Jose Bautista didn't reveal what it would cost the Toronto Blue Jays to retain his services when he addressed the media Monday, but we now know that number isn't a staggering $150 million.
After a report surfaced Tuesday afternoon from TSN's Rick Westhead that Bautista demanded a five-year, $150-million deal to remain with the club beyond 2016, the slugger immediately denied it.
"False," Bautista told Sportsnet's Shi Davidi when asked about the validity of the report.
Bautista made it very clear Monday he wasn't willing to negotiate his salary, nor did he want his contract situation to become a distraction this spring and throughout the season. The terms he presented to Toronto's front office are final and absolute, and Bautista believes his demands, whatever they may be, aren't unreasonable considering the team's ownership group.
Related: Bautista won't negotiate contract demands with Blue Jays
"It's no secret that in a publicly traded company everybody can track performance fairly easily," Bautista said. "Stock prices are closely monitored by the whole financial world. I think there is a direct correlation with the success of (Rogers) earnings per share after we started experiencing success. Are they going to put it out in the media and say, 'Because of the Jays, we made all this money?' No. But everybody can read between the lines."
The 35-year-old agreed to a five-year, $65-million extension with Toronto prior to the 2011 campaign, and will earn $14 million for his services this year.
