Baltimore Orioles reportedly in contact with outfielder Jose Bautista
By Ben Palmer
The Baltimore Orioles have reportedly been in contact with outfielder Jose Bautista’s camp this offseason, despite GM Dan Duquette saying during the Winter Meetings that the Orioles would not be interested in him.
The Baltimore Orioles are still looking for an outfielder, whether it be Mark Trumbo or a Mark Trumbo replacement, and that search has apparently lead them to an unlikely place: Jose Bautista.
Earlier in the offseason, during the Winter Meetings, Baltimore Orioles GM Dan Duquette stated that the team wouldn’t sign Bautista for one simple reason: the fans just don’t like him.
Despite that though, it appears that the Orioles are inquiring into Jose Bautista, as they’ve reportedly been in contact with his camp this offseason, according to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi.
More from Baltimore Orioles
- What other Baltimore Orioles Offseason Storylines will you be interested in seeing?
- Baltimore Orioles to Face Numerous Playoff Contenders Down the Stretch
- Baltimore Orioles Showing Encouraging Signs During Recent Wins
- The Baltimore Orioles and the Expanded September Roster
- Orioles Josh Rogers Expectations in his Major League Debut
Earlier this offseason, we wrote why we thought that Jose Bautista would be a good fit for the Orioles. Now that he’s sat in free agency for even longer, it might make even more sense for the Orioles to go after him, as he could be had for a bargain.
Duquette has a history of waiting out the free agent market, and this is exactly why. When you wait, you can get a good player for cheap, and Bautista would fill a need for the Orioles, and he’d be inexpensive. The only hurdle would be the fans, who would likely be less than enthused about Bautista coming to Baltimore.
However, if you can look past the history Bautista has with the Orioles, he seems to make sense for the team. First and foremost, the man gets on base, as he’s had an OBP of .366 or better each season since 2014.
He’s also still a great power hitter, even at 36 years old. Last year was a down year for Bautista, as he hit .234/.366/.452 with 22 HRs, 68 R, and 68 RBIs, but even that is a useful stat line. Plus, there’s plenty of reason to suggest that he’ll be better next season as he was hurt for a lot of last season.
Next: Who is the Orioles most important upcoming free agent?
Bautista fills a lot of needs that the Orioles have, and if the fans can get past the hate they have for the guy, he could be extremely useful for the team, and could fill the void that Trumbo has left for a lot less money. It’s worth a serious thought.