One would think that the Red Sox have learned their lesson over the years in grabbing the biggest, sexiest names on the MLB free agent / trade market. Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford famously flamed out in Boston and last year’s big fish, David Price, was less than stellar with the Sox this past season. That said, the Sox are interested in Jose Bautista.
“Bautista’s people met for a long time with a Red Sox executive,” MLB writer Jon Heyman wrote this week on FanRagSports.com. “It’s known that Bautista’s ability to pull and take advantage of the Green Monster came up.” Bautista hit 22 home runs in 116 games played in 2016 with the Blue Jays and belted 40 dingers in 153 games played in 2015. With the Red Sox looking for a DH for the first time in over a decade, Ortiz would seem like a good fit with the Sox. But the giants whiffs of hot stove seasons’ past still sting in the Hub, and Bautista is now 36-years-old. It’s highly unlikely the Red Sox would get in a bidding war with other teams over the Dominican slugger. Mets
The New York Times’ James Wagner wrote this week, “Unclear on the interest level, but one free agent right-handed-hitting outfielder the Mets have at least inquired about: Jose Bautista.”
Bautista’s stock will rise or fall depending on what happens with Yoenis Cespedes. The good money here says that Cespedes will re-sign in New York as both sides want to make a deal. It also seems like Bautista would want to stay in the American League so that he can DH. No chance New York ponies up the cash for both Bautista and Cespedes.
Red Sox, Mets looking at Jose Bautista in MLB free agency
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