Discussions between the Blue Jays and slugger Jose Bautista are heating up, according to reports on Monday morning.
Respected MLB reporter Ken Rosenthal tweeted on Monday morning that, according to sources, the Jays and Bautista, a free agent, are in talks over a two-year deal in the $35-million to $40-million range.
The Jays extended a $17.2-million qualifying offer to Bautista late last year, but there had been little in the way of negotiating as fellow slugger Edwin Encarnacion also hit the free-agent market, ultimately signing with the Cleveland Indians.
Bautista would provide an immediate boost to the Jays roster, which has transformed over the off-season with the signings of Kendrys Morales and Steve Pearce and the departure of Encarnacion.