Mets: Jose Bautista hitting his way out of New York and onto a contender

The New York Mets may have a decent trade candidate in Jose Bautista. He has produced well at the plate and could help a team vying for a postseason spot.

Jose Bautista‘s time with the New York Mets may end sooner than some may like. Since joining them, Joey Bats has been one of the offense’s more consistent hitters. Though the power appears to have gone rather silent, he’s still coming up with big timely hits and getting on base a ton.

Surely, someone will notice Bautista’s abilities and ask the Mets which Single-A relief pitcher of theirs it will take to acquire him via trade.

A player like Bautista is a valuable one to any offense. His experience alone warrants a look. I have to imagine it’s one of the major reasons the Mets brought him to town in the first place. At the time, they lacked outfielders capable of hitting major league pitchers. Bautista more than filled the void.

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Chasing pennants with the Toronto Blue Jays is something Bautista did well over the years. The team was nothing before he became a superstar. As he faded at the plate, so did the team.

Bautista isn’t going to win a team the World Series. He will, however, add some depth and the threat of hitting a home.

Even if home runs only show up occasionally these days when he’s at the plate, knowing what he has done in the recent past should scare enough pitchers into walking him. Right now, that’s his biggest weapons. Drawing walks.

Teams looking to increase their OBP over the final few months of the season could see Bautista as a savior. I don’t mean the type of savior you put on a pair of sneakers for then drink some Kool-Aid.

Bautista is more the type you thank wholeheartedly for letting you go ahead of them at the checkout line.

As a guy who can play the corner outfield, first base, or take over as a regular DH, there’s a market out there for Bautista. Though no one seemed to want him in the offseason, as a rental for two months on the cheap, the story is a bit different. The Mets can find someone to take him.

Next: Potential Noah Syndergaard trade destinations

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It’s possible the 2018 season is Bautista’s last in the big leagues. Will it end with an irrelevant Mets team or on a contender in October?