Amid speculation and swirling rumours, the Toronto Blue Jays have locked up slugger Jose Bautista long-term
Very impressive for one year of work!
I can only imagine what the discussions were between Alex Anthopoulos and Co. when coming to grips with the type of situation they were up against.
You have a team finally on the verge of emerging with an identity that has been lacking since the early 90s. This team has so much talent on the cusp of breaking out it’s ridiculous.
Now, out of nowhere, a journeyman outfielder who never before eclipsed 16 home runs bursts onto the scene as the most feared hitter in all of baseball.
Hindsight is 20/20 right? We all new this would never go to arbitration. But would that have been the worst thing in the world?
All signs pointed to Bautista coming out on top. What on earth could be said by the Jays’ brass to convince the adjudicators that one of the most powerful bats in the game is not deserved of a raise?
A one-year deal and a significant raise, I can live with that.
The new deal on the table is reportedly worth five years and $65 million with an option for a sixth, totalling $78 million.
What if Bautista hits 20 home runs and drives in 75 RBI? Adequate if last year never happened. Unfortunately, 54 home runs and 124 RBI is a reality, leaving Bautista to forever live up to those standards.
Inevitably the team was a stuck in a catch-22.
If they re-sign him for one-year and he lights up the scoreboard like Albert Pujols in 2011, I find it very difficult that Bautista wouldn’t walk after the season strictly based on principle. On the other hand, locking up their cleanup hitter for $13 million a season could be a bargain if Bautista again produces numbers like what we just witnessed.
Realistically, someone will give Pujols his $200 million-plus. Looking at Bautista’s contract seems petty compared to what could’ve been.
The bull’s-eye tag has been firmly placed on No. 19. There is absolutely no getting around it.
Pitchers testing this guy with fastballs every single at-bat will become a distant memory. Whatever Bautista and his instructors do to correct his flaws last year, they now need a contingency plan that focuses on change-ups and multiple off-speed pitches.
The fairy tale of 2010 was nice, but can the home run king of Toronto make it a reality?
Devon is the founder of The GM’s Perspective
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com