MLB Trade Rumors: Blue Jays discussing Jose Bautista trade with Phillies

Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Jose Bautista after scoring a run in the seventh inning against the Boston Red Sox at the Rogers Centre. Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

According to tweets from Howard Eskin of FOX Philadelphia (and a headline I saw at TSN.ca when I woke up) rumors are swirling that the Toronto Blue Jays are in serious trade talks with the Philadelphia Phillies about moving Jose Bautista for outfielder Domonic Brown.

Eskin says Bautista’s ability to play third is a factor in the trade but in my opinion Jose’s hip problems should keep him in right field permanently going forward. He’s battled injuries the past two seasons with wrist and hip issues ending his season prematurely two years in a row.

Bautista, 33, batted .259/.358/.498 with a 134 wRC+, 4.1 rWAR and 4.2 fWAR in 118 games for the Blue Jays in 2013.

Brown, 26, was an all-star for the first time this year and batted .272/.324/.494 with a 123 wRC+, 2.5 rWAR and 1.6 fWAR. It was a breakout year for the young outfielder who is arbitration eligible next off-season and under team control until 2018.

Advanced fielding metric aren’t very kind to Brown and his below-average defense pulls down his wins above replacement value. He was a 20th round draft pick by the Phillies in 2006.

I’ve already received some opinions on Twitter about the prospective move.

Personally I don’t find the idea THAT far-fetched, I know fans of the Toronto Blue Jays don’t want to see Bautista go but if the Phillies add a bit more to the package I’m sure that Jays’ GM Alex Anthopoulos is listening. Stay tuned for more updates here at Jays Journal on this developing situation.

Update:

Shi Davidi at Sportsnet and Jon Heyman at CBS both say there is no validity to the rumors:

Well so much for that! I think…