The hot stove has been quiet this winter regarding free agent Jose Bautista, and it looks like his camp is trying to change that.
The slugger’s agent, Jay Alou, is telling teams at the winter meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., that Bautista has identified the issue that caused him to struggle so mightily this past season, according to Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe.
Bautista, who turned 37 in October, hit 23 home runs for the Toronto Blue Jays this past season, but regressed by several important measures. His batting average (.203), on-base percentage (.308), slugging percentage (.366) and OPS (.674) were the worst he’s produced in any season since 2005.
The Blue Jays declined their end of Bautista’s $17-million mutual option for 2018, rendering him a free agent after an iconic 10-year stint with the team.
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