Fansided

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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Oct 7, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor (12) reacts after striking out against the Toronto Blue Jays during the ninth inningof game two of the 2016 ALDS playoff baseball series at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 7, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor (12) reacts after striking out against the Toronto Blue Jays during the ninth inningof game two of the 2016 ALDS playoff baseball series at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

Texas Rangers

Oh boy is there history between Bautista and the Texas Rangers. Perhaps too much history to be overlooked in free agency, but the Rangers should consider taking a look at Bautista. Texas traded for Carlos Beltran at the deadline to serve as their DH, but he’s hitting free agency as well.

Beltran will be 40 in April next year, and though he has shown little sign of slowing down, the Rangers may not want to go on a year-to-year basis with him. Beltran is just 383 hits shy of 3,000, and may attempt to stick around the league long enough to reach the milestone. For that reason, he may look for a two-year deal this winter.

Committing to at least two more years of Beltran may not be the worst decision for the Rangers, but three years of Bautista could ultimately give them more bang for their buck. Getting away from playing the field will help Bautista stay fresher, as will getting away from the chilly beginning and end of the season in the AL East. Free agency can make for strange bedfellows — just ask Johnny Damon, Jacoby Ellsbury and Kevin Youkilis, among others, who made the Red Sox-Yankees switch. If Bautista and the Rangers can overlook their differences, this could be a very viable free-agent match.

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