Jose Bautista’s asking price in an extension has been a source of controversy, and MLB Network’s Peter Gammons echoes reports indicating that Bautista sought a six-year contract in asking for a new deal with the Blue Jays. Gammons spoke to Bautista about his rigid training and diet routine, exploring his ability to defy aging curves thanks to acute physiological self-awareness and in-depth study of said aging metrics. “I am preparing to defy those aging curves by my strict adherence to physical, mental and nutritional routines,” Bautista explained in discussing his desire to play into his 40s. “When I missed time (at 31) with hip problems, I changed everything. I studied, I learned about my body, and how to keep it at peak performance levels, and how to maintain it. … It is about discipline and diet and strive for physical and mental states that defy aging. I love a good steak; I cannot eat red meat. There are a lot of things I love, but I cannot be who and what I want to be and eat and drink them.” As Gammons writes, Jays president Mark Shapiro is somewhat cut from the same cloth — seeking to instill that awareness of conditioning and physiological intellect throughout the organization.
A few more notes from around the American League…
- Terry Francona’s proficiency in managing platoons will be tested early in the regular season, writes MLB.com’s Anthony Castrovince, as the Indians attempt to make due with a patchwork outfield mix while Michael Brantley recovers from shoulder surgery. With Abraham Almonte suspended, Cleveland could lean on a combination of Rajai Davis, Collin Cowgill, Lonnie Chisenhall, Joey Butler, Will Venable, Robbie Grossman, Shane Robinson, Michael Choice and prospects Tyler Naquin and James Ramsey — there will be no Austin Jackson signing or Jay Bruce trade, Castrovince reaffirms — none of whom necessarily profiles as an everyday option.
- Tim Britton of the Providence Journal chronicles a foot injury suffered by Craig Kimbrel at 18 years of age that helped transform him add more than 10 miles per hour to his formerly unimposing fastball. Kimbrel dropped 12 panels of sheet rock on his left foot while working with his father, an electrician, thus resulting in nearly a semester wearing a cast. During that time, his coach at Wallace State Community College began a unique throwing program to build arm strength in Kimbrel, which involved him throwing from both knees. Kimbrel and coach Randy Putman both explained to Britton that the program isn’t for everyone, and Kimbrel’s flexibility and athleticism made him uniquely suited for the unorthodox exercises. When healthy enough to pitch, Kimbrel’s stamina was also impacted by missed time with the foot injury, thus prompting a move to the bullpen — a role in which he has excelled ever since.
- Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com and Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register each profiled the nearly unfathomable route that Daniel Nava took to the Major Leagues in a pair of columns this week. Angels fans that are unfamiliar with their new left fielder’s obstacle-ridden road to the big leagues will want to explore the 33-year-old’s journey from equipment manager of his college club to indy ball player that was signed by the Red Sox for one dollar to 27-year-old rookie that turned the first Major League pitch that he saw into a grand slam. Gonzalez notes, in fact, that Hollywood producers have contacted Nava to inquire about making a movie out of his journey, though the new Angels outfielder says he has no intention of entertaining any such inquiry while his career is still going.
- The Mariners will likely send recently signed Cuban center fielder Guillermo Heredia to Class-A Advanced or Double-A to begin his professional career in the U.S., writes MLB.com’s Greg Johns. As Johns points out, Heredia hasn’t played in a game since 2014 due to the lengthy nature of his defection from Cuba, so the club is prepared for some rust that will need to be shaken off. Heredia spoke, through an interpreter, about his excitement for the opportunity to take the next step in his pro career and also explained that the presence of countryman Leonys Martin (who, not coincidentally, shares an adjacent locker) will help to ease his transition. Heredia has known Martin since the two were both in Cuba, and he’s already begun soliciting Martin for advice as he works toward a big league career.
Ah yes, Jose Bautista’s statement made me think about the Elixir of Life again, so much thanks.
Also, who doesn’t love a good steak? I’m pretty sure most of us here love a good steak.
I am pretty sure none of us here will make $100MM over the next 4 years either.
Neither will Bautista.
But he will over the next 5 or 6. Gammons said that Bautista never asked for $150 million, but he did ask for an extension that included this year.
Not many of us would deny ourselves eating one just to stay healthy.
Bautista is the only player in recent memory that I can recall a major league broadcaster out and put accuse of using peds on air.
It is kind of cute he thinks he is the only players who has ever taken these measures to try to age with grace, not saying it can’t work but guys like Hunter are the exception not the rule
If he wants to keep his power into his 40s, he should call Barry Bonds. I don’t know what his secret was, but he might know a guy…
I’m absolutely sure that tons of players do the same thing; I think Bautista is trying his best to create a positive spin on things by publicly announcing how he plans to stay in top shape for another 5 years.
Probably won’t work though.
Can’t stop the decline of bat speed.
I remember that grand slam well, thinking at the time baseball is just scripted by some Hollywood writer. Wish him well.
Good luck to Bautista getting a 6 yr deal. Its not happening. Hopefully he took out a nice insurance policy in the event he gets injured this year. Even young guys get hurt.
I don’t think he watched this offseason very well.
Proper diet, correct exercise, and proper maintenance DURING the season can definitely give Bautista the ability to push himself into his early 40s. The man is intelligent enough to figure it out and make it happen.
That being said, father time is creeping around the corner. I applaud him for believing in himself and his ability to assess his value at 6 years. Unfortunately, that will price him right out of the game.
Don’t see anything better than 4 years at 100MM. Even that is high for someone his age. It really is a shame he didn’t break out until late 2009. Had he done this earlier in his career, who knows what kind of numbers he would have put up and how much money he could have made.
IF he has another Bautista-esque year, im calling 4/82MM.
That’s so many players though. The flipside is a Mike Trout. Easy to project him as HOFer…but injuries happen. Brad Komminsk? Matt Nokes. Actually Eric Davis is a good case. If you go back and watch some old Reds broadcasts on game of the week….Scully and Garagiola rave over him just like Trout and Harper today.
Andruw Jones was on pace for all kinds of records. Stuff happens.
Good example. Sometimes we view the age 26-31 window as prime…but some players hit that earlier and peak. The bat slows a touch and that’s it. Will Clark was a little like that. His early SF years he had that sweet swing and looked like a lock for 3,000 hits and a .300 career avg. Didn’t happen…he was still valuable…but the prime came up front.
I’d like to explore the Halo logic in their current roster. Other than Trout and Richards… Just dreadful. Plain awful.
I applaud him for having the discipline and the drive to want to succeed into his 40’s, but it’s too much to expect a team to commit to that ride with you when history says it won’t happen. Asking for 6-years is quite unreasonable at his age, regardless of conditioning or drive. No one can completely stop time.
It’s fully possible and happens that a 18-19 year old juco player adds 10mph. Those guys are also physically maturing…and in his case he moved to the pen where he could max effort. Saved a lot of guys…Wade Davis etc
Upon first glance of his hat I thought it was a glowing middle finger…
Hopefully Nava continues the amazing journey and does a great job for the Angels.