Jose Bautista isn’t leaving the Great White North anytime soon…
The 36-year-old Dominican professional baseball player and the Toronto Blue Jays have reportedly agreed to a one-year deal worth US$18 million.
The contract reportedly includes two mutual option years that if exercised, could make the deal worth $60 million.
Neither the team nor Bautista’s agent Jay Alou would comment on the reports. Some of Bautista’s teammates didn’t wait for a formal announcement, which won’t come before Bautista successfully completes a physical, to celebrate his return on Twitter.
Bautista, a six-time All-Star, hit 22 homers and had 69 RBIs last year, but injuries limited him to just 116 games. He signed a US$65-million, five-year deal in 2011 and the Blue Jays picked up a $14-million team option last season.
Bautista rejected the team’s $17.2-million qualifying offer last fall, which ensured Toronto would receive compensation if he signed elsewhere as a free agent.
In the end, it appears both sides have circled back in what could be a good deal for all involved.