MLB Rumors: Blue Jays have very little interest in re-signing Jose Bautista

According to reports, the Toronto Blue Jays have very little interest in rekindling contract talks with free agent Jose Bautista.

The man who practically reinvented baseball in Canada, Jose Bautista, appears destined to play out his career outside of Toronto. According to Jon Heyman of Fan Rag Sports, the Blue Jays have little interest in Bautista outside of recouping a draft pick when he ultimately signs with another team. Bautista famously demanded an extension in excess of five years and $150 million last spring and then followed it up with an injury-plagued, disappointing season. After those demands leaked out, it became very clear that the Blue Jays would likely be moving on from Bautista.

With the Blue Jays, Bautista emerged from the fringes of the big leagues to become a six-time All-Star and perennial MVP candidate. He twice led the American League in home runs and walks, and won three Silver Sluggers. In nine years in Toronto, Bautista hit 265 home runs, drove in 701, and posted an OPS of .910.

At the age of 36, Bautista is entering the downward arc of his career. He was on the disabled list twice in 2016, and only played in 116 games. When he was on the field, Bautista struggled. He slashed .234/.366/.452, finishing with 22 home runs and 69 RBIs. His outstanding batting eye remains, but Bautista looks done as an outfielder and his bat looked slow at times.

The Blue Jays may be making the right call to pass on Bautista at this point in his career, especially considering his unreasonable demands. That may be a tough pill to swallow for baseball fans north of the border, and it will be even more difficult to accept if Edwin Encarnacion leaves as well. Mark Shapiro is remaking the Blue Jays into an analytically-minded, smart organization, and that leaves very little room to pay a premium for aging sluggers approaching their late thirties.

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Toronto has already added Kendrys Morales to fill in at first base and DH when Bautista and Encarnacion inevitably leave. With a strong pitching staff and Josh Donaldson still in the fold, the Blue Jays should be able to remain in contention without Bautista and Encarnacion, but the team will take on an entirely different feel without their brash personalities.