Phillies should leave Jose Bautista be out in Toronto

Written by Mike Mariano | 29 July 2010

The Phillies are reportedly targeting Blue Jays super-utility man Jose Bautista and have scouted a ton of Blue Jays games in the process.  If you don't know, Bautista leads the majors in home runs with 30.  He's also fourth in the AL in walks and tops in outfield assists despite playing a multitude of positions.  Basically Jose Bautista is having the year of his life.

And that is exactly why the Phillies shouldn't trade for him.  Paying the premium for a guy who's having a career year at age 29 is never a good idea.  Not only that, before 2010 he's never hit more than 16 home runs in a full season and he's got 30 through July!  How often do guys like him come around and then fall off the face of the planet the next season?  He's only on a one-year contract, but why pay the all-star price to bring him in when he's never played at this level before?  If the Roy Oswalt deal goes through I doubt the Phillies will trade prospects for him, but you never do know.