Blue Jays' Shapiro: Bautista 'probably the most talented' available OF
Jose Bautista's future in Toronto is still up in the air, but the Blue Jays still appear to think very highly of him.
Though he didn't provide an update on where negotiations - if there are any - with Bautista currently stand, Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro spoke glowingly of the free-agent outfielder Friday morning and acknowledged the veteran would still be a good fit for his club, which is in serious need of outfield help.
"I would just say that we clearly need a corner outfielder, and Jose is probably the most talented one out there as far as offensive production goes and pedigree and track record," Shapiro told Sportsnet 590 The Fan's "The Jeff Blair Show." "And then on top of that he's got a premium in this marketplace because of what he's meant to this franchise over the last eight seasons, and who he is in this market, and the impact he's made in the community here.
"You take all those things up and for me not to say (that) he would be a good alternative for us next year would be a mistake. So I think ... among the alternatives he's certainly, if not the best, (then he's) one of the best."
The possibility of a Bautista-Blue Jays reunion, once thought to be near impossible, grew after Edwin Encarnacion left for Cleveland in late December. It was reported Thursday that re-signing the 36-year-old has returned to the top of the team's priority list in recent weeks.
One thing Shapiro doesn't appear to be bringing into the Bautista decision is the compensatory draft pick attached to the 36-year-old thanks to his rejection of the $17.2-million qualifying offer in November. While the possibility of gaining that extra pick is in the Blue Jays' minds, it doesn't appear to be a game-changer for the front office.
"That draft pick is meaningful, it's material, it has real value," Shapiro explained. "But at the same time, so does bringing back Jose and what he could both contribute offensively and what he means to the community here."
The Blue Jays' current outfield corps consists of center fielder Kevin Pillar flanked by Melvin Upton Jr. and Ezequiel Carerra. Besides their continued interest in Bautista, the Blue Jays have been linked to free-agent outfield bats Michael Saunders and Brandon Moss in recent weeks.