The Toronto Blue Jays’ loss in the American League Championship Series was painful not just because it ended their World Series hopes, but because it may have been the last time two of the franchise’s iconic players took the field for them.
While it seems like keeping both will be a tall order, Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said Monday that he wants to do whatever he can to retain outfielder Jose Bautista and designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion. Both players are poised to become free agents, and Toronto will have a very brief window of five days following the conclusion of the World Series to negotiate with them.
#BlueJays have exclusive negotiating rights on Jose + EE for 5 days after WS. Atkins plans to do "everything" possible to talk contract then
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) October 24, 2016
Encarnacion may be an easier sell than Bautista, who gave the Jays something of an ultimatum before the season. Bringing back both is probably impossible.
