Jose Bautista Demanding 5-Year, $150 Million Deal, Says Price Is “Non-Negotiable”

Chris Okrainetz and Ryan Greco sink their teeth into the recent Toronto Blue Jays news, specifically the Jose Bautista contract situation and his comments (1:51).

“I didn’t want to waste their time or their effort, so they can start planning ahead, and if it’s not going to happen, they have plenty of time to [respond]”. Often times in baseball, massive contracts are given to players based on their past accomplishments, with the understanding that the team will likely have to swallow large amounts of money for little production in the last few years of the deal.

Saunders, who missed all but nine games last season with a lingering left knee injury, participated in workouts Tuesday.

Atkins said he had spoken with Saunders about the ordeal personally. “I think he wants to spend his entire career in Cincinnati out of loyalty to (owner) Bob Castellini”.

“The reality for me is I’m really more focused on this year”, Dombrowski said. I’m here for you. “Is there anything I can do for you?’ And he was fine”. Apparently Jose Bautista did not get that memo.

Bautista, who is entering the final year of his contract, confirmed that the Blue Jays approached him two weeks ago and asked how they would be able to keep hold of him.

He didn’t disclose the dollars or term he was seeking.

To that end, he’s been experimenting with moving from a toe-tap to a leg kick as the trigger for his swing, a product of his regular discussions about hitting with Josh Donaldson and Jose Bautista.

As Astros second baseman Jose Altuve said: “It’s an honor playing next to him”.

Pitchers and catchers report to spring training sites in Florida and Arizona this week, which means the Major League Baseball season and Canada’s love affair with the Blue Jays resumes after a four-month hiatus. “But in relation to the negotiation, out of respect for him, and out of respect for the Blue Jays’ organization, we just can’t get into specifics about it”. Bautista believes that he has the same value to the Blue Jays as Cabrera has for the Tigers, thus his harsh attitude towards his new contract proposals. “There’s a little bit of a leg kick in there, but some of the stuff I do up top is real similar”. “There’s nothing we can say”.

Even prior to getting a reaction from the Jays’ most important player, a club source had quietly suggested that the real number was even higher.

Bautista is earning $14 million this year after the Blue Jays exercised the 2016 option in the outfielder’s current deal, and he can become a free agent after the World Series. First of all, he is in great condition and still highly productive, having hit 75 home runs the last two seasons, not including his dramatic go-ahead home run in the ALDS to help beat the Rangers. The veteran slugger will turn 36 next offseason yet refuses to negotiate his asking price which today came out to a whopping $150 million over five years.