Bautista, Blue Jays nearing five-year deal

[Dipre]

The Blue Jays and slugger Jose Bautista appear to be on the verge of reaching an agreement on a long-term contract.

 

The club has scheduled a news conference for 5 p.m. ET on Thursday that will air on MLB.com, live from Florida Auto Exchange Stadium. The latest development comes just one day after multiple online reports indicated that Bautista was close to signing a five-year contract worth $65 million.

 

Toronto officials would not specify whether the news conference was about Bautista, but all signs indicate the club will officially announce a long-term contract extension for the Dominican native.

 

Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos declined comment on the specifics early Thursday morning but did indicate that negotiations have been moving in a positive direction.

 

"I think the biggest thing is that there is trust on both sides -- there's a willingness on both sides," Anthopoulos said.

 

"It was always amicable. There's always been a desire for both parties to work something out, one way or the other. I don't think there's any uniqueness at all, but when negotiations are conducted in the media and made public, they can steer off the path a little bit, which is why it's so important to me to keep them quiet."

 

Even though Anthopoulos would not get into much detail, he did say that Bautista was expected to be in attendance at camp on Friday. That would seem to indicate an extension was imminent, because that's the same day Bautista was scheduled to go to an arbitration hearing in Phoenix, Ariz.

 

The 30-year-old Bautista was seeking $10.5 million in a hearing, while the Blue Jays countered with $7.6 million. Bautista said late last week that if the two sides were unable to come to an agreement before that meeting took place, he would not negotiate a long-term contract until the end of the season.

 

Another sign pointing to a major announcement was the presence of team president Paul Beeston at the club's Bobby Mattick Training Center. Beeston said he arrived in town on Wednesday night for a dinner with team officials and would be flying back to Toronto on Thursday night, but it was the first time he had appeared at this year's Spring Training.

 

The Blue Jays do not operate under a set payroll. The club seeks approval from ownership on a case-by-case basis, and Beeston said last month he could envision team salaries eventually escalating to between $140 million and $150 million, which is nearly double the current amount.

 

Despite the luxury of having salary flexibility, Anthopoulos said that hasn't changed his approach in any contract negotiations. Instead, he bases his talks on whether the player would provide enough value to keep his options open in the future.

 

"Whether our payroll is $20 million or $100 million, the value is the value," Anthopoulos said. "You have to have flexibility in everything that you do.

 

"We always make the determination when you try to sign a player ... 'What's the player's value in the market?' If you had to move the player, could you move the player? We like to look at it as, if you sign a player to a contract and you feel like you cannot move that player if you need to -- not that you're going to look to do it -- it's probably not the right contract to do."

 

Anthopoulos also indicated that the value is based on the current market. It changes from year to year, depending on what types of contracts players are signing. Some of the big contracts signed this offseason included a seven-year, $126 million contract to Nationals outfielder Jayson Werth, a five-year, $62 million extension for Braves second baseman Dan Uggla and a five-year, $80 million contract for Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre.

 

Bautista's reported contract falls on the lower end of those deals.

 

"There's no question that it's fluid -- it's fluid, and it changes," Anthopoulos said of a player's monetary value. "I think you have to do it at that moment in time, but again, the economy can change. The market can change.

 

"You're trying to evaluate where it might go. You're trying to project as well, because we're building a team, but you also have to remember that you need to have the flexibility to be able to make those changes and be able to adjust."

 

Last season, Bautista broke the Blue Jays' franchise record for home runs with 54. He also ranked third in the American League in RBIs (124), slugging percentage (.617) and on-base plus slugging percentage (.995). He led the league with 92 extra-base hits and ranked second in walks (100) en route to a fourth-place finish in the AL Most Valuable Player Award voting.

 

Prior to 2010, Bautista had never hit more than 16 home runs in a season. His increase of 41 home runs over his '09 tally set a Major League record for the largest single-season increase. The previous mark had been set by former Braves infielder Davey Johnson, who upped his total by 38, going from five to 43 during the 1972-73 seasons.

