Dodgers have reportedly been in touch with Jose Bautista

Could a move from the AL East to the NL West be in store for Jose Bautista?

Richard Griffin of the Toronto Star reported on Tuesday that the Los Angeles Dodgers have been in touch with Bautista. Griffin does add though that talks are on hold until the trade market further plays out and that the Dodgers, who are projected to be over $200 million in team payroll in 2017, may have to shed some salary to prove a realistic landing spot for the six-time All-Star.

The market for the 36-year-old Bautista has been relatively calm lately, but what we do know is that a continued future with the Toronto Blue Jays remains somewhat uncertain.

It’s unclear where Bautista would fit in on a Dodgers team with Andre Ethier returning from injury, Yasiel Puig appearing to be back in semi-good graces, youngsters Joc Pederson, Andrew Toles, and Trayce Thompson needing playing time, and no designated hitter position to avail of. As such, the veteran slugger landing in Los Angeles seems unlikely but probably not impossible considering that they are the Dodgers after all.

H/T theScore