The Tampa Bay Rays appear to be ready to replace the power lost in free agency this year. Jon Morosi reported that the Rays are interested in free agent Jose Bautista. Morosi said that “there hasn’t been any substantive dialogue yet.” Toronto declined his 17.9 million dollar option and granted him free agency last week.
The Rays will be looking to replace the power of Lucas Duda and Logan Morrison this off-season, and Bautista could fill that role from the right side of the plate. Bautista hit 23 home runs last year in Toronto and has averaged 32 bombs per 162 games over the course of his career.