The writing is on the wall and it says Jose Bautista’s tenure with the Toronto Blue Jays is close to coming to an end.
The last place Jays have placed the veteran slugger on revocable waivers, three days after the non-waiver trade deadline came and went.
What does that mean?
Well, it doesn’t necessarily mean that Jose will be traded, but it certainly opens the door to that possibility.
Readers Digest version… if another team makes a claim for Bautista, the Jays can allow that team to take him in what’s called a straight waiver claim, but more than likely, Toronto will want something for him and will try and work out a trade for him.
Now, Toronto can only deal with that one team, and they have 72 hours to finalize the trade, and if they don’t like it, they can pull Bautista off waivers.
Still with me?
There are other issues at hand, two of which are really important.
1. Bautista has a full no-trade clause, which means he can nix any deal Jays GM Ross Atkins co-ordinates.
2. If Jose wants to compete for a World Series this season — and given the way the Jays are playing, that’s a pipe dream with Toronto — Bautista must join a new team before Sept. 1.
Otherwise, the 36-year-old six-time All-Star won’t be eligible to play in the 2017 playoffs.
Bautista would be the first to admit that this year (.216 batting average, 16 home runs, 45 RBI) has been his worst since 2009.
Given that Jose’s contract includes a $17-million mutual option for 2018, the Jays will most certainly part ways with him.
I know that Blue Jays fans were happy to bring him back for 2017, and I was in that camp too, but it’s time that we say goodbye, and good luck, to Jose Bautista.
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