Blue Jays' Jose Bautista: Setting sights on open market

Even after an injury-plagued season, Bautista is expected to turn down a $17.2 million qualifying offer from the Jays, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reports.

Analysis:

The feeling is Bautista, 36, will get multi-year offers in free agency. Boston could be a preferred destination, with Bautista having played for Red Sox coaches John Farrell and Brian Butterfield. The slugger also enjoys playing at Fenway Park, as evidenced by the 24 homers he's hammered there -- it's Bautista's highest total in any stadium outside of Toronto's Rogers Centre.