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Toronto Blue Jays: The 2010s All-Decade team

By Tyson Shushkewich

TORONTO, ON - JULY 22: A banner showing the retired number 32, belonging to former Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Roy Halladay, is updated with the National Baseball Hall of Fame logo, after Halladay was inducted into the Hall of Fame on July 21st, 2019, seen during a MLB game against the Cleveland Indians at Rogers Centre on July 22, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - JULY 22: A banner showing the retired number 32, belonging to former Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Roy Halladay, is updated with the National Baseball Hall of Fame logo, after Halladay was inducted into the Hall of Fame on July 21st, 2019, seen during a MLB game against the Cleveland Indians at Rogers Centre on July 22, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
(Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /

All-Decade Blue Jays Outfield

Jose Bautista, Right Field

  • 2008-2017 (10 seasons)
  • 6x All-Star; 3x Silver Slugger
  • 288 Home Runs; 766 RBI’s
  • 136 OPS+; 37.3 bWAR
  • 1235 games

When fans think of the Toronto Blue Jays, one player that usually comes to mind is Jose Bautista.

Bautista was acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates during the 2008 season, where he was seeing limited success and was shuttling between AAA and the MLB before eventually arriving in Toronto.

After being utilized at 3B and RF for two seasons, it was in 2010 that Bautista started to make most of his starts in right field and would cement his spot in the right corner over the next 7 years.

It was also in 2010 where Bautista had his first breakout season, where he would lead the MLB in home runs (54) and total bases (351). In 2011, Bautista would once again lead multiple MLB categories when it came to home runs (43), walks (132), slugging (.608), OPS (1.056), and OPS+ (182).

In 2015, the Toronto Blue Jays would make the playoffs and Jose Bautista would arguably hit the second-biggest home run in Blue Jays history (the first being Joe Carter and his World Series clincher back in 1993). After an up and down 7th inning during Game 5 of the ALDS, Bautista drove a ball over the left-field wall to give the Blue Jays a three-run lead. Immediately following the monumental home run, Bautista would then produce one of the best and most controversial bat flips in all of baseball history (depending on which fans you ask).

After the 2015 season, Bautista’s offense would slowly start to slip over the next two seasons, and the team began nudging him towards the exit sign by the end of the 2017 season.

In the 2017/2018 off-season, the Toronto Blue Jays would decline his $17.5 million dollar option, which would officially end his tenure with the team. He would bounce around a few different teams in 2018 and would not sign with any team in 2019. He is currently considered a free agent.

Jose Bautista was able to accomplish a lot during his time with the Toronto Blue Jays, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the organization puts his name in the Level of Excellence once he formally retires.

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