Phillies add Bautista as bench bat for playoff push

Think of it as one last big swing for the post-season.

With time expiring on their waiver claim of Jose Bautista, the Philadelphia Phillies completed a National League baseball trade for the 37-year-old slugger by agreeing Tuesday to send a player to be named or cash to the New York Mets. Bautista is expected to be used off the bench.

Bautista becomes the sixth player acquired by the Phillies in the past 31 days. They added infielder Asdrubal Cabrera, catcher Wilson Ramos and lefty reliever Aaron Loup before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, then completed waiver deals for first baseman Justin Bour, lefty reliever Luis Avilan and Bautista. To create a spot on the 40-man roster, the Phillies designated right-hander Mark Leiter Jr. for assignment. Once Bautista reports to the Phillies, a 25-man-roster move will be made.

Considered one of the most feared sluggers in baseball during his prime with the Toronto Blue Jays, Bautista is on the back nine of a 15-year career in which he has hit 342 home runs and posted an .836 OPS. The Phillies will be his third team — all in the National League East — this season. He has a .196 /.339 /.364 batting slash line with 11 home runs in 342 plate appearances between the Mets and Atlanta Braves, with whom he began the season in April.

Going into Tuesday’s play, the Phillies were 3½ games behind Atlanta in the NL East and one game behind Colorado for the final wild-card spot.