Jose Bautista signs 1-day contract to retire with Blue Jays
Jose Bautista officially called it a career.
The six-time All-Star signed a one-day contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday to retire with the team before his name is added to the Level of Excellence at the Rogers Centre on Saturday.
Officially official. ✍️ pic.twitter.com/ZgL43DsuQp
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) August 11, 2023
Bautista, who hasn't played since 2018, spent parts of 10 seasons with the Blue Jays between 2008-2017. He also suited up for the Atlanta Braves, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, Kansas City Royals, Tampa Bay Rays, and Baltimore Orioles over his 15-year career.
The 42-year-old led the majors in home runs in back-to-back campaigns in 2010-11. His 54 round-trippers in 2010 are a single-season record for the Blue Jays.
Bautista's most iconic moment came in Game 5 of the 2015 ALDS when he hit the eventual game-winning homer against the Texas Rangers:
Bautista is second in Blue Jays history in round-trippers (288), walks (803), and runs (790), as well as third in RBIs (766).
He ends his career with a .247/.361/.475 slash line with 344 homers, 312 doubles, and 975 RBIs over 1,798 games.