Yesterday, Jose Bautista denied a report from TSN’s Rick Westhead that his apparently non-negotiable asking price was an extension of five years and $150MM. What that figure raised eyebrows around the baseball world, it may actually have been too modest, as both the Toronto Star’s Richard Griffin and MLB Network’s Jon Heyman have reported that Bautista’s contract demand was actually higher. Griffin suggested that the number could be higher if Bautista’s $14MM salary for the coming season was included as well, though Heyman says that Bautista is looking for both more years and more money. FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal puts the dollar figure at less than $180MM, however, as the average annual value of a six-year deal wouldn’t have cracked the $30MM threshold.
Needless to say, this is high demand for any player and a stunning one coming from a player entering his age-35 season. When I looked at Bautista as an extension candidate last November, I reasoned that he would certainly land at least a $20MM average annual value in a new contract, perhaps even something in the range of a four-year/$100MM deal for his age 36-39 seasons (2017-2020). Only seven players in history have ever received an AAV north of $25MM per season, and six of those contracts began when the players were much younger than 36 years old. (The exception was Roger Clemens‘ one-year, $28MM deal with the Yankees when he was 44, an altogether unique situation.)
Given the size and unprecedented nature of this contract, it’s hard to see the Blue Jays meeting Bautista’s demand. The Jays already have expensive commitments to Troy Tulowitzki and Russell Martin on the books, Edwin Encarnacion is also a free agent this winter and the club will certainly at least explore extending Josh Donaldson before he hits free agency after the 2018 season. Bautista pointedly mentioned on Monday that Rogers Communications, the Jays’ parent company, has derived huge financial boosts from the team’s recent success, so he doesn’t seem willing to accept an argument that ownership couldn’t put more resources into re-signing him or into the club in general.
Payroll commitments aside, it could be argued that it would be unwise to sign any 36-year-old to such a massive deal. While Bautista is universally considered to be an excellent athlete who keeps himself in prime shape, he’s also had some injury issues in his career and his defensive metrics in right field took a sharp decline in 2015. If Bautista is already becoming the type of player who only provides value with his bat, then he’d have to keep his elite hitting numbers through his age-41 season to live up to the value of such a big contract.
Would Bautista land such a deal on the open market as a free agent? At first glance it would seem unlikely that any team would make such a huge commitment to a 36-year-old, and yet the 2016-17 free agent class is notably thin. Bautista’s performance in 2016 will obviously play a major factor in his next deal, and another superstar-level season would help boost his case. Bautista told reporters on Monday that he wasn’t going to budge from his asking price, though it’s possible that this was a negotiating tactic and that he’d be willing to go lower if the Blue Jays or another suitor countered with something at least in the ballpark of the initial demand.
GOOD LUCK WITH THAT!
And yet somehow half the country thinks we shouldn’t raise taxes on these a**holes.
Yes we should punish these guys for making too much money. They should definitely ask for far less than whatever someone is willing to pay them.
They have the talent to earn that money, so good for them.
If people don’t like ballplayers being paid – don’t buy tickets, or jerseys, or $12 hotdogs.
Yeah, but how much of the taxes would be going to Canada anyway?
Your’s would be a novel government, dictating that all A**holes be taxed at a higher rate. We would have a new Department under President Pox: The Department of A**Hole Taxation, with specific agencies monitoring those who’s attitude and activities qualified for such a levy. Policy would be set by Congressional Committees advised by the President’s Select Committee on Anal Attitudes. You should apply now while all that expertise is still in office.
It could be called Joey Bats national revenue act
They should have to pay the same taxes as me. But then again I pay higher taxes because I’m single and have no children. The trick is, make a lot of money and have dependents. Then you get tax breaks 😉
One thing that could be big for Bautista, is if talk of the DH coming to the NL heats up leading to the new CBA. If NL teams know the DH is coming within the next couple years, he likely has a few more suitors willing to pay up.
Still if the NL gets a DH no team is even going to consider signing him for that kind of money. He needs to lower the price to around 80-100 million max
Considering the CBA is this year then I doubt that it will be a part of it. Maybe for the following CBA. There is a lot to be tackled during this CBA already, so I think the NL DH is going to need more build up before it becomes serious.
Wow.
When he said 150MM wasn’t the number, I assumed it was because he was being realistic about his value, given his age and the risk…now he’s catapulted from cray status to cray-cray!
I love you Joey, but that’s not happening.
Any GM that gives him a 6/180 type contract…….should seek immediate medical attention! …..LOL
And probably another job…
LOL. …Yup!
Good luck trying to get that kind of offer from the blue jays since Alex isn’t there anymore, I don’t see them getting this deal done, the jays are going to lose their best power hitter, Also they have Encarnacion as a free agent, so a decision to make.
