Jose Bautista’s career with the Toronto Blue Jays could be winding down. According to MLB insider Jon Morosi, the odds of Baustista signing a new contract with the Blue Jays prior to next season are slim.
“They have to figure out what to do for the balance of this season and then of course for beyond this season,” Morosi told Sportsnet’s Starting Lineup Thursday. “Unless something miraculous occurs, he will not be part of this team opening day 2018.”
Bautista, a six-time all-star, is slashing .216/.325/.381 with 16 home runs this year and the 36-year-old is slated to become a free agent following the season.
“They want to get younger, they’ve been wanting to get more left-handed as well, and really he doesn’t help them in those pursuits at this moment,” Morosi said.
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The Blue Jays reportedly received some interest in Bautista prior to the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline but pitchers Francisco Liriano and Joe Smith were the only players Toronto ended up moving that day.
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported Thursday morning that Bautista was placed on revocable waivers. This move is not surprising given time of year but it leaves the door open for a possible trade.
“I think they would move him in the month of August if his contract clears waivers, which I expect it will, but the issue is how much different is the marketplace going to be for him than it was over the last month when they were also open minded to moving him,” Morosi added. “The only teams that I could see as being fits for him [this season] would be Seattle and Cleveland.”
