When the Toronto Blue Jays
picked up outfielder Melvin Upton Jr from the San Diego Padres on Monday, I thought
it was a fairly decent pick-up. Upton has some solid numbers, decent speed and
is a great glove man. But then I started wondering why the trade was made. In
an outfield already featuring All-Star Michael Saunders, Kevin Pillar and Jose
Bautista, with Ezequiel Carrera as the fourth option, why was it necessary to
add another? I started thinking about the possibility of the Jays looking to
move Bautista. Sure enough, 48 hours later, rumours started surfacing that the
Washington Nationals had been inquiring about the possibility of acquiring Bautista
to solidify their line-up.
Now, chances are that it’s nothing
more than a rumour. Bautista can veto any trade he chooses, Washington would
have to part with too much to get him and with the Toronto slugger being a free
agent following the season, Washington would probably be only getting a
rent-a-player.
Still, where there’s smoke,
there’s fire. No one thought the Detroit Tigers would trade David Price last
year either, but they sent him on his way when—if you’ll pardon the expression—the
price was right.
But the question that should be
being asked is: does it make sense to unload Bautista at this point of the
season? And I would have to answer with a resounding “No!” Now those who read my
post on Bautista this past February, when he proclaimed that he would not take
any hometown discounts to stay with the Blue Jays and that his price tag was
non-negotiable will remember that I suggested Toronto trade him after those
statements, and to do it soon while they could get something of value in
return.
Here’s why I’ve changed my mind.
First of all, it’s too late in the season now. If they were going to part ways
with him, it should have been before the season started. To do so now may
disrupt the chemistry on the ball club. It might cause some of the other
players to question why management would give up on the season when they’re in
the thick of the division race.
Even though Bautista has missed about a month with a toe injury, he is
still a valuable contributor to the team and the other players see that. It’s
hard to part with as vital a cog as Bautista, unless Washington is willing to
give up someone like (ha ha) Max Scherzer, or Gio Gonzalez, or another starting
pitcher who can help solidify the rotation much like Price did last year.
And since I’m sure Washington
would only offer some prospects, players who wouldn’t contribute to the Jays’
playoff chase this season, it doesn’t make sense to part with the best slugger
Toronto has had over the past half-dozen seasons.
That brings me to my second
point. Despite Bautista’s underachieving season thus far (and how much is due
to his injuries is unknown) he is still a dangerous hitter that can provide a
home run, or a clutch extra base hit when needed. And you can’t forget his
contributions down the stretch and in the postseason last year. Don’t forget
his blast that won the ALDS against Texas. Also remember that he was the Jays’
only hitter who didn’t crap the bed in the sixth game of the ALCS against Kansas
City.
Finally, I don’t think it would
be smart to trade a player like Bautista to a team that Toronto could possibly
face if they make it to the World Series in October. That would be a recipe for
disaster and would cause all sorts of second-guessing and vilification from the
media and fans if the Series didn’t work out in the Jays’ favour.
No, it’s best that Toronto hold
on to Bautista for the stretch run. You have to roll the dice with him and go
all-in for 2016. While the possibility exists that he might not be back in
2017, along with a host of others, that’s a chance you have to take in order to
put the best lineup possible on the field—the lineup that has the best chance
of returning the label of “World Champions” back to the city of Toronto.
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