Bautista reports early, ready to help win
Blue Jays slugger stoked for 2017 after injury-plagued year
DUNEDIN, Fla. (CP) — Jose Bautista has earned a reputation as a player who competes with passion and intensity.
But he doesn’t want that to be mistaken for having a chip on his shoulder.
The all-star slugger signed a one-year, US$18-million deal this off-season with Toronto after turning down the club’s $17-million qualifying offer at the end of the season.
Bautista was looking to secure a hefty raise and long-term deal in his first crack at the free-agent market. While he didn’t get it, the 36-year-old right-fielder isn’t using that as motivation this season.
“I think I come out here every year with the same mentality and same desire to help my team win games and be the best player I can be,” Bautista said Friday at Toronto’s springtraining facility. “I have my things that motivate me, but I can’t say that proving people wrong is one of them in one way or another.
“There’s always people that need to be proven wrong in every player’s situation, so if you focus on that you’re probably going to get a little distracted. I’ve had the same things that have motivated me since I was a little boy playing, those are the same things that motivate me today.”
Bautista hit 22 homers and drove in 69 runs over 116 games last season. He landed on the disabled list twice — in June with a left toe injury and in August with a sprained left knee.
Bautista, who hit 35 or more homers in four of the seven seasons prior to 2016, said his two stints on the DL were the result of freak injuries and doesn’t expect to have any lingering effects from either in 2017.
Bautista arrived in Dunedin on Thursday, a day before position players were scheduled to report. He walked through the clubhouse greeting teammates with bear hugs, patting Canadian Russell Martin’s hair and joking around with reliever Joe Biagini.
Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, who also showed up early for camp, was among those excited by Bautista’s return.
“You don’t know what’s going to happen when a guy gets to test the market,” Tulowitzki said.
“So for Jose to be back, you know how much he means to the city, how much he means to the Blue Jays. He’s definitely a leader on this team and we welcome him back. He makes us a better ball club.”
Red Sox focusing on 4th ring
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Boston Red Sox principal owner John Henry called it strange not to see David Ortiz at the team’s first fullsquad workout this year and knows only one achievement will satisfy the team’s management, players and fans.
“We really are focused on that fourth ring like we were that first,” Henry said Friday. “Anything short of that is, I think we would say, limited success.”
Ortiz joined the Red Sox ahead of the 2003 season and retired last fall after helping the Red Sox win their first three World Series titles since 1918.
With Boston coming off an AL East title and a Division Series loss to Cleveland, Werner spoke to the Red Sox and “made a reference to Tom Brady and the Patriots and what we can take from that in terms of hard work and practice.”
“We didn’t finish our business last year,” he said. “It was a disappointing way to finish.”
Ventura tox. report won’t be released
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The toxicology report on Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura won’t be released to the public following his death last month in a car crash in his native Dominican Republic.
Tessie Sanchez, a spokeswoman for the Dominican attorney general’s office, said the toxicology report is not a public document. The findings only will be released to Ventura’s family and attorneys.
Ventura was 25 on Jan. 22 when he died on a highway leading to the town of Juan Adrian, about 70 kilometres northwest of Santo Domingo. The right-hander pitched his entire career for the Royals, going 38-31 with a 3.89 ERA.