Blue Jays: Jose Bautista intends to play in 2019

After wearing three different uniforms this season, Jose Bautista, Blue Jays legend, has expressed his interest to play big league ball next season.

It’s perhaps easy to forget that the Philadelphia Phillies are Jose Bautista‘s third team this season. After a brief, troubled stint with the Atlanta Braves (who recently clinched the NL East), Joey Bats raised his stock in New York with the Mets before being shipped to the Phillies in a last minute August trade.

Now, Bautista is confident he can play for a major league team next year, according to Ken Rosenthal. Bautista, who turns 38 in October, would like to continue his major league career in 2019.

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At first glance, it’s not outlandish to suggest that he could at least be somewhat of a contributor to a contender. With a combined .198/.342/.368 slash line since June 1, he can certainly still get on base, thanks to 51 walks in 258 at-bats over that span. Though his average has been subpar, he’s smashed 12 home runs on the year, adding 18 doubles, two stolen bases and 48 runs in 115 games.

Appearing primarily in right field this season, he’s been worth a cumulative 1.0 WAR (per Baseball Reference) and is making the league minimum. While the Blue Jays can hardly be suggested as a perfect fit for the aging slugger, he could certainly make an impact if used correctly in strategic situations.

Regardless of whether or not he legitimately contributes to a contending squad next season, he’ll get a shot to show his worth down the stretch, as his current team, the Phillies, are within striking distance of an NL Wild Card position. Though it remains unlikely that they’ll be able to pounce on a playoff berth, Bautista is still playing meaningful baseball in September.