Bautista has harsh words for Frisco following trade
Late this evening the busy CBL off-season continued with yet another trade. The Vancouver Canadiens finally got into the fray, agreeing to a deal with the Frisco Roughriders.
The Canadiens off-season had been a bit delayed due to their general manager being sick with a mystery illness, but he’s healthy now and has come out of the gate swinging.
Frisco agreed to send SP Madison Bumgarner, RF Jose Bautista and SS Chris Taylor to Vancouver for three prospects. Bautista is expected to compete for the Canadiens DH role, after being relegated to AAA most of the past two seasons in Frisco.
Bautista had harsh words for Frisco GM Erik and his time in the organization.
“I signed my deal [4 years, $56MM] the year before he got there. When I struggled a little bit in 2015, that a**hole sent me to AAA. He said it was to get my swing back, but I just needed a little longer. I hit great in AAA, got called back up, and then the same shit happened in 2016. That guy [Erik] is a lying weasel.”
Bautista did struggle with the big league club, but he hit very well in AAA during both stints. Entering the final year of his contract, the former great MLB player is hoping to show he’s still got a lot left in the tank. Maybe going back to Canada will be just what the doctor ordered.
Bumgarner is only one year removed from going 10-3 with a 2.51 ERA. He suffered with some bad luck on the long ball this past season, and he should be a solid addition for the Canadiens organization. Chris Taylor should add some organizational depth, and at least compete for a bench role up the middle this Spring.
Vancouver parted ways with shortstop Reese Cooley, who most scouts feel has the range and instincts to be an elite defensive shortstop, but he might not have the arm strength to stick at the position. He’d still have value as an elite defender at second of course. They also traded first baseman Kevin Franklin and starting pitcher Edwin Escobar. All three players are relatively close to being major league ready, but none rate as a top-100 prospect according to the OSA.
Frisco seems to be putting a lot of hope in their scouting department, or maybe they’re just selling low on good players since they’re about to move. Who knows what those clowns are doing?
