Comments on: Jose Bautista puts Blue Jays in very tough spot with Monday deadline for long-term deal

By: uyf1950

uyf1950 — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 12:10:09 +0000

To spudchukar – I don’t disagree with you about the Jays showing him a “little love” with more then a one year contract. They certainly don’t need to go down the Wells path but a “little love” wouldn’t hurt. Two or three years in the $22 to $35MM range shouldn’t be a burden for the Jays I do disagree with you about his HR total though I think it will be much closer to 30 then to 40 but that’s just an opinion. I say that because last year he took everyone by surprise that’s not going to happen this year. One final comment the Jays better hope he has a big year no make that a very big year otherwise the Jays are going nowhere but down in the standings in 2011. That’s just my opinion as well.

By: cur68

cur68 — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 02:43:09 +0000

spudchukar you have seen it. That’s the thing most people miss when they dismiss Bautista’s career; the at bats. The other key things to factor in to that were the constant distractions consisting of his many fielding position, the lack of intensive hitting coaching and the outright lack of control over his own destiny he must have felt every day in the major leagues. Remove the distractions and give him the at bats and what do you have? OPS of 166. The Jays would be fools to not show him a bit of love. If he hits the free agent market he’ll be a Yankee so fast his Blue Jay cap will be lift spinning in the air. We all will lose if that happens.

By: spudchukar

spudchukar — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 18:44:38 +0000

Only once before in his career has Bautista gotten 500 ABs. He may not reach 54 HRs this year but I bet he hits 40, and drives in 100. With all the cash the Jays possess I would try to lock him up for as few years as he will accept.

By: fordman84

fordman84 — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 18:13:34 +0000

Jose is trying to force the Jays hand, and the Jays are not falling for it. The guy has one good year and wants to land a massive long term deal. Can’t fault him, but I don’t think the Jays are going to get in a rush to lock him up.

And I promise you this. If he is sitting at 20HR’s at the all star break, the Jays will give him an offer that he won’t turn down.

By: uyf1950

uyf1950 — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 16:54:17 +0000

proudly – it wouldn’t hurt though if the Jays tested the waters on a two year deal. Like said it would seem to be a win, win. If he’s not interested no harm, no foul.

By: Joe

Joe — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 16:48:35 +0000

Key numbers here: 94, 96, 91, 99, 166

Those are Bautista’s OPS+ numbers over the course of his career.

Another key number: 30. That’s his age.

The Blue Jays are not at all in a tough spot here. Maybe he’s really a new player now. But asking them to bet a long-term contract on it? That seems like an obvious “we’ll accept the risk that we lose a good player” decision.

By: proudlycanadian

proudlycanadian — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 16:33:06 +0000

Agreed!

By: proudlycanadian

proudlycanadian — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 16:32:16 +0000

The Jays are trying to build for the long term through the draft and by trading for young players.If Bautista has a great year, good for him. It would establish his market value. I really doubt that he is currently looking for a 2 year contract.

By: missthemexpos

missthemexpos — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 16:17:41 +0000

Flashbacks of the Vernon Wells long term deal are no doubt in the minds of Blue Jay management on whether to sign Bautista to a multi-year deal. I am inclined to agree with proudlycanuck on how to handle this one. Plus, who knows what sort of mid season offer the Jays might get from a team that feels it needs Bautista as the final piece for a playoff run.

By: uyf1950

uyf1950 — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 15:56:13 +0000

He’s not that much older then Josh Hamilton. Why wouldn’t the Jays offer him a 2 year deal say worth $22 to $24MM for both years? That would seem to me to be a win, win. The Jay’s aren’t really committing to a long term contract and Bautista gets “shown a little lover” so to speak from the Jays.

By: nicosamuelson2

nicosamuelson2 — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 15:51:53 +0000

You can’t blame him. The offers aren’t going to be as good after he inevitably crashes back to earth.

The Blue Jays, though, would be wise to ask Bautista to prove it.

By: proudlycanadian

proudlycanadian — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 15:31:29 +0000

Both sides are in a very difficult spot on this one. I see no animosity on either side. Given his age, if he becomes a free agent next year, so be it. The Jays would get 2 draft picks.