Blue Jays in ‘active’ talks with Jose Bautista

The latest has him and the Blue Jays in “active” contract talks.

As of last week the Blue Jays had not made Bautista a formal contract offer, and it’s unclear if that is still the case. The Blue Jays and Bautista are talking and that’s most important.

All things considered, Bautista re-signing with the Blue Jays is best for both parties. The Blue Jays, meanwhile, would retain his power bat and improve a weak outfield unit that currently includes Kevin Pillar, Melvin Upton, and Ezequiel Carrera.

Will Jose Bautista end up back with the Blue Jays? USATSI

If a deal gets done — and just to be clear, a reunion between Bautista and the Blue Jays is not imminent as far as we know — Toronto’s lineup could look something like this:

2B Devon Travis
3B Josh Donaldson
RF Jose Bautista
DH Kendrys Morales
SS Troy Tulowitzki
C Russell Martin
1B Justin Smoak/Steve Pearce
LF Melvin Upton/Ezequiel Carrera
CF Kevin Pillar

That lineup is very right-handed heavy — Morales and Smoak are switch-hitters, and Carrera is a lefty, otherwise it’s all righties — but guys like Donaldson and Bautista and Tulowitzki are productive against all types of pitching, so it shouldn’t be a huge problem.

The Blue Jays won’t have to surrender a first-round pick to re-sign Bautista, which is part of the reason why this makes sense.