Toronto Blue Jays Sign Jose Bautista to One-Year Deal
The Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to a one-year deal with Jose Bautista, ending a long standoff between the organization and one of its most iconic players.
Jose Bautista was said to be nearing a reunion with the Toronto Blue Jays, but details needed to be worked out. Well, it looks like the two sides have hashed out those details and agreed to a one-year deal that includes options and incentives. BP Toronto and FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal were first to confirm the news.
SOURCE: #BlueJays and Jose Bautista in agreement on deal pending physical. Lots of incentives, a mutual option, and could go to 3 years.
— Zombie-P Toronto (@BProToronto) January 17, 2017
Sources: #BlueJays, Bautista have deal: One year, mutual option, pending physical. Announcement expected later in week. @BProToronto first.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 17, 2017
Bautista’s new deal includes at least one mutual option, and could extend to three seasons if all his options are exercised. His guaranteed salary for this season will exceed the $17.2 million qualifying offer he turned down earlier this offseason, according to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports, and the financial breakdown of his new deal could workout to be $60 million over three years, according to MLB Network’s Steve Phillips.
Steve Phillips reports Bautista's deal is a 1 year 18 million with mutual options with incentives maxing out at 3 year 60 million #BlueJays
— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) January 17, 2017
After a long standoff between the organization and one of its most iconic players, Bautista is back in Toronto for at least one more season.
More from Tip of the Tower
- Cam Phillips making his mark on Toronto Argonauts offence
- Toronto Argonauts: 4 storylines ahead of matchup against Redblacks
- Federico Bernardeschi ready for new challenge with Toronto FC
- Toronto Argonauts overcome Roughriders in entertaining Touchdown Atlantic
- Buffalo Bills: Von Miller drawing inspiration from Bruce Smith
Since it’s rare for mutual options to be picked up, there’s a strong possibility that we’ll be having the whole “should the Jays bring back Bautista” discussion again next offseason.
In the meantime, though, Bautista should slot right back into the middle of the Jays lineup and fill a noticeable hole in right field.
The 36-year-old did have a down season last year, but projection systems like ZiPs has him pegged for a bounce back season in 2017. When you consider his impeccable plate discipline and 41 percent hard-contact rate from last season, it’s easy to see why there’s still optimism around Bautista.
Of course, a successful 2017 campaign is contingent on him staying healthy, which is something he struggled to do in 2016. Perhaps the Jays will give Bautista more days off from right field and platoon him with Justin Smoak and Kendrys Morales at first base/designated hitter, while Steve Pearce and Ezequiel Carrera share right field duties. There are a few ways they can manage his workload, but I think we’ll see the Blue Jays be cognizant of how much Bautista plays the field this season.
Next: Will the Blue Jays Regret Only Giving Bautista a One-Year Deal?
After passing on Edwin Encarnacion, Toronto fans will at least see one of their two favourite sluggers return to the Rogers Centre in 2017. But with this only being a one-year deal, Bautista will be under the microscope again this season and I’m sure the debate about what the Blue Jays should do with him will rage on throughout the season.