Jose Bautista

Bautista can cross touring the NL East off his bucket list after spending time with three of the five clubs last season, beginning with the Braves in May. The return-to-third experiment lasted just a dozen games before Bautista and his .593 OPS were released. He quickly signed with the Mets, ostensibly to replace the production missing with Yoenis Cespedes and Jay Bruce on the DL. Bautista started out strong before cooling off, ending his tenure with the Mets registering a .727 OPS. He was dealt to the Phillies on Aug. 28 and finished the year with a flourish, recording a .888 OPS down the stretch. For the season, Bautista slashed .203/.348/.378. It’s not clear if Bautista plans on returning for a 16th season. If he does, he won't warrant fantasy consideration in anything but deep points or OBP leagues.

In an era where age declines have been softer, Bautista appears to be the exception as he's had two straight seasons significantly worse than the previous as evidenced by his three-year OPS trend: .913, .818, .674. Injuries may have been a factor in 2016, but last season, Bautista played in 157 games, setting a career high with 686 plate appearances. Strikeouts and diminished power are the two biggest reasons for the downward trend. His ISOs the last three years: .285, .217, .164. The slip in performance is alarming, especially considering Bautista played half his games in the Rogers Centre, one of the best venues for hitters. Bautista continues to hit an above-average number of flyballs, but in 2017, he checked in with a below-average 11.9 percent HR/FB mark. Flyballs not caught depress BABIP, hence average. While it's possible Bautista's power rebounds even as he leaves Toronto, he's going to be an average sink with low contact and a low BABIP.

Entering 2016, Bautista had averaged 622 plate appearance over his previous three seasons. However, the two-time Hank Aaron Award-winner logged just 517 in last year's injury-plagued campaign that included two DL stints. The timing couldn't have been worse, as Bautista was in a contract year. When the three-time Silver Slugger did play, the results fell way short of what's become expected of him. Bautista posted his second-lowest batting average (.234) since his first full season in 2006 with Pittsburgh. His .818 OPS and 19.9 percent strikeout rate were his worst marks since 2009, his first year in Toronto. Throughout his career, Bautista's power numbers have been significantly better at home, in the hitter-friendly Rogers Centre, than on the road. This important note bodes well for the veteran now that he resigned with the Blue Jays, as he looks to be in line for a prominent role in their potent offense as long as he remains healthy.

Bautista notched his sixth straight 25-homer season and his third career 40-homer season in yet another All-Star campaign for the Blue Jays. He finished with the American League lead in walks and notched his fourth year with at least 100 runs scored and 100 RBI. Since 2010, Bautista is averaging a blistering 45 home runs and 115 RBI per 162 games. Bautista's patience puts him in so many two-strike counts that high strikeout totals will be inevitable — 2015 was his third 100-strikeout season in the past six, and he has hit under .260 in three of the past four seasons — but his power remains peerless. The Blue Jays offense will be loaded again in 2016, and Bautista should only see more pitches to hit and get more chances to drive in runs as a result. One particularly encouraging sign for the 35-year old: he has missed only 16 games in the past two seasons.

Bautista bounced back from two injury plagued seasons in 2014, playing 155 games – his highest total since 2010 – and bolstering his slash line to an elite .286/.403/.524. At 34, it's fair to wonder if his days of reaching the 40-homer plateau are over, but Bautista has hit 35 homers while driving in 100 runs and scoring 100 runs in each of his last three healthy seasons. A closer look at his body of work last season reveals that he may be able to sustain his gains in the batting average department, as departed hitting coach Kevin Seitzer helped Bautista beat the shift with more consistency, pushing his BABIP from .259 in 2013 to .287 last season. The results was the second highest batting average (.286) of his career, which paired with his power and the quality of the lineup around him, give him a fair shot at a fourth 35-100-100 campaign.

After a hip injury cut short his 2013 campaign, Bautista was given a clean bill of health in November. He has missed significant chunks of time in each of the last two seasons, but is still one of the more dangerous hitters in the game. Bautista continues to post excellent strikeout rates for a power hitter, though his consistently low line-drive rate holds down his BABIP and thus, his batting average. There was a bit of a power decline in 2013, as Bautista posted his lowest slugging percentage (.498) since breaking out in 2010. A healthy season might give Bautista a chance to match his 2010-11 level of production, though it seems more likely that he'll settle in as something a bit less than that at the age of 33. Even if he's just the player that we saw in 2012 and 2013, that would still leave Bautista as one of the better power-hitting outfielders in the American League.

Although the final numbers were solid, Bautista had an up and down season in 2012. His power was delayed, as he hit just three home runs in April, and a wrist injury eventually limited his season to 92 games. It's possible that Bautista will never reach his 2011 numbers again, but a good walk rate and a low BABIP (.215) could be signs of a bounce-back season in 2013. The wrist injury is a concern, and he's no longer third-base eligible, but early signs point to Bautista being ready for the start of spring training.

Bautista proved his 54-homer breakout season of 2010 wasn't a fluke by launching 43 homers last season while hitting .302 and leading the AL with a .608 slugging percentage and 132 walks. He did tail off in the second half of the season, hitting just 12 homers and slugging just .477 after the All-Star break, but those numbers came while he struggled with several nagging injuries. His days as a third baseman are over, but the 25 games played there in 2011 likely make him eligible at the position one more season. Bautista should be among the most feared hitters in baseball again this season but would benefit greatly if the supporting cast around him improves.

Bautista closed 2009 with 10 homers in September and October and then exploded in 2010, leading the majors with 54 homers. Toss in a .260 average, 109 runs, 124 RBI, 100 walks and nine steals with eligibility at third base and outfield just for good measure. The scary part is he did most of his damage against right-handed pitchers (1.030 OPS with 46 homers), something he had struggled with throughout his career. Heck, he only hit .240 on balls in play so you can't chalk up his explosion to a lot of luck converging at once. He showed he could make adjustments at the plate as well, hitting .287 with 30 homers in the second half of the season. He likely won't repeat his 2010 again, but this doesn't look like a one-year fluke either. He'll be back as either the team's right fielder or third baseman depending on offseason moves.

Bautista likely played himself into a reserve role with the 2010 Jays after a strong finish to the 2009 season. After slumping horribly from May to September, he finished with a .257/.339/.606 kick in September and October with 10 homers, 21 RBI and 22 runs and probably helped some vigilant waiver-wire owners lock down a title or two. His ability to handle southpaws (.293/.382/.537 last year, .265/.360/.478 in his career) makes for a handy platoon mate for Travis Snider. The departure of Joe Inglett leaves him as the only in-house reserve option for the corner-outfield spots and while the Jays seem intent on playing Edwin Encarnacion at third base, Bautista should still serve the Jays well in a utility role against lefties.

Bautista fell out of favor in Pittsburgh and was acquired by Toronto late in the season. He continued to disappoint as a Jay, hitting .214 with three homers in 21 games. He's still a potentially nifty lefty-basher off the bench, but that doesn't do the Jays much good with Scott Rolen as the team's primary third baseman. He'll need an injury or a change of scenery to have much of a fantasy impact this season.

Barring a trade, Bautista is set to enter the 2008 season as the Pirates starter at third base. Last year he entered spring training in a duel for playing time with Jose Castillo and, to a lesser extent, Freddy Sanchez, at second and third base. He ended up playing in 142 games -- 126 at third and the rest in the outfield -- batting .254/.339/.414. Bautista is prone to slumps but his 36 doubles and 15 homers show signs of power promise. His skill set would be better served in fantasy baseball as a middle infielder than a cornerman, but that won't happen unless Sanchez gets hurt or traded.

The jury remains out on Bautista: Will he win an everyday spot with the Bucs or will he end up in a super-utility role? The 26-year-old infielder/outfielder, who played five different positions in 2006, surprised the organization with his strong play early. He hit .268 with an impressive 10 homers in his first 145 at-bats. From July on, however, Bautista batted just .186 (30-for-161) with four dingers. He'll need to re-establish himself once again or face the prospect of serving mostly in a utility role. With a full-time gig in 2007, Bautista could hit 20 home runs and drive in 80 runs.

After playing for four different organizations in 2004, Bautista stayed put last year, spending the entire season playing for Pittsburgh's Double-A and Triple-A teams. The 25-year-old righty showed promise, batting a combined .280, with 24 home runs and 94 RBI in 130 games. Bautista, who has yet to put in a full year at Triple-A, will get his chance eventually, but probably not in 2006 after the Pirates signed free agent Joe Randa to be their everyday third baseman in the offseason.

Bautista, who went into the 2004 season never having appeared above the Single-A level, bounced around last year after being taken from the Bucs in the Rule 5 draft, and was limited to 64 games and 88 at-bats combined with the Pirates, Royals, Orioles and Devil Rays. Recognizing that they erred in losing Bautista, the Pirates insisted his inclusion in the Kris Benson trade. Bautista figures to start the season at the Double-A or Triple-A level, where the organization hopes that he can develop into the team’s third baseman of the future.

One of many Hickory Crawdads to have good years, Bautista stood out for his good walk rate (64 unintentional in 438 at-bats. He’s 23, so he needs to jump a level this year or become an organization guy for the Pirates.