Philadelphia Phillies slugger Jose Bautista “definitely” wants to play next season and prefers to join a contending team, according to MLB insider Ken Rosenthal.
Bautista, who turns 38 on Oct. 19, has played for the Atlanta Braves, New York Mets and Phillies this season, following a 10-year stint with the Toronto Blue Jays.
He has hit just .199 with a .708 OPS, 12 home runs and 18 doubles in 116 total games this season, accruing 0.6 wins above replacement, per FanGraphs. However, his .339 on-base percentage has outperformed the league average (.318).
Bautista, a long-time outfielder, has displayed defensive versatility this season, playing more than 100 innings at third base, left field and right field.
Rosenthal notes that the Phillies have been impressed with how Bautista has mentored young players since joining the team in late August.
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