Report: Blue Jays, Bautista discussing 2-year deal
Jose Bautista is inching closer to a return north of the border.
Bautista and the Toronto Blue Jays, who were said to be nearing an agreement Sunday night, are reportedly in discussions about a two-year deal, sources told Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports on Monday.
The contract, which is reportedly in the process of being finalized, is expected to be worth $37 million, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network.
A two-year agreement in this range would likely satisfy Bautista after a disappointing turn on the open market. The outfielder had been gunning for a lucrative multi-year contract, but after finding a lack of suitors Bautista reportedly became more open to taking a one-year deal - on the condition it would pay more than the $17.2-million qualifying offer he rejected from Toronto in November.
In the end, Bautista reportedly desired a return to Toronto - the city where he's spent the last nine seasons and broke out as a superstar - and that wish may have ultimately trumped any money left on the table. According to Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports, the 36-year-old will be declining multiple offers worth more money to stay in Toronto.
That aligns with a December report from MLB Network's Jon Morosi, who said Bautista had turned down several "solid" offers with an eye toward staying in Toronto.
It's not known what teams made those larger financial offers, but Heyman reported the Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Indians were both "in the bidding" for Bautista's services in recent days.
Bautista would fill a pair of needs for the Blue Jays in the form of a big right-handed power bat to offset the loss of Edwin Encarnacion, and as a corner outfielder whose presence would boost a sub-par group outside of Gold Glove finalist Kevin Pillar.
Since joining Toronto via trade in August 2008, Bautista's emerged as one of the most feared and controversial sluggers in baseball while becoming the face of the Blue Jays during the team's renaissance and return to the playoffs. He currently ranks in the top five of virtually every offensive category in Blue Jays history, and is only 71 homers shy of passing Carlos Delgado for the all-time franchise lead.
Other teams that have been linked to Bautista this winter include the Baltimore Orioles, Minnesota Twins, and Philadelphia Phillies.