Report: Phillies Working On Major Deal For Jose Bautista

The internet is buzzing.   Earlier tonight, Howard Eskin of Fox 29 tweeted this:

I'm told #phillies working on a major trade. Details tonight at 10:50 @FOX29philly news. Will tweet after news.

— Howard Eskin (@howardeskin) November 13, 2013

On the newscast, Eskin identified Blue Jays outfielder/third baseman Jose Bautista as the player the Phillies are targeting.   He would be a corner outfielder and at the same time serve as insurance should Cody Asche not pan out in 2013.

Domonic Brown would be one of the players that the Phillies would move in the deal.   Moving Brown for Bautista would give the Phillies a right-handed hitter and take the pressure off of their otherwise lefty-heavy lineup.   If the Phillies convert left field to a right-handed hitter, then the Phillies could consider a left-handed hitter such as A.J. Pierzynski to catch, should they lose out on re-signing Carlos Ruiz.

Should make for an interesting offseason.   If it was me, I would be in favor of a Brown-for-Bautista trade.   The Blue Jays might be too, as they are searching for ways to free up some money to sign a catcher (who could be Carlos Ruiz, by the way).   Consider that Blue Jays catcher J.P. Arencibia could be included in the deal.  The Phillies could replace Ruiz with this deal and not have to sign an expensive free agent.  Arencibia has averaged 21 home runs a year, but generally has not hit for average.

Bautista hit 28 home runs and drove in 78 runs for the Blue Jays in 2013 in just 118 games.  Bautista sat out from August 20th until the end of the season with an injury in 2013.