Sherman: The Blue Jays Have No Intention of Re-Signing Bautista or Encarnacion Long Term
Until the final out of the Toronto Blue Jays’ 2016 is recorded, the future of Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion will loom over this team like a dark cloud.
While this year’s squad is simply focused on winning this year, the front office is also looking beyond the 2016 season and trying to keep the Blue Jays competitive. One wonders whether that’s possible without the likes of Bautista and Encarnacion on the roster.
Many are pining for the Blue Jays to trade Bautista and Encarancion before the deadline to restock the farm system. Unless the Jays were clearly out of contention, it seems like a counterproductive move to ship off pieces from a team that’s in “win now” mode.
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Not to mention, how much would the Blue Jays really get in return for two months of services from Bautista and Encarnacion. But that doesn’t mean Jose and Edwin will be Blue Jays beyond the 2016 season. This from Joel Sherman’s latest in the NY Post:
The Blue Jays have a powerful lineup even without Bautista (currently on the disabled list), in part because of the emergence of Michael Saunders. They have no intention of signing Bautista or Edwin Encarnacion long term when they are free agents after this season.
Before one questions the validity of this report, as Clint noted to me, Joel Sherman is one of the few writers who reported the Blue Jays’ initial interest in Jose Reyes months before the blockbuster trade with the Marlins.
Sherman seems like someone who’s fairly well-connected within the Blue Jays organization, as he also hinted the Blue Jays were considering a salary dump for Jose Reyes just a few years later.
Will say this #Bluejays loved Reyes but wouldn't do more 5 yrs Well, it's 5-yr pact after '12 & Tor currently trying to move Yunel Escobar
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) July 25, 2012
Joel Sherman seems like someone who’s fairly well-connected within the Blue Jays organization, as he also hinted the Blue Jays were considering a salary dump for Jose Reyes just a few years later.
We’ve heard about the Blue Jays’ unwillingness to re-sign Jose Bautista and Encarnacion before, but never the phrase “no intention” which essentially rules out any possibility of Jose and Edwin coming back.
The operative phrase in Sherman’s article is the Blue Jays are reportedly not interested in re-signing either Bautista or Encarnacion “long term”. A short-term deal for either player isn’t out of the question, but with Bautista reportedly asking for five years and $150 million dollars and Encarnacion looking for a three-year deal, both parties may be going their separate ways.
The season is hardly half over and a lot of things can change between now and season’s end; Jose Bautista’s asking price may suddenly come down, or perhaps the Blue Jays feel their money is better invested into someone like Edwin Encarancion.
But if the Blue Jays’ stance is already a hard “no” to bringing back Bautista or Encarnacion, it’s likely going to take a lot to change their stance on re-signing two of their most prolific sluggers.
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Image via MLB.com
Without them two, Jays won’t be where they have been.
I totally agree with you.
Agreed! (y)
Wow can’t be a sports writer in Toronto I new as soon as they signed Shapiro that these boys would not be back after this season get ready Toronto for another long wait
I see both of them getting traded in separate deals for Prospects.
It’s a shame the Blue Jays have one of the richest owners in MLB but they are cheap and don’t want to spend the money to win. They shouldn’t have to choose who to sign the reality is they have the money to sign both.
If I had to sign just one it would be Edwin he is younger and the Jays could resign him on a three year deal.
The truth is the Jays have a 3-4 year window to win not just in 2016. With the core of the team locked up for the next three to four years.
I agree. Without signing at least Edwin the owners are demonstrating serious shortsightedness. The players on a team like this are human-beings with big hearts and lots of emotion and the fans love them. What is the owner saying to the fans? They are saying, “We don’t care what you guys want, we’ll do what’s best for the bottom-line” Again very shortsighted and they’ll wish later that they showed some respect to their long-term sluggers and their fans.
I also hope the Jays will build a true baseball park like Comerica and other true baseball parks you see around MLB
Not a fan of the Rogers Centre
I agree a total rebuild is coming again and again.lol
It will be a real shame to see Shapiro let both of these players go. I have that bad feeling we are in for years of just a good team and not having someone in there who will make the right deals and moves to win. The jays have one of the biggest and best fan bases in the league, there is no reason the money cannot be spent every year to be competitive and move over the hump and win championships.
Ian, what’s your cutoff between short and long-term? I’d say 3 years for the younger EE (which would keep him here in a core with JD, Martin, and Tulo for those years) doesn’t seem ‘too long.’ I could easily see Edwin back.
Bautista, unfortunately, has turned the corner to ‘too old’. QO and a handshake once someone pays him. Too bad.
3 years for either guy would be my limit, a fourth year only if it’s a club option or vesting option. This year has made it very apparent that Jose is dangerously close to DH’ing full time, and Edwin’s already there.
But I’m afraid someone like the Red Sox will go well beyond a three year deal for Edwin, but maybe Bautista stays if he’s willing to take a few less years.