The Blue Jays will attempt to hammer out new contracts with pending free agents Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion, ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark reports. Toronto intends to engage with those stars’ representatives this spring, per the report.
As has previously been reported, Jays president Mark Shapiro and GM Ross Atkins have sat down with both sluggers already this winter, though Atkins made clear to Stark that the meetings didn’t involve contract negotiations. But those chats did solidify the team’s view that it would “love to have both of them” remain in Toronto past the 2016 campaign, as Atkins put it.
“And the more we’ve learned about them, that has only increased our interest in keeping them here,” Atkins went on to say. “The challenge lies in placing a value on that and then agreeing on a contract.”
Of course, as that last line suggests, finding common ground still appears to pose a significant challenge. While both players paid off — and then some — under their prior extensions, there as many reasons for hesitation now as when they first inked big deals.
Though both players are now well entrenched among the game’s best power hitters, age is a major consideration. Bautista is already 35, while Encarnacion just hit 33. And defensive limitations also come into play. The former has begun to draw negative metrics in the outfield, while the latter is more or less limited to first base or DH duties at this point.
As MLBTR’s Mark Polishuk recently wrote in evaluating Bautista’s extension candidacy, those considerations would seem to make it unlikely that long-term commitments would be made to both players. Exactly how that will play into the way the Jays approach talks — for instance, whether one or the other is prioritized, or whether Toronto pursues each independently but only to a certain cost point — remains to be seen.
It does appear that Bautista, at least, is ready to engage in talks. He has spoken glowingly of the organization and indicated he’d like to finish his career there. Of course, as Ken Rosenthal discussed with Ben Nicholson-Smith and Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca on a recent podcast, it is hard to see the veteran taking a truly significant discount with free agency beckoning.
You’d be hard pressed to find a better middle of the order duo that’s stayed together and been so consistently productive. Dating back to 2010, their first full season together, Bautista has slashed .268/.390/.555 and contributed 227 home runs. Encarnacion, meanwhile, has carried a .271/.358/.525 line with 189 long balls, with his output only increasing over that span.
What would it take to make deals happen I wonder? Would Bautista accept 3/72 since it seems like he wants to finish his career as a Blue Jay?
I’d expect him to get a 4 year deal with a club option or two thrown in there with decent buyouts. No chance he doesn’t destroy Victor Martinez’s highest guaranteed deal signed for a 36+ year old last season.
I see him getting 4 years at $85-90 with a club option or two priced at something like $14M each.
Bautista might get a four year deal roughly around 90$ as for encarnacion I see him getting a 5-6 year deal maybe over 100$, then they still need to pay donaldson and if stroman stays healthy and pitches well he will also be in line for a big pay day. Pillar will probably want a raise to soon if he keeps playing the way he did last season so Toronto will have a lot to spend on in the future
Not sure why you’re mentioning Pillar who’s not arb eligible for a while. Even if he was eligible defense only players who are below average offensively don’t get paid much, look at Peter Bourjos.
Pillar had a 5.2 WAR – he is more than defense only. He has always been able to hit; just this year got noticed for his defense.
Of the two I would take Jose over Eddie. But not by much.
If they are able keep one it will probably be Bautista because of contract length and overall commitment. He wants to retire there and is close enough for them to possibly afford it.
Joeybats is starting to decline in the outfield, ee cant play 1b everyday or he pulls something and goes on the dl… Only option in my opinion is to keep one or the other… Not both.
As a jaysfan, my guess is they’ll give one player a respectful contract, while trying to get a bigger discount on the other. Joeybats can switch to 1b/dh if ee is gone.. I just dont see the jays forking enough cash to satisfy both.. Theyll want one on a big discount.
Its tough, but when u have tulo, donaldson, pillar’s ever increase eligibility, money is going to be tight. I hope they do keep both tho!
If the Jays could manage to sign both Bautista and EE to 4 year deals that totaled less money than what Chris Davis just received I’d be thrilled.
Holy crap, are my fellow commenters insane? The PED era is over; you don’t give long, rich contracts to mid-30s guys! And not to two of them, when they will both be relegated to DH (and maybe some 1B).
Offer each a fat but short two-year deal to be the DH. First one to bite gets the deal, the other gets a rich one-year offer. Hang qualifying offers over the heads of both. If they take the deals, great; if they balk, then you get draft picks or they accept the QO for one year at $16M.
I love both these guys but you can’t strangle your budget for sentiment. My plan is a win-win for the team, and so for the fans.
Only caveat with Jose – he is a low mileage mid 30’s – he is also in great shape. Agree that a long term contract should not be on the table
Obviously age is a concern, but Bautista takes his conditioning very seriously, so if there’s anyone who can remain productive into his late 30’s, it’s him. EE on the other hand just turned 33, so there’s no reason he can’t also remain an elite hitter for a few more years. They will get at least 3-year deals; if not from the Jays, then from someone else in FA. You don’t get elite hitters on 1 or 2-year deals just because they’re in their 30’s.
I wonder how those numbers compare to Albert Pujols and Jim Edmonds circa 2001-2006.
Joey bats and EE should both get signed. Once Joey starts to really slow down in the field flip him over to everyday first base and have EE solely DH and the occasional day off for Bats. They are really good friends friends both from the Dominican, they should both end their careers here in Toronto.
What about trading EE and going after Votto?Clearly Cincinnati isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
I remember when people doubted EE when he was with the reds and beginning with jays
look at him now and he has a left in the tank
Long term deal for Bautista would be a mistake.