TORONTO (AP) Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins says ownership got involved in the re-signing of veteran Jose Bautista.
Atkins says the desire of Edward Rogers, the controlling shareholder of Rogers Communication, to help was ”abundantly clear.” He says Thursday that thanks to Rogers, they don’t have to rebuild.
The free agent slugger looked like he might sign elsewhere but agreed to an $18.5 million, one-year contract this week that includes mutual options for more years.
A longtime fan favorite, Bautista hit 22 homers with 69 RBIs last year while batting .234 in an injury-slowed season.
The Blue Jays’ failure this offseason to re-sign fan favorite Edwin Encarnacion didn’t go over well in Toronto.
Atkins says Bautista can become the player who hit 40 homers in 2015.
Add A Comment