jays, Bautista will be a free agent for the first time, and he fully intends to make it count after signing a team-friendly extension. For the past six years, Bautista has been one of the biggest bargains in the league as the Blue Jays have paid him only $78 million.

In his near-decade of playing in Toronto, Bautista has hit 265 home runs, second in franchise history, made six All-Star teams, led the American League in home runs twice, won three Silver Sluggers, and garnered MVP votes in four separate seasons. In 2015, he hit one of the greatest postseason home runs in MLB history — a franchise-defining type of blast. Bautista is also the all-time leader in WAR for the Blue Jays as an offensive player.

Despite his lengthy history with the Blue Jays, Bautista does not appear prepared to offer a hometown discount. In Spring Training, he reportedly fancied himself in the market for a deal in excess of five years and $150 million. At the age of 36, and coming off his worst full season in Toronto, Bautista will have to temper expectations on the open market.

Can the Blue Jays find a way to keep a fan favorite and franchise icon? Will Bautista’s demands prove too steep? Here are five potential landing spots for Joey Bats in free agency.

Oct 19, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Jose Bautista (19) hits a double during the ninth inning against the Cleveland Indians in game five of the 2016 ALCS playoff baseball series at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 19, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Jose Bautista (19) hits a double during the ninth inning against the Cleveland Indians in game five of the 2016 ALCS playoff baseball series at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /

Toronto Blue Jays

The team Bautista spent the last nine years of his career with will have the first shot at re-signing him. Whether or not Joey Bats plays out the final few years of his career with the team that made him a star largely depends on him. Bautista simply is not a $30-million type of player, regardless of what he thinks.

Bautista should realize thatm coming off his worst season in Toronto, he’ll have to lower his expectations in free agency. But will he lower them enough for Mark Shapiro and Ross Atkins? In their first season since coming over from Cleveland, the new Toronto executives had a very conservative offseason, and did not even make David Price a serious offer.

The men running the Blue Jays are among the smartest in the game, and they will not be swayed by sentimentality when it comes to Bautista. Obviously, the entire city of Toronto wants him back, but the organization cannot afford to overpay or overextend a 36-year-old hitter in decline. If Bautista and the Blue Jays can agree on a reasonable two- or three-year deal, expect him to finish up his career in Toronto.

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