 

That has led some to question whether Bautista will be able to duplicate his historic 2010 campaign. Count Blue Jays left-hander Ricky Romero among the believers that Bautista can once again find success in the AL East.

 

"You see how hard he works and how devoted he is to his job," Romero said. "Last year was the first year where he really got to play for a whole year. The talent was always there, and now, after last year, he put it all together. Hopefully, he continues to get better every year, and if the rumours are true, he's going to be a leader on this team for a very long time."

 

If Bautista does officially sign a long-term deal, he would join a young Blue Jays core that has the potential to stay together for the foreseeable future. Bautista is the only prominent player in the organization who was eligible for free agency at the end of the 2011 campaign -- the rest of the club remains under control for at least the next two years.

 

Romero thinks that's a key component to helping his team succeed over the long haul.

 

"I think it's important, especially with what we're trying to build here," Romero said of locking up Bautista. "We're trying to build a championship-calibre team.

 

"His work ethic is very important for the young guys that are coming up. They can see what he has done, what he's doing to get to the level that he's at. It just goes to show you that this game is all about opportunity. He got the opportunity and took full advantage of it, and hopefully, he gets rewarded the right way."

 

Gregor Chisholm is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, North of the Border, and follow him on Twitter @gregorMLB. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

 

I may have just developed a bald spot scratching my head after reading this.

 

If 2010 was a fluke from Bautista, they just put their foot in their mouth in a big, big way.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

Chances of Bautista hitting 50+ HR this season?

[Dipre]

Same chances that i'm going to sleep with a fat chick in 2011:

 

Nill, zilch, zero, nada, nunca, not happening, don't think so.

[CanadianSox]

Same chances that i'm going to sleep with a fat chick in 2011:

 

Nill, zilch, zero, nada, nunca, not happening, don't think so.

 

Because no one will sleep with you period.

[Dipre]

Because no one will sleep with you period.

 

Touche.

 

But my bi-annual fat chick quota was exhausted in late 2010, so i may have to sit out 2011 as you say, due to lack of other options. But i will remain true to my principles!

[Palodios]

I'm usually skeptical of players that have been in the league for some time and have a random breakout year.

[BSN07]

I don't think he hits 50. He could settle in around 30 though. But this is a big roll of the dice for the Jays after so many well orchestrated moves this off season.

[Divinity]

65m for a one year wonder is steep.

[jacksonianmarch]

It is a roll of the dice, but it isnt a franchise killer of a contract like Wells' was. Ricciardi really hamstrung the team with Wells and Rios' deal. If Bautista turns out to be a late bloomer and consistently puts up .900+OPS's on an annual basis, then this deal is a steal

[boy racer]

Good for them. Hopefully he catches fire again this season. I saw homers 47 & 48 at Toronto against the Sox, damn that was cool.

[Northern Star]

The only good thing about this deal is it wasn't $100mil+. This guy's second highest total in four full years is 16. Sixteen.... His 2010 season looks as fake as Bond's 2001.

[SCM33]

Predictons for the 2011 season:

 

.245 BA, 25 HR, 80 RBI, .335 OB, .430 SLG, .765 OPS

 

There is no way he gets pitched to nearly as often. Vernon Wells isnt hitting in that lineup anymore either.

 

What a terrible contract.

[BSN07]

My initial reaction was one of head scratching like Dipre. But if Bautista puts up a 2nd solid season in a row, he could have been looking at a "Werth" type deal upon hitting the open market. And if you consider that, the deal doesn't seem as bad. But still it's pretty risky for a team that has been able to shed 2 really bad contracts in the last 18 months.

[raygator]

flash in the pan. no way he repeats last year's performance.

[rateyourseats]

flash in the pan. no way he repeats last year's performance.

 

Not many 30 year olds with nearly 2,000 ML at-bats increase their slugging percentage by more than 200 points. He truly had an incredible season.

[Youk Of The Nation]

Okay, over/under on Bautista hitting more home runs combined in the life of this contract than he did last season.

