Return to Toronto, return to health move Bautista to top of fantasy draft boards
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Here are the fantasy implications of free-agent OF Jose Bautista returning to the Toronto Blue Jays:
SOURCE: #BlueJays and Jose Bautista in agreement on deal pending physical. Lots of incentives, a mutual option, and could go to 3 years.
— BP Toronto (@BProToronto) January 17, 2017
The Blue Jays bolstered their outfield offense for at least the 2017 season by bringing back the 36-year-old slugger. Injuries limited him to just 116 games and 517 plate appearances last season, his second time in four years failing to play 120 games. He did play 155 and 153 games in 2014 and 2015, respectively.
As a result of the injuries and missed time, Bautista hit just 22 home runs after belting 40 in 2015. He finished the year with 68 runs scored, 69 RBIs, two stolen bases and a .234/.366/.452 slash line. It was his worst batting average since his first full year with the Jays in 2009. He did finish tied for 25th among qualified hitters in on-base percentage and T73 in slugging percentage.
Bautista's 19.9 percent strikeout rate was his highest since the 2009 season, but his 16.8 percent walk rate was up for the third consecutive season and was his highest since 2011. Excellent patience at the plate will continue to put him on base while likely hitting third or fourth in the lineup, behind 3B Josh Donaldson and ahead of 1B/DH Kendrys Morales and SS Troy Tulowitzki.
A hard-contact rate of 41.0 percent last season was the best of Bautista's career, as was his 18.8 percent line-drive rate. His 16.3 percent home-run-to-line-drive ratio was just barely below his career average but well below his marks from every season since 2009. His .255 BABIP was below his career average for a second consecutive season.
The re-signing of Bautista will cement the value of the hitters around him in the lineup. He provides insurance for Donaldson and will provide Morales, Tulowitzki and C Russell Martin with additional RBI opportunities.
Where Bautista gets his playing time will affect the values of tertiary hitters like OF Melvin Upton Jr. and utility man Steve Pearce. Upton was expected to replace Bautista in right field, while Pearce would split time with Morales at first base and DH, and play the occasional game in left field. Both players will see slightly less playing time and are not worth more than a late-round flier.