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Baltimore Orioles Rumors: Jose Bautista and Orioles a potential match?

By Christopher Church

Oct 4, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Jose Bautista (19) rounds third base after hitting a solo home run during the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles in the American League wild card playoff baseball game at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 4, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Jose Bautista (19) rounds third base after hitting a solo home run during the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles in the American League wild card playoff baseball game at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Baltimore Orioles included in reports as a possible fit for 36-year-old outfielder Jose Bautista.

The Baltimore Orioles are said to have an interest in free-agent outfielder Jose Bautista. According to Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe, the Baltimore Orioles are one of seven teams on the radar for Bautista. Other teams include the Boston Red Sox, Texas Rangers, Houston Astros, St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco Giants, and Atlanta Braves.

Likely a surprise to many, Bautista signing with the Baltimore Orioles would shock many Baltimore fans after playing eight years with division rival Toronto Blue Jays. Bautista and the Orioles have years of bad blood and hard feelings including a heated exchange between Bautista and Adam Jones during the 2015 season. Tempers flared when Bautista hit a home run then proceeded to stand and admire his home run. The following inning, Jones, and Bautista got in a heated exchange, leaving many Orioles unsettled.

Prior to Bautista becoming an All-Star player for Toronto, he spent a short time with the Orioles in 2004 as a Rule 5 draftee. The rookie played just 16 games with the Orioles including three hits in 12 plate appearances before leaving the Orioles after the Tampa Bay Rays snatched him on a waiver claim.

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The Orioles made it clear at the start of the offseason that adding depth to their outfield is a priority. Despite the hostility with the Orioles, Bautista would provide an upgrade to the Orioles outfield, especially with Mark Trumbo slipping away from the team.

Bautista is coming off a 2016 season where he made multiple trips to the disabled list. In the first half of the season, Bautista missed 30 games after enduring a turf toe injury. Then again in August, an MRI revealed a Grade 1 sprain of his left knee.

On August 25, Bautista returned to the field after missing 12 games. From his return to the end the season, Bautista hit seven home runs with 21 RBIs, 37 strikeouts, and 32 hits in 130 at-bats. Bautista also hit a home against the Orioles loss in the American League wild-card game.

Next: Orioles Continue to Talk Trumbo

With Trumbo likely not returning to the Orioles next year and Steve Pearce signing with Toronto, the Orioles now have just three outfielders on their current depth chart. Current Orioles outfielders include Hyun Soo Kim, who only played against right-handed pitchers, Joey Rickard who played just 85 games last season, and five-time All-Star Adam Jones.

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