[Keeper]

Not many 30 year olds with nearly 2' date='000 ML at-bats increase their slugging percentage by more than 200 points. He truly had an incredible season.[/quote']

 

So incredible we should all question its validity.

[Dojji]

So incredible we should all question its validity.

 

It's a point worth pondering, it's certainly a very unusual trajectory.

[Flynnatic10]

I think last year was a fluke year.

[SCM33]

Predictons for the 2011 season:

 

.245 BA, 25 HR, 80 RBI, .335 OB, .430 SLG, .765 OPS

 

There is no way he gets pitched to nearly as often. Vernon Wells isnt hitting in that lineup anymore either.

 

What a terrible contract.

 

Sometimes, you have to admit when you are wrong. Funny to read about projections and compare them to the results.

 

I think just about all of us were wrong about this guy.

 

Follow up question.....how does he go from a 4th OF, to a big time power threat at 31 years old? Simple adjustments change you from a guy with 13-15 homer per year range to a 40+ homer per year player?

[Palodios]

Sometimes, you have to admit when you are wrong. Funny to read about projections and compare them to the results.

 

I think just about all of us were wrong about this guy.

 

Follow up question.....how does he go from a 4th OF, to a big time power threat at 31 years old? Simple adjustments change you from a guy with 13-15 homer per year range to a 40+ homer per year player?

 

If I was Posada, I would try to get in touch with his personal "trainer";)

[BigPapiEnFuego]

The worst and saddest thing about this steroid scandal of the last decade is that when a player actually did turn their career around in a legitimate and legal way he will always have doubt and speculation surrounding him.

[Palodios]

The worst and saddest thing about this steroid scandal of the last decade is that when a player actually did turn their career around in a legitimate and legal way he will always have doubt and speculation surrounding him.

 

Definitely, I agree. But with Bautista it is fairly obvious.

[BigPapiEnFuego]

Definitely' date=' I agree. But with Bautista it is fairly obvious.[/quote']

 

It seems very likely but I don't know. There isn't really a difference in his body from when he was in Pittsburgh to when he was with Toronto and I don't know how he'd evade a positive result on a steroid test unless there is some sort of way to mask steroids. There could be a way to mask but I'm not sure. For now I'd give him the benefit of the doubt I guess.

[Divinity]

Manny sent Jose the last of his steroids supply since he won't be needing them anymore.

[DirtDog]

You guys do know they test for steroids in MLB as of 2004, right?

[boston22407]

that didnt stop manny twice

[Palodios]

You guys do know they test for steroids in MLB as of 2004' date=' right?[/quote']

 

There are ways to mask it steroids, and there is always the possibility of new drugs being introduced to players that the MLB doesn't necessarily know about.

[yankees228]

The worst and saddest thing about this steroid scandal of the last decade is that when a player actually did turn their career around in a legitimate and legal way he will always have doubt and speculation surrounding him.

 

This. Nothing is 'fairly obvious'. There is absolutely zero legitimate evidence to suggest he is cheating in any way, so why in the world should we basically assume that he is?

[DirtDog]

Remember when Raul Ibanez started hot for the Phillies a couple years ago? People started talking steroids. I'd rather say the guy is 100% innocent until some proof comes along. Bautista is a well built guy but it's not like the guy has put on 30 lbs of muscle like McGwire.

 

I for one am happy for the guy, it's a nice story and glad he's turning into a star (although not too pleased he happens to play in our division). I heard something about a hitting coach in Pittsburgh who fixed a hole in his swing. He's always had a decent power stroke, but what has really surprised me is his ability to hit for average thus far. That's usually not a sign of a guy who's juicing, imo.

 

http://www.sbeen.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/bautista-bal-1.jpg

http://www.sbeen.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/bautista-pitt1.jpg

http://www.sbeen.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/bautista-kc.jpg

http://www.sbeen.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/bautista-tor1.jpg

 

I don't see anything substancial... at least nothing a little time in the weight room isn't capable of.