Blue Jays' Gibbons ready for 'big, big year' from Bautista

John Gibbons is fired up about the return of Jose Bautista.

After the Blue Jays formally announced the signing of the slugger to a one-year contract worth $18 million, Gibbons couldn't hide his excitement on the airwaves, hoping that an underwhelming free agency fuels Bautista to erase an injury-plagued 2016 season.

"Jose is definitely one of the most motivated individuals I've ever been around. He's always on a mission to prove just how good he is," Gibbons told Jeff Blair of Sportsnet590 The Fan. "And I think coming back under these circumstances, he's going to be motivated that much more, and he'll end up having a big, big year."

Two trips to the disabled list hampered Bautista's production in a contract year, which may have helped contribute to a quiet offseason market for the 36-year-old. He missed over a month from June to July thanks to an unusual toe injury against the Philadelphia Phillies, before a knee injury in August ruled him out for another 12 games.

"He was banged up a little bit last year. Some couple freak injuries hurt his overall numbers, there's no doubt about that, but he still did some very big things for us," Gibbons said. "I never count this guy out. He's just motivated that way, more so than anybody else I've ever been around, and I think he'll rise to the occasion."

In 116 games in 2016, Bautista slashed .234/.366/.452 with 22 home runs, though those numbers dipped to .182/.308/.394 in the postseason. Toronto fans will hope the veteran's bat more resembles his healthy 2015 season, when he recorded a .250/.377/.536 slash line, mashed 40 home runs, and drove in 114 runs.