Not much of a decision if that’s his asking price; time for them to move on to Edwin and see if his asking price is more reasonable. No wonder they were trying to get Bruce almost immediately after Bautista gave them those figures.
Part of Cliff Johnson Belly Flop’s post on Jaysjournal.com:
“It would appear to me that $25M is too little for what he is likely capable of producing in the next two years, but too much for the final two years…..So let’s say $30M for each of the first two and $25M for the third with an option of a fourth year to buy him out at $15M or pay him $25. That would put a guaranteed value of $100 mil for the term of the contract and a max of $110.”
I thinks this is reasonable and the best he’s gonna get.
I think even that is high, but much more realistic. I think a fair deal, which rarely happens in these situations: $25m, $22m, $18m, 4th yr team option for $15m or $5m buyout. That’s 3/$70m or 4/$80m.
Kind of fitting the story just below this one, he was younger and coming off a top 5 MVP season too I think
Maybe if he was 25 and not 35
If he was 25, he’d be getting 8/250.
At the moment free agency involves draft pick compensation forfeiture that would negatively affect his value.
I thought cano was asking for a lot and wouldn’t get signed, then my team signed him, anything can happen
that signing did not work out for the Mariners.
You say that, he is better than any other second baseman they could have, altuve is the only better second baseman, but he is not what the m’s need
I’m pretty sure Bautista and his agent will quickly deny this report just like they denied the earlier one. Having said that it doesn’t mean the report is inaccurate or doesn’t have legs.
Doesn’t mean it’s true, either. In fact, this contract demand is so ridiculous it rings of being untrue
Darn, he should’ve tried getting that money some other time. Now, it’s just overpaying for what he use to be not what he will be during the upcoming years. He’s a good hitter but that’s about it. Yankees can sweep him up for un-godly amount of money, or Boston, and hope he can stay healthy. Joey Bats is still a dbag and I wouldn’t mind seeing someone toss a 100mph+ fastball right at his head and keep doing it until he retires.
Nah the Yankees won’t be interested. In case you haven’t notice the Yankees have stayed away from that type of player age wise and dollar wise.
Well, yeah because they already have enough of them on their team lol.
Lol
He sounds like he is still salty because he accepted the extension offer they made him after his first good season whereas if he had waited another year or two and done what he did those following years, he could have gotten way more money.
Now it just sounds like he wants the Blue Jays to make up for that, which, really isn’t economically justifiable for a team to do with a 35 year old player. But hey, they could do what the Tigers did for Miggy and decide that paying him absorbant amounts in his 40s is a sign of good faith for the huge value they reaped from him in his earlier years.
It’s time to send this clown packing. How many other times have you been in the playoffs.
and how did he perform when he was there? I seem to remember a bat toss that showed the playoffs were not that big a deal…
Remember that time everyone said the Royals couldn’t beat the Angels cause they scored the most runs in the regular season? Then they couldn’t beat the O’s because they hit the most HR’s….Then a year later they couldn’t beat Toronto because they were just “too good”……That’s the same team that won the World Series. Some people handle things with class and then there’s the Blue Jays…..AND THEIR FANS among other things. People easily forget how the fans were encouraged to throw stuff on the field by the players…..STAY CLASSY TORONTO!!!!!
You may not realize this but not ALL Blue Jays fans are like the few that were at Rogers Centre for that ONE game. I am a Blue Jays fan through thick and thin and cheer with all my heart no matter if they win or lose BUT I will not be one that would throw things on the field.
Please don’t lump all of us as fans that would demonstrate that kind of behavior because most of us just will not do that!!
I say trade him now to the NL while he still can play a half decent right field.
Sign EE anglers move on.
As much as I like the Jays and Bautista as a player I think you look to trade him, he has been declining in certain areas of his game and wants to much money, I really think a trade to nationals for a package surrounding lucas giolito would make a lot of sense for both clubs, probably be alot of players involved, I think the failed Jay Bruce trade shows this is Bautistas last season so they should move on now
Does that include Stroman? Otherwise you’re as crazy as Bautista
That’s nice, now wake up.
It is time to move on. It is time for him to go. Might be a good time to send to the NL while he is still better than most of the right fielders. Sign EE and let’s move on.
Bautista’s just looking for an excuse to bat flip his pen into the stratosphere.
Lol one bat flip and he’s lost his mind
Sounds like Joeybatsh*tcrazy is a more appropriate nickname.
Surprising to read this. He comes across as a very humble guy ( especially with his bat-flip nonsense! ).
Remember that he was playing with a bad shoulder for a large chunk of the year as well and the numbers become a bit more impressive… As for wanting him- with his fiery competitive style you love him or hate him. He is a leader in the clubhouse and a great role model. 30 million worth unlikely and he knows it. He is, by all accounts, aware of his value (and also his legacy in Toronto ), he will not be so out of it that creates a sideshow by being unreasonable.
this smells like management trying to get the fans on their side by saying the player is unreasonable. Bautista has them by the balls as they will look like they are giving up if they don’t sign him…
Yep. Perfect role model. Encourage fans to throw trash onto the field because the baby wants to cry……Everyone should look up to a hero like that *eye roll*
He’s delusional if he thinks he’s going to get that kind of money. Or maybe he’s hoping some sucker of a team will be willing to meet his demands.
Jorge Soler for Joey Bats – who says no first? Bats the much better player this year – but 5 yrs 22MM of Soler and his potential helps the Jays keep EE without crippling the team this year – and if Soler reaches potential they win trade big.. Cubs lineup would be crazy scary this year and then next year Almora takes CF and Heyward goes back to right.. Plus cubs get comp pick when they let him go.
not bad
Just one glitch…..Soler isn’t quite that cheap. He has a clause in his contract that says he can opt-out of his contract and be arbitration eligible once he has 3 years of service. That should happen after 2017….he’ll still be under team control, but his annual salary will rise (if he produces)
For a deal like that, there better be a mandatory HGH/PED clause that says he HAS to take them and not get caught!
Because seriously, after the article today saying Pujols has the worst geezer contract in MLB, Bautista’s demand makes Pujols contract look slightly reasonable if you’re looking to over pay for a 40 year old player who will almost definitely not actually play that year.
Angels picked Pujols up knowing about his injury prone body. Joey bats is in better shape and can still run down to first, not walk or give up. Shoulder issues can be worked out if he’s just DH’ing, foot problems not so much. Crud, I’m sticking up for the dbag now hahaha
Im not sure I buy into what this article is selling. Bautista publicly denies an outrageous contract demand as an unfounded rumor..because his ACTUAL demand is even higher? I wonder if the media simply has this one wrong.
If this is true he’s going to hamstring the Jay’s if they bite. No way they can field a contending team when they have all that money wrapped up in him.
Wow a bunch of people are buying into media and team propaganda here. I’m not saying he hasn’t asked for the moon but there are three entities in this game all with an agenda.
If Jose were only 5 years younger right now with the last 5 years production still. What comes along quickly prob will go away just as quickly. At 35, his body is just waiting to fall apart on him.. Might be worth the money for 2 years more but no way 5 yrs plus at his age now. Think I heard that in a song once……oh yeah Can hear Steven Tyler now “Dream On Dream On Dream On Dream until your dream comes true…….”
Maybe he means $30 million Canadian or $20US
Bautista has shown over the years to be a selfish player. This shouldn’t come as a surprise. It’s disappointing in a year where the team has a great shot at winning it all, he comes out of the gate and puts himself before the team, however, I’m not surprised. His abuse of umpires, wether right or wrong, is selfish and sets his team up with said umps, not only that, his teammates have to defend him and his actions to the media. There have even been times where Jose seems jealous when other teammates get the attention. For him to insinuate he was responsible for Rogers share prices or the Blue Jays success, they had one good year last year, that’s it! and that was more due to Tulo, Price, Revere, Lowe, etc trades, the Jays were a .500 team before that. This guy is out of his mind, and I sincerely hope, as a dedicated Jays fan that he waves his 10 and 5 rights, and they trade him. Yes I enjoyed the game 5 home run last year, I’ve watched it a bunch of times, but there were many memorable moments from that run last year, and it involved pretty much all 25 guys, plus.
Were one of the biggest threats to win the world series, why would we trade one of the most complete hitters in the league. And just because he wears his heart on his sleeve doesnt mean he is selfish
Calm down, The Jays will not trade him now. If, by chance things fall apart by July, Then you can see them looking to trade him. Think about it. Edwin Encarnacion is how old now? Russell Martin is how old now and is a catcher no less? We are talking about current star players who are on borrowed time due to their ages. If you are a good baseball GM and owner, you do not sign these guys to contracts into their 40’s. Martin’s contract will be hurting the club sooner than later. This is coming from a Pirates fan who loved Martin but was glad the Buccos did not spend the money that the Jay’s did. If Bautista insists on the huge money, they will either let him play out the year if they are contending or trade him if they are not come the deadline if he waives his rights (he will if they will trade him to a team that is contending) You have to look at the business end of the game as well as last years stats.
They wouldn’t be doing their jobs (jays management), if some other team stepped up and offered a boatload for him, I’d trade him, yup. He’s not as big to the team as he thinks he is, at present, he’s probably the worst defender on the team, and hits .250, never puts the ball in play or tries to go the other way with two outs ( a la Josh Donaldson). Besides, if he’s gone next year anyways, might as well try and win without him now, get some good assets in return, sign Edwin, carry on.
Lmao JoeY Bats is not an “all around Complete hitter” get real.
The Jays will start the year with him and try to make a run this year with him since that’s the best thing to do right now. If it gets near the deadline and it doesn’t look like they’ve got enough; or if they get an offer they can’t refuse; he’ll be the first piece they deal away. As far as his 10/5 rights go, he’d be crazy not to waive them. He’s guaranteed to be extended a QO by the Jays and can’t be if he’s traded. If he’s looking to get the biggest contract he can get he doesn’t want that dragging down his value at all, so he’ll be all for a trade.
Slow you’re roll, big fella. You’re Joey Bats, not Joey Bonds.
*your roll
Bautista good player at moment but not worth 30 mil into his 40’s if he sticking at 30 mil per think this be last season in Tdot :/ I wouldn’t pay that hope EE not askn anything close to that. Jays put up like 130 more runs then next team so think they culd get by if they can sign one em mayb
El-oh-el
Now that’s funny!
He’s worth it. It’s established market value. If you don’t like don’t be mad at Bautista. Get upset at whoever offered Ryan Howard and Pujols their contracts. He’s asking for what he deserves given what other player have received. Would any of you do the same work as someone if you were getting paid less than that person. Most likely not. That being said, I hope he is not Blue Jay next season. Jays have a lot of work to do after this season.
That is not established market value. Those kinds of contracts are among the exceptions, not the rule, plus they were given to players who were quite a bit younger than Bautista will be.
Well those “exceptions” became the rule. Bautista is younger than those guys and performing better.
*younger but approx. the same age
Shhhh. The intelligentsia on here won’t like that. It’s true, but they won’t like it. Bautista was worth $115.4 in value over the past 3 seasons. That is $38.3 million per season. If you only take the past 2 seasons its $83.9 million or $41.95 million per season. Typical decline at his age is 7% per season.
$30M a year from ages 36-40?! Yeah, good luck with that! That’s an even worse idea than the heavily backloaded deal the Angels gave Pujols! Of course, it only takes one GM to actually be desperate enough to give it to him, but I sure hope there aren’t any GMs stupid enough to do it.
Bautista has denied asking for any amount near what Westhead reported. So why do we believe a LEAK instead of the player. The guy that initially reported it is a putz and lost his job because of it. Now he is reporting on baseball? OK.
Bautista probably asked for a deal with 2016 being renegotiated. A 5 or 6-year deal starting in 2016 for something close $25 million AAV. A good deal for both sides in other words.
He was certainly worth far more than that the past few years. At an average of 5 fWAR per season he was worth in excess of $115.4 million for those 3 seasons according to Fangraphs. An AAV of $38.3 million. If you use Baseball Reference he was worth $118.6 million. I will use Fangraphs since its lower.
Let’s take into account the MLB average of a 7% decline in performance and value per season for ages 35 to 38. So in 2016 he is only worth $35.65 million. In 2017 he is only worth $33.15 million. In 2018 he is only worth $30.833 million. Let’s say that at age 38 and 39 he declines 20% each season, even though it’s only a little over 10%, lets put it at 20% to make the Dave Cameron’s of the world happy. So 2019 he is worth $24.66 million and in 2020 he is worth $19.73 million.
From 2016 to 2020 that is a total value of $144.02 million at today’s rates. That is assuming that the revenue of the teams and the salaries of players doesn’t go up each year, even though we know it will. So a contract at 5 years and $150 million is just a little more than the value we calculated to show he is absolutely worth. Add in inflation and both are getting an incredible deal at 5 years and $125 million. Put that on the table today and you probably have an extension done.
@Pads Fans
You make many cogent points, especially about Weshead.
But even so, there is one factor you are leaving out:: In his next contract, Bautista will be primarily a DH. No team will give José a five-year contract at top-of-the-market rates for a position player. .To get Bautista’s age 36-40 production, most teams would rather sign an old, professional hitter, DH type at a much lower — though still startling — price (see V-Mart, Cruz and Ortiz contracts).
Your analysis is correct ONLY if José is the sole option on the board. But Edwin Encarnacion exists, is younger, and has much more natural power with a short swing. Edwin could be the next Ortiz.
I don’t know why anyone would believe this salary rumour. There isn’t a single good contract at that AAV for someone that age. No way José presents such absurd numbers unless he indeed were negotiating, and his real number is more like the projections we’ve seen.
Remember, Arte Moreno is NOT the owner of the Blue Jays.