Blue Jays to meet with Bautista next week about extension

Toronto Blue Jays president and CEO Mark Shapiro said Wednesday that the club expects to open dialogue with Jose Bautista next week about a possible contract extension.

Shapiro, who said he anticipates meeting with Bautista in Tampa, also revealed during his appearance on Sportsnet 590 The Fan that the team has reached out to its other impending free agent, Edwin Encarnacion, who previously imposed an Opening Day deadline to negotiate an extension with Toronto.

"I think the message is, let's keep talking. Let's figure out a way to keep these guys here," Shapiro said on Prime Time Sports. "But our priority at this moment is this team, right now, and winning right now, and in order to keep those guys here we have to understand what it's going to take on their part, we have to understand where the team is at the end of the year, and all the things that go along with that."

Shapiro's comments Wednesday echoed those of his general manager Ross Atkins, who on Sunday said the Blue Jays remain interested in striking a long-term deal with the pair, but will have to weigh that desire with the financial constraints of the club.

Bautista, 35, and Encarnacion, 33, were again key contributors for the 2015 Blue Jays during their first playoff run in 22 years, combining for 79 home runs, and ranking among the elite hitters in baseball across most offensive categories. As the club prepares to defend its AL East crown, the contract statuses of the team's two All-Star sluggers promises to loom large.

"I can tell you, we're going to continue to want (an extension) to happen, " Shapiro said, "and we're going to work to make that happen."