On Tuesday, the Toronto Blue
Jays agreed to a one-year deal with outfielder Jose Bautista. The deal is worth
$18 million for the 2017 season with mutual options for 2018 and 2019. While
the Jays’ outfield was looking a little thin with Spring Training just over six
weeks away, Bautista patrolling right field in 2017 wasn’t the option I had in mind when
the 2016 season ended. However, he will have to do as it seems Blue Jays’
management (particularly Rogers) wasn’t keen on seriously pursuing other
options.
But let’s have a look at the
good, the bad and the ugly of bringing Jose back to Toronto for at least one
more season.
THE GOOD—As I mentioned before, despite
being 36 years of age and suffering through some injury problems in 2016, Bautista is an improvement as the
Jays’ outfield was looking suspect with the projected starters being (from left
field to right) Melvin Upton, Kevin Pillar and Ezequiel Carrera. While I think
Carrera has lots of potential, as seen from his performance in September and
October when he played every day, he may be a year or two away from reaching
his peak potential. Pillar, as much as I love his hustle, is your typical
number nine centre fielder: great defense, not much more than average at the
plate. Upton? Yeah, do I really need to say anything? Just look at his stats
since the trade that brought him to Toronto and you’ll see how pitiful he was.
Bautista, immediately makes the outfield better (offensively, anyway) provided
he can avoid the injury bug he was stricken with last season.
THE BAD—Unless your name is Barry
Bonds, do you really think you’re going to improve athletically with age?
Bautista had a rather rough 2016 and while a lot can be contributed to his
injuries, the skills have started to erode. There’s no shame in it, it happens
to every one. Ask A-Rod. But besides that, Bautista brings a lot of baggage
with him, particularly his big mouth. His feuding with umpires needs to stop.
His out-of-place comments to the press (“I only swing at strikes” comes to
mind) doesn’t make him a very desirable person to have around. But, hey, if he
hits 40 dingers and drives in 100, he can mouth off all he wants. That’s a big
“if”.
THE UGLY—This part hasn’t happened yet,
but with Rogers at the controls, it’s inevitable. It will happen when team
president, Mark Shapiro, and general manager, Ross Atkins, champion the
Bautista signing as the key transaction of the off-season. Since the end of the
season, there have been rumours afloat of how the Jays were actively pursing
Dexter Fowler, Andrew McCutcheon, Jay Bruce, Charlie Blackmon or Curtis
Granderson. No signings or trades ever happened because the Jays were NOT
actively pursuing those players. Heck, they weren’t even pursuing Edwin
Encarnacion. But somehow, those in charge will shrug their shoulders and say
how they were outbid by other teams for those players, but don’t worry, the
Bautista signing will be the one that leads to the World Series. It’s the spin
Rogers likes to put on negative situations. Remember the Yu Darvish fiasco? Or
the false reports about making serious offers to Prince Fielder? Unfortunately,
it’s what you get with this ownership group. It’s been painfully obvious to
Blue Jays’ supporters since they took over the club 17 years ago.
But perhaps I’m being a bit too
critical. Perhaps the Bautista signing will open the floodgates to other trades
and signings to help build on the success of the past two seasons. One can only
hope.
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