Former Toronto Blue Jays star Jose Bautista has signed a one-year deal with the New York Mets, the team officially announed on Tuesday.
Bautista had one hit in three at bats in his Mets debut on Tuesday - a 5-1 loss to the Miami Marlins. The 37-year-old was released by the Atlanta Braves just days ago after batting just .143 with two homers and RBI in 12 games.
The Mets are desperate for a new bat and leadership, and Bautista should help to some degree. They jumped out to a scorching 11-1 start, but the Mets are now just 24-20. Perhaps the addition of Bautista will help the team settle down and fight for their third playoff spot in four years.
With the exception of Asdrubal Cabrera, virtually all of the Mets batters are struggling to hit. Marquee free agent signing Jay Bruce (who was brought back after being dealt to the Cleveland Indians last year), hasn't been his regular self, while Yoenis Cespedes is struggling to find consistency at the plate.
Bautista is most definitely past his prime, but he can still generate power and draws plenty of walks. Despite a dismal and forgettable 2017 season with the Toronto Blue Jays, 'Joey Bats' finished with 23 home runs and 84 walks.
Bautista's strikeout rate went up and his batting average fell way down during his last two years in Toronto, which are strong hints that he's not the same feared slugger anymore. But Bautista is known for his strong personality in the clubhouse, and he has hit at least 20 home runs every year since 2010.
The Mets have nothing to lose with this cheap, short-term signing. Maybe Bautista turns back the clock and can hit better for average and get those 20-30 home runs. But if anything else, he'll provide a nice bat that can come off the bench - as well as postseason experience.