glory

He would be free of any draft pick compensation if he was traded mid-season, so I don't think he would mind.

Yeah, at least the fan base knows this will be his last season in Toronto so far in advance that they can prepare for it.

So on top of making this a story/distraction in February when all he had to do was keep quiet, he also is apparently asking for one of the biggest contracts in history from an AAV standpoint. He was also so vague about the details of the 'take it or leave it' contract, that he tried to make his employer look bad/cheap in the process to a fan base that is already largely against the ownership group. Now this s*** comes out, which might just be Rogers retaliating by making Bautista look like a delusional star valuing money over team/loyalty/whatever, but now Rosenthal is confirming it (I trust him more than any other reporter). You know how this could have been avoided? Do what Ross Atkins did when he took to the media yesterday. Say nothing. Keep it in house. That would have upset one of the posters here (forgot his username) who wants all private matters to be discussed freely in public, but in reality, no one would have been talking about this if Bautista just said "I'm not going to talk about this so stop asking", or something along those lines. On top of that, with his 10/5 rights, he can't be traded unless he approves, and the Jays don't benefit by trading him unless they get someone who can help their 2016 window, plus provide value beyond 2016. The only guy like that I can think of is Puig if the Dodgers were willing to sell low on account of his high douche bag credentials, but trading Bats for prospects would kill off a season that is there for the taking while not guaranteeing anything beyond 2016 either. Oh well. Hope for the best in 2016, wish Bautista well on his future club in 2017, and move on.

I don't see any upside at all for paying Bautista $25-30M a year from 36 to 40. You'd be paying for his decline, and any goodwill the org would get for keeping one of their stars and having him retire as a Jay will be long forgotten when he's a 1 WAR DH in the final couple of years. Bautista isn't going to defy age. Maybe he will age better than the norm, but he will age. He will decline. He will get more bumps and bruises. That's just what happens to athletes in their late-30's.

Yeah, what he did yesterday was a dick head move right before the start of ST, not to mention unprofessional with him calling out ownership for no reason. Instead of talking about baseball, we are discussing this s***. He had to have done this on purpose, because he seems like a smart guy. Not sure what the motive is, though. If anything, taking shots at Rogers is only going to make them turn the media against him, and it will be a circus all year. Just a stupid, unnecessary move on his part. It's not like the Jays can trade him either since, aside from the 10/5 rights, he presents too much value on their win curve. He'd have to be moved for a comparable talent + have to agree to the swap, one being very unlikely and the other being semi-unlikely. Just have to hope he has a monster year and then take the comp pick.

That's the way I see it. They obviously don't feel 2014-15 is reflective of his talent going forward. In that case, if they feel his bat is fixable, and it won't take much to get him, then that's their reasoning. Potentially a buy low with a team option attached. What it would have cost to get him is the question, and something it looks like we may never find out.

Don't be silly. He'd be the fourth outfielder.

If the hold up is a "B level" prospect, and not Saunders or money, then there's probably a shot.

Yep, and Rogers will now turn the media against Jose. This was very avoidable.

This whole circus is Bautista's doing. If he doesn't make those comments yesterday, no one is even talking about this.

That sounds crazy high, but wouldn't surprise me if the demand is at least 5/125. Bautista wants that bread.

The way you think GM's handle media sessions seems to imply you've never actually seen one.

Valiant speaking on behalf of the bandwagoners.

He is obligated to make those media sessions. He's not obligated to give the media intricate details about failed trades or contract talks.

Sounds like Pentecost but who knows with these vague ass media reports.

Look what Cespedes got. Wouldn't surprise me if Bautista wants 4/100 or 5/125. The AAV he wants is probably going to fall somewhere between $22-25M. It was never meant to be. Jays got him at a bargain for his best years. It will suck to see him play elsewhere but the team he goes to will be paying way more for his declining years. That's the way the Jays have to look at it.

Jays apparently were going to send a prospect in the deal. Without knowing who the prospect was and how much money they were obligated to pick up, it's hard to say whether this is a good or bad thing. I'd rather have Bruce in LF with Pompey in AAA than Pompey in LF and a s*** storm in AAA and Saunders on the DL. But if the Jays were sending a good prospect and/or picking up a large chunk of Bruce's contract, then that's not appealing at all. I guess we will never know. I doubt the trade gets re worked, and if it's Saunders who is the hold up, then I hope it doesn't. Last thing the Jays need is to add prospects or money to make the deal more appealing.

This was my fear when trading Ben Revere. Expecting Saunders to stay healthy was a pipe dream.

Why did the Jays even tender Saunders?

An injury concern for someone involved and it's not Bruce. I'm drawing a blank.

It could be because of the cash involved as well. Maybe the Jays want the difference covered, while the Reds will only pay a portion, or something along those lines. Then again, Buster Trollney isn't exactly the best source for anything baseball related.

Yep. Improves the defense, and Jackson at the very least will stay healthy and provide a 1-2 WAR for a season. That's more than I can say for Saunders, unless his knee has miraculously healed (the fact that he's being shopped probably disproves that theory).

Their drunken conversation of Pillar being a great lead off hitter and Bruce batting 3rd in 2017 was probably worth listening to.

Blair is actually Tweeting that s***, but it's not surprising.

I don't disagree that Bruce could be bad. They obviously disagree, though. As I said, as long as they are not adding payroll or trading anyone other than Saunders, it's a meh trade for me. I would have traded Saunders to the Angels and just signed Jackson, as someone else suggested, to be honest.