THE RUMOR: The Blue Jays and the representatives for Jose Bautista are "engaged in active contract discussions" to bring the slugger back to Toronto.
REPORTED BY: MLB.com's Jon Morosi
THE DETAILS: Bautista rejected a one-year, $17.2 million qualifying offer in November, but hasn't found many suitors since, in part due to his high asking price and the deep power-hitting market. Yahoo Sports reported on Saturday that Bautista is willing to take a one-year contract but it must be worth more than the $17.2 million he rejected.
THIS PAST SEASON: Bautista, who has hit above .300 only once in his career, played in just 116 games in the final year of a six-year, $78 million contract with the Jays. He hit .234/.366/.452 with 22 homers and 69 RBIs.
OUR TAKE: Remember when it was rumored that Bautista was in talks for a five-year, $150 million extension with the Blue Jays before this past season? Yeah, that's never going to happen. Because he is 36 years old, tied to draft-pick compensation and basically an expensive version of the still available (and younger) Mike Napoli, Chris Carter and Adam Lind, Bautista will be lucky if his latest demand of a one-year contract at around $17 million is met.
Fearing they were going to miss out on re-signing Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion this winter, the Blue Jays signed Kendrys Morales and Steve Pearce as possible replacements. Despite those additions, there is still room for Bautista in right field over Ezequiel Carrera.
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The problem is the Blue Jays don't need Bautista; what they really need is a younger and faster left-handed hitter who plays better defense. The Blue Jays can likely get Colby Rasmus, Michael Saunders or even Angel Pagan on two-year deals for less than it would cost to keep Bautista